Dubai is a driving city. Its the highways, the remoteness of attractions, and its blistering climate that places walking in your home country as an impossible task. Renting a car in Dubai is going to transform how you view the emirate. However, rental prices have a tendency to go out of hand easily. The positive side of it all is that you can have a good time in Dubai without breaking your budget.
Book Early and Compare Rates Aggressively
It is costly to wait until you set foot in Dubai to sort out your rent. Rental rates may increase by 20-30 percent during high season between November and March, as opposed to low-season months. The most economical type of cars that used to cost about AED 50 per day may have to be priced at AED 80 and above.
Begin the comparison of rental prices at least three months or six months before your trip. Comparison websites help in checking on several providers simultaneously, but do not end there. Directly visiting the websites of the local Dubai rental companies would be a good idea in case you intend to rent a car in Dubai. They become cheaper than international chains which do not pay commissions to the booking platforms.
Find car rental early-bird deals and promotions on your Dubai car rental. Most companies give out free additional days or upgrades as a reward when one makes a reservation. e.g. book seven days and receive the eighth one free. Such promotions may cut very deeply in your daily rental price.
Skip the Airport Pickup
Rental desks at the airports are very convenient, and you are paying for the convenience. On top of the basic rental price, a majority of the companies charge an airport tax ranging between AED 50 and AED 150. Instead, that is money that can be used on fuel or attractions.
Consider these options:
- Arrange for hotel delivery, which many companies offer for free or at a minimal charge.
- AED 100 or so of the airport charges can be saved by using a taxi to a city branch that takes only a short AED 30 ride.
Factor in your arrival time. When landing at 2 a.m., the airport can even be your best choice in order to escape after-hours pickup fees.
Select the Perfect Car for Your Dubai Trip
You would like to rent this luxury SUV to go on your adventure in Dubai; however, ask yourself:
Do you really need it?
The roads in Dubai are flawless, and even in the majority of attractions, there is parking. A regular sedan is just as well as long as you are not planning desert off-roading.
Economic vehicles such as Nissan Sunny or Hyundai Accent begin at approximately AED 40-50 per day and are suitable to a couple or an individual. They are economical, offer minimal parking space, and they are completely sufficient to drive in the city. When you are a family of four, having a large car would mean spending more money on buying a vehicle, yet a mid-size sedan or compact SUV will provide you with the space that you require.
Here’s the example:
Renting a compact car during a week may cost AED 350, and renting a full-size SUV may cost AED 800 and above. The difference of AED 450 can be used to buy your tickets to Burj Khalifa and a desert safari package.
the Fuel Policy Inside Out
Fuel fees are the most unexpected expenses among tourists. The majority of the Dubai rentals follow the full-to-full policy: you take them with a full tank and need to give it back full. It appears to be easy, and this is where individuals lose money.
In case you refill the car and send it back, the rental company fills the car, which is usually charged 50-100 percent more than the local petrol stations. A tank that would fill up to AED 180 in a station could cost you AED 300 with the rental company, and an administration fee.
It is always important to refuel your car before coming back and have a receipt as evidence. Dubai has petrol stations everywhere and most of them have full services where your fuels are pumped by attendants. You should not get tricked into pre-paid fuel programs unless you are sure that you will consume all the fuel.
Master the Salik Toll System
The Salik is an automated toll system used in Dubai, which provides AED 6 per entry at a toll gate. Dubai has seven major toll gates at the present and mostly located on Sheikh Zayed Road, and the roads that lead to it.
Another bonus you have with your rental car is a Salik tag, which captures crossings of tolls automatically. The rental company invoices later, a few months later and they almost always charge an administration fee of AED 1-2 per crossing. Even the individual tolls are insignificant, yet they accumulate quickly. When you are commuting between Dubai Marina and Downtown and vice versa daily, you might easily spend AED 50-70 weekly on the tolls.
To minimize toll costs, plan your routes strategically. Use Google Maps or Waze and enable the “avoid tolls” setting when the detour makes sense. Sometimes the alternative route is only a few minutes longer but saves you multiple toll crossings. For instance, using Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) instead of Sheikh Zayed Road can often bypass tolls while adding minimal time to your journey.
Decline Unnecessary Add-ons
All these bonuses are provided at the rental counter: GPS navigation, baby seats, extra insurance, WiFi equipment, and others. They all have a price-per-day fee that appears to be tiny but accumulates during your time of leasing.
Google Maps or Waze are already available on your smartphone. Both are very productive in Dubai and display real-time traffic. You do not need the GPS rental unless you are particular about it. On the same note, when you have a travel insurance or credit card that covers rental cars, then you do not really need to buy the costly insurance packages offered by the counter personnel.
Exception: in case you are going to drive between emirates or you are going to drive your car to Oman, make sure that your basic insurance will cover the areas. Certain of these policies are geographically restricted.
Watch Out for Mileage Limits
A lot of Dubai rentals have a daily mileage limit, which is usually 200-300 kilometers per day. Go over it and you pay an additional fee, which is normally AED 1-2 per kilometer over the limit. This may not appear as much, however, this is what you need to take into consideration: round trip distance between Dubai and Abu Dhabi is approximately 280 kilometers. Mix in the daily city commuting and you might easily overstep your limit.
When you want to travel in other emirates on a day trip basis, see what unlimited mileage offers are offered in advance. They are a little more expensive per day, and you do not have to worry about checking your odometer or run a risk of excess charges that might be greater than the amount you would have paid with unlimited miles.
Avoid Peak Season Price Surges
Timing matters in Dubai. The fluctuation of hotel prices is not the only thing. Rental rates also have the same trends. The peak season of the rental prices is during the winter months between November and March when the weather in Dubai is at its finest. Major occasions like Dubai Shopping Festival, Dubai Expo or New Year event even drive the prices further up.
You have the option to travel in the shoulder months of April- May or September- October in case your travel dates could change easily. It is warmer, but rental costs are 25-30 percent less than high season. The saved money on the rental (and hotel) can be used to bear the heat a little bit more as well, because you will be spending most of the time in the comfort of the air-conditioning anyway.
The period of July and August has the lowest rates ever, yet the temperature is unbearable, and it is hard to do outdoor activities. It is worth considering in case you are largely interested in indoor attractions such as malls, museums, and restaurants.
Inspect the Car Thoroughly
This is not on saving money in the short run. It is concerning the prevention of spurious expenses in the future. Prior to driving off, go around the car with the rental agent and make a list of all the scratches, dents and marks. The photos and videos should be taken with your phone, with close-ups of any damage and long shots of the state of the car.
Be extra careful in checking the bumpers, the wheel rims, and the windows, since they are the most likely areas of the car that are likely to be damaged and later charged by unscrupulous firms. Peep inside: seats, dashboard, and even the odometer. The better documentation you possess, the more difficult it is to prove that a company was able to damage you.
The same should be done when handing over the car, with a staff member present. These five minutes will save you hundreds of dirhams in these disputable damage claims.
Return on Time
Late returns can be expensive. Some companies charge you for a full extra day if you are even an hour late, while others have grace periods of 30-60 minutes. Know your rental agreement’s specific terms and plan accordingly.
If you realize you will be late, call the rental company immediately. Many will work with you to extend your rental at a reasonable hourly rate rather than charging you for an additional full day. This bold approach also shows good faith if there is any dispute later.
Take Advantage of Long-Term Discounts
If you are staying in Dubai for more than ten days, weekly or monthly rates become quite cheaper than daily rentals. A car that costs AED 60 per day on a daily rate might drop to AED 35-40 per day on a monthly contract.
Do the math before booking. Sometimes it is actually cheaper to rent for a full week, even if you only need the car for five days. Many rental companies offer promotions like “rent for 7 days, pay for 5,” which can flip the equation in your favor.
Choose Local Companies Wisely
International hotels, Hertz, Budget and Sixt, are reputable but usually expensive. There are several well-established local rental firms in Dubai that provide the same or even a better service at a reduced cost. Rentakar.ae companies offer fair rates, open prices, and zero concealed charges that other international chains disguise in the small print.
In selecting a local rental company, look at the reviews of the same. Find a repeat of feedback in areas of fine pricing, car condition, and customer service. A business with a rating of 4.5 or more based on hundreds of reviews is generally a secure factor. Ensure that they are well licensed by Dubai, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). This will be beneficial to legitimate companies.
Use Your Credit Card Wisely
The rental car insurance is one of the perks of some credit cards that will help you save AED 30-50 in insurance monthly. Prior to your trip, you should call your card issuer and confirm what is covered. Most cards come with collision damage waiver, but not liability, and therefore know the coverage you are getting.
In addition, making payments using a credit card (not a debit card) usually leads to a reduction in the amount of security deposits. The car deposit is between 1,500 and 3,000 AED but this will be frozen in your card awaiting the expiration of the rental. These blocks are usually permitted using credit cards without a significant impact on your available funds as is the case with debit cards.
Plan for Traffic Fines Strategically
Traffic enforcers are enforced in various sites with speed cameras in Dubai. In case of a fine, the rental company will not only impose the fine amount but also an administration cost of AED 20-50 to do it. Such charges can be eliminated by observing road regulations.
Speed limits are also well displayed and put to the letter. The average highway will have a 120-140 km/h/speed whereas city roads will have 40-80 km/h/speed. The majority of radars have a 20 km/h buffer, although, they do not rely on it. Parking tickets are also not difficult to evade. Always charge the parking on RTA app, SMS or parking meter. This very simple consideration of rules can help you to save AED 300-600 on your trip.
Avoid One-Way Rental Fees
The idea of picking and dropping in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is quite convenient, yet the majority of the firms offer very high one-way fares of AED 200-400 or more. Unless it is necessary, do use the car to take it back to the place of pick-up.
Should you be in need to visit Abu Dhabi, then you can go on a day trip there and come back to Dubai. The drive will take approximately 90 minutes, one way, and you will save the drive-in drop-off price plus possibly elevated rates of Abu Dhabi car hire.
Keep the Car Clean
This would appear as a given but handing over a dirty car back will cost you. Cleaning costs vary between AED 100 and AED 600 in case of a small dirt to a serious mess such as smoke smell or stains. Vacuum clean, wipe surfaces, and take away all rubbish before going back and vacuuming, some petrol stations offer vacuum clean services at AED 10-20.
Sand removal is another thing you must pay special attention to in case you have been to the beach or desert. There are also car washs that are fast and cost AED 25-40, which is significantly lower than the cleaning fee that the rental company will impose.
Read Also: How to Calculate Tax in the UAE
Final Thoughts
By hiring a car, you will have the liberty to explore Dubai in your own way. It is possible to watch the sunrise in Al Qudra Lakes, attend the Hatta Mountains, go to the Gold Souk in Deira, and get shawarma in one local place in Bur Dubai in a day. Is it possible to enjoy more of your drink, not rent bills, using these money saving plans?
