Guide to Car Rental at Dubai Airport: What to Expect

Are you planning to hire a car for your next trip to Dubai? Car Hire Dubai is one of the most flexible means of transport that can be used to access places in the city and other attractions on your own. There are many car rental companies with their desks at the Dubai International Airport, hence you can access your rental car immediately after you complete your arrival formalities.

Booking in advance vs. on arrival

Although you can easily get a Car Rental Dubai Airport without any reservations upon arrival, but booking your Dubai car rental in advance online has the following distinct advantages.

Guarantees that cars are available and their rental rates are secured with pre-booking. The walk-in rental rates are usually higher compared to those offered to clients who book in advance.
It allows you to pay for your car in advance and avoid long procedures at the rental desk upon arrival.
Advance reservations enable you to pinpoint the model and specific characteristics of the car you require.
Most of the online discounts and coupon codes are valid only when the bookings are made in advance.

Hence, although a car may be rented immediately when landing at the destination, booking in advance is quite recommendable to observe availability and better rental rates, especially during high-demand periods.

Car Rental Requirements

UAE car hire agencies impose certain standard requirements while leasing out vehicles:

You must have a valid driving license from your home country. Foreigners should obtain an IDP while in most cases it is not compulsory to do so.
Most companies accept credit cards and hold security deposits, depending on the vehicle you want to rent.
In Dubai, a rental car shall be rented by a person who is at least 21 years old. Most car rental companies in Dubai have age policies dictating the age an individual should be to qualify for their services.
You might occasionally be asked to complete a credit card authorization form or even to leave your passport with the car hire company.

Moving Between Dubai Airport Terminals

There are three terminals at Dubai International: T1 handles the arrival and departure of most International Airline companies. T2 and T3 are majorly handled by the low cost airline companies.

All terminals are connected via transit and are served by a shuttle train. The T2 and T3 are connected airside, so you don’t even need to clear immigration again between the two terminals. If you are arriving into T2 or T3, then be prepared for multiple shuttles or train rides taken to reach the car rental agents in T1. It is very easy to get through all the other terminals using signage and staff.

Selecting a Rental Car

Budget travelers may opt for compact cars like the Toyota Yaris is easily the most common choice with most Car Rental Dubai Airport. Hiring is also possible for families for mid-size sedans like the Honda Civic or, at a higher end of the scale, large-sized SUVs like Toyota Fortuner. Premium options include BMWs, Mercedes, Audis, and Porsches, among a plethora of others.

Keep the following in mind for your choice of Car Rental Dubai Airport:

Size of Car as per the number of people to be accommodated and the luggage they require.
Transmission-type automatic cars come in very useful with the crowded roads of Dubai.
Subscribed for longer distances in car rentals outside Dubai.
Car GPS, parking aid, and smart video recorders for convenience and safety.
Child seats based on the laws.

Insurance Requirements

Collision damage waiver (CDW) insurance is standard with your Car Rental Dubai package. Additional protection such as theft protection (TP), personal accident insurance (PAI), etc may be available for an additional cost. Make sure you carefully read all the insurance clauses related to excesses, items not covered, geographical restrictions, and so on in case of a loss.

Conclusion:

Although the driving culture in Dubai might be very aggressive, especially for first-timers, most of the roads and intersections are well-designed. Google Maps or other similar applications can be very helpful to navigate around the city. So just remember and take heed to the fact that they drive on the left side of the road.

Just as you are supposed to follow simple traffic rules like seatbelts, safe distance, no sudden lane changes, and no using the phone. Traffic fines in Dubai are very high, therefore, it is advisable to follow traffic laws. Petrol stations and convenience stores are found frequently along highways for grabbing some snacks and drinks.

Lastly, While you plan to have a Car Hire in Dubai, try to book in advance to get the best rental offer and car. Driving in Dubai is relatively unproblematic, provided that you’ve first taken the time to learn the rules of the road, tolls, insurance, and the like. Make sure you are safe before you set yourself on the wheel and relish the flexibility to go anywhere in this vibrant Emirate.