Car rental in Dubai 2026: licence, prices, Salik and fines
What licence a tourist needs, what rental costs, how Salik tolls and parking work, and what triggers fines. Plus a key deposit detail for travellers from Russia.
The short version
Roads in the UAE are excellent and a rental car is handy for trips to other emirates and out of town. A tourist needs a national licence plus an International Driving Permit (IDP), a card for the deposit, and is usually 21 to 25 or older. The key catch for guests from Russia: the deposit is held on a card, and Russian bank cards do not work, so you need a working foreign card.
Which licence you need
- Citizens of most countries can drive on a national licence together with an International Driving Permit (IDP).
- For Russians, bring your Russian licence plus an IDP, this avoids questions from the rental desk and police.
- UAE residents need a local licence, tourists do not.
- Minimum age is usually 21, and 25 for premium and sports cars.
What it costs
- Economy (Nissan Sunny, Toyota Yaris): 100–180 AED per day
- Crossover (Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail): 200–350 AED
- Premium sedan and large SUV: 400–900 AED
- Sports car for a day: from 1,500 AED
Insurance, deposit and fuel are added on top. Petrol is cheap, around 3 AED per litre, and stations are attended.
Salik tolls
Salik is an automatic toll through gantries on the main routes, 4–6 AED per pass. You do not stop, the charge is taken automatically. The rental company adds the accumulated Salik to your final bill, sometimes with their own service markup, so check in advance.
Parking
- Mall parking is usually free.
- On the street the paid Mawaqif zone (RTA) applies, paid by app or SMS, on average 2–4 AED per hour.
- On Fridays and some holidays street parking is often free, but always check the sign.
Fines, stay alert
There are many cameras, fines are high, and the rental company will charge them to you plus their admin markup.
- Speeding is caught by cameras everywhere.
- Seatbelts are mandatory for everyone, and a phone in hand while driving is a fine.
- There is zero tolerance for alcohol at the wheel, with serious consequences.
- Keep your lane, aggressive driving and flashing headlights are not welcome.
Tip: photograph the car from every side at pickup and return, including the wheels and windscreen. It is your protection against disputed scratches when the deposit is released.
Deposit, the key point for Russians
The rental company holds a deposit on a card, usually 1,000–1,500 AED and more on premium. A Russian bank card will not clear this, so you need a working foreign-bank card. How to pay in Dubai in general and which cards work, we covered in a separate money guide.
When you do not need a rental
If you stay mostly within Dubai, the metro, Careem and taxis are often easier and cheaper than parking and Salik. A rental pays off for Abu Dhabi, Hatta, Ras Al Khaimah and the northern emirates. For one-off trips we arrange a chauffeured transfer, which removes the deposit, parking and fines questions.
Send us your route and dates and we will advise what suits you better, a rental or a chauffeured transfer, and book it ahead.
