Dubai Car Rental

Car Rental
Most major hire companies have offices at the airport (12 companies listed below have 24-hour outlets there) and at hotels.Before renting a car, check the smallprint, especially the clause relating to insurance cover in the event of an accident, as this can vary considerably from company to company.Drivers must be aged over 21 to hire a small car, or 25 for a medium (two-litre) or larger 4x4 vehicle. You’ll need your national driving licence (an International Driving Permit is recommended, although it is not legally required). You’ll also need your passport and one of the major credit cards.Prices range from Dhs77 per day for a small manual car, to Dhs1,000 for something like a Lexus LS430. Motorbikes are not available for hire in Dubai.

AutoleaseTel +971 4 224 4900www.autolease.com

AVISTel +971 4 295 7121www.avisuae.com

BudgetTel +971 4 224 5192www.budget.com

CarsTel +971 4 224 5524

Diamond Lease Tel +971 4 220 0325

EuropeTel +971 4 224 5240

HertzTel +971 4 224 5222www.hertz.com

Fast Rent a CarTel +971 4 224 5040

PatriotTel +971 4 224 4244

ThriftyTel +971 4 224 5404www.thrifty.com

United Car Rentals Tel +971 4 224 4666

Fuel stationsAt the time of writing, the cost of petrol was Dhs4.75 a gallon; so you should expect to pay less than Dhs60 to fill your tank. There are 24-hour petrol stations on all major highways. Most petrol stations also have convenience stores selling snacks and drinks.

ParkingMany areas in the city centre have introduced paid parking in a bid to reduce congestion. Prices are reasonable (Dhs1 or Dhs2 for a one-hour stay, depending on location), but this hasn’t made it easier to secure a parking space. Paid parking areas are operational at peak times (generally from 8am to noon and 4pm to 9pm), and it’s free to park there outside of these hours and on Fridays or public holidays.If you park illegally or go over your time limit, the penalty charge is Dhs150, increasing to Dhs165 if you don’t pay within 14 days. Generally your car hire company will pay them for you and charge them to you at the end of your lease.Particular black spots include the warren of streets in ‘old’ Bur Dubai, the stretch of Sheikh Zayed Road between the Crowne Plaza and Shangri La hotels and most of Deira.Parking in shopping malls is free, but if you visit any of them on a Thursday or Friday evening expect huge queues and delays, particularly at the City Centre mall.Most hotels have extensive parking facilities for visitors, including valet services.
Road signs Road signs are in both English and Arabic, which makes matters easier for the Western visitor, but the sheer scale of the American-style highway system (up to five lanes on either side at some points) means you have to stay alert, especially at the junctions on Sheikh Zayed Road that have multiple exits.