To rent a car in Dubai as a visitor you need your passport with entry stamp or visa, your original home driving licence, an International Driving Permit if your country is not on the RTA's approved list, and a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit. Most companies also set a minimum age, usually 21. The details below explain each rule and how tolls and fines end up on your bill.
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) keeps a list of countries whose licences visitors can use directly to drive a rental car. If your licence comes from one of those countries and you are in the UAE on a visit visa or visa-free entry, you can drive with that licence alone. If it does not, you need an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued in your home country before you fly, carried together with the original licence.
| Licence issued in | What you need to rent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand | Home licence (no IDP) | These have appeared on the RTA list; check the current list on rta.ae |
| Most EU countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain and others) | Home licence (no IDP) | Some rental desks still ask for an IDP for non-English licences |
| GCC states (Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait) | Home licence (no IDP) | GCC licences are widely accepted across the UAE |
| Japan, South Korea, South Africa | Home licence (no IDP) | Confirm with your rental company when booking |
| India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines, Russia and other non-listed countries | IDP from home country plus original licence | An IDP cannot be issued inside the UAE for visitors |
| Any country, but you now hold a UAE residence visa | UAE driving licence | Once resident, foreign licences and IDPs stop being valid for driving |
Before you book: the RTA list changes occasionally and individual rental companies can be stricter than the law. Email the branch with a photo of your licence and ask them to confirm in writing that it is accepted without an IDP.
Rental staff need to see originals, not photocopies or phone photos. Bring all of these for every named driver:
Additional drivers must show the same documents and be added to the contract. If an unlisted driver has an accident, the insurance may not cover it.
The legal minimum driving age in the UAE is 18, but rental companies set their own rules. Most mainstream firms require drivers to be at least 21, and many charge a young driver fee or refuse certain categories under 25. SUVs, luxury cars and sports cars often have higher minimum ages and longer licence-history requirements. Always check the age rule for the specific car category, not just the company's headline policy.
Almost every Dubai rental blocks a security deposit on your credit card at pickup. The amount depends on the company and the car, rising sharply for luxury and sports models. It is not spent at pickup; it is held to cover Salik tolls, traffic fines, fuel shortfalls and damage excess.
For typical daily rates, insurance options and a comparison of rental companies, see our Dubai car rental prices and insurance guide.
Salik is Dubai's automatic toll system. Rental cars carry a Salik tag, so you do not stop or pay at the gates. Since 31 January 2025 Salik uses variable pricing: AED 6 per crossing during weekday peak hours (6am to 10am and 4pm to 8pm), AED 4 at other times, and no charge from 1am to 6am. Sundays are charged at AED 4 outside the free overnight window. Rates as of September 2026; check salik.ae before travelling.
The rental company pays Salik and then recharges you, usually from your deposit, and many add a small admin fee per crossing. Ask the desk what that fee is before you sign. Our Salik toll explainer lists how the gates and timings work.
Speed cameras and parking fines in Dubai are issued against the car's number plate, not the driver. That means the rental company receives the fine and passes it on to you, typically with an admin charge. You may not hear about a fine until after you have flown home, when it is taken from your deposit or charged to your card.
Speed limits, road etiquette and parking rules are covered in our driving in Dubai guide.
Yes, if you are on a visit visa or visa-free entry and your licence was issued by a country on the RTA's approved list (this has included the UK, US, Canada, Australia, most EU countries, the GCC states, Japan and South Korea). Everyone else needs an International Driving Permit issued in their home country, carried with the original licence. Check the current list on rta.ae before you travel.
Yes. India and Pakistan are not on the RTA list of countries whose licences can be used directly, so visitors with Indian or Pakistani licences need an International Driving Permit from their home country plus the original licence. Rental desks will refuse the car without both.
The legal driving age in the UAE is 18, but minimum rental ages are set by each company. Most mainstream firms ask for 21 and above, often with at least one year of licence history, and many set higher ages for SUVs, luxury and sports cars. Confirm the rule for your car category when booking.
Rental cars carry a Salik tag, so every toll gate you pass is recorded automatically. Since 31 January 2025 Salik charges AED 6 per crossing at weekday peak times and AED 4 off-peak, with no charge from 1am to 6am. The rental company bills these after the rental, usually from your deposit and often with a small admin fee per crossing.
Fines are registered against the car's plate, so the rental company receives them and charges them to you, usually from your deposit or card on file, often plus an admin fee. Fines can appear weeks after you return the car, which is why companies hold the deposit for a period after the rental ends.
Tell us where your licence was issued and your travel dates, and we will point you to what to check before you book.
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