Car hire Dubai

 

The Ultimate Guide to Renting a Car in Dubai

In Dubai, driving is an everyday reality, whether you’re the one behind the wheel or you’re being driven by someone else. Whether you’re traveling on business or vacationing in Dubai, it makes sense to rent a car rather than trying to get around on public transportation. But where do you start? This ultimate guide to renting a car in Dubai will help you save time and money so that you can focus on enjoying your trip to the fullest instead of worrying about getting around town in the most affordable way possible.

How to get around while you are here

Whether you are on vacation or doing business, there’s no shortage of reasons to rent a car during your visit. Here is what you need to know about renting cars in Dubai. What type of car should I rent? When it comes to choosing a car for your trip, think about how much time you will spend driving and where you will be going. Will most of your travel be around town or do you plan on taking some road trips out into other emirates? Once you have decided what kind of car best suits your needs, make sure that it is available for rental at all times and days.

How and where to book your car hire

Most people book their car hire via online travel agencies (OTAs), like Expedia or Orbitz. The easiest way is to head over to Google and search for cheap car rental Dubai, then pick your favorite option. The rest of your decision should be based on where you want to start your journey from, and what kind of vehicle you need—you’ll probably get offered convertible cars at every opportunity, but will they fit all of your luggage?

Tips on driving in Dubai

Don’t forget that you must drive on the right side of the road here, so get used to looking over your left shoulder. Driving can be complicated—Dubai is built for cars, not pedestrians or bicyclists—so familiarize yourself with some traffic laws before you head out. The speed limit on major highways is 120 km/h (75 mph), while within residential areas it’s 60 km/h (37 mph).

Costs of hiring a car

There are several hidden costs when hiring a car. Some of these include insurance and parking, which can quickly add up. If you’re unsure about how much you will pay for renting a car, you can use Expedia’s handy Car Rental Calculator to get an estimate of your potential costs. This can help you budget accordingly and have more money at your disposal once you arrive at your destination.

Useful apps

As you can imagine, there are tons of apps that can help with car rental. We’ve highlighted some of our favorites below

 

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Self-drive tours

While self-drive tours might not be for everyone, they’re an ideal way to navigate Dubai. If you’re traveling alone, there’s no need to hire a driver or guide; if you want to get out of your hotel room but don’t have time for excursions organized by your hotel, simply rent a car and hit the road! If you decide on a self-drive tour of Dubai, here are some tips

Transport links from the airport

The easiest way to get into town from any of Dubai’s airports is by taxi. You can grab one outside arrivals, or use an app such as Uber (although it’s worth remembering that Uber has been banned in the UAE since late 2014). The alternative is to take an airport shuttle bus into town, which takes around 30 minutes depending on traffic.

Pro tips if you will be here long term

If you plan on living in Dubai for longer than 3 months or so, it is advisable that you start driving. You will be surprised at how much of your time and money can be saved by getting behind a wheel and starting to drive. First off, you won’t have to rely on taxi drivers who tend to overcharge tourists (which is why most tourist agencies offer free airport pick-up) as well as being able to travel around Dubai faster and more efficiently. Also, if you are renting an apartment here in Dubai then there’s no need for car rental companies like Alamo car hire dubai since public transport like metro bus are cheap and efficient.