Table of contents
Quick answer
Tourists need a passport with a valid entry stamp or visa, their home driving licence (plus an International Driving Permit if the UAE does not accept that licence on its own) and a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit. Residents need an Emirates ID and a UAE driving licence. Most companies rent to drivers from 21, and from 25 for luxury and sports cars.
1What documents do tourists need to rent a car in Dubai?
A visitor renting a car in Dubai shows four things at the desk or on delivery. Most companies ask for photos of them when you book, so they can confirm the car before it leaves the yard.
- Passport, with the entry stamp or visa page for this trip.
- Your home driving licence, valid for the whole rental and held for at least a year at many companies.
- An International Driving Permit (IDP), only if your licence is not on the UAE's accepted list or is not in English or Arabic.
- A credit card in the main driver's name, for the security deposit. Some companies accept a debit card or run no-deposit rentals, usually at a higher daily rate.
Send clear photos of your passport, visa page and licence when you book. A company that has checked them in advance will not turn you away at the kerb.
2Which licences are accepted without an International Driving Permit?
The UAE lets visitors from a list of countries drive on their home licence alone. It includes the GCC states, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and most European countries. Visitors from elsewhere need an International Driving Permit alongside the original licence — the permit is a translation, not a licence in its own right, so always carry both.
The list is set by the authorities and changes occasionally. If you are unsure, ask the rental company to confirm in writing before you pay anything.
| Your licence | What to bring |
|---|---|
| GCC country | What to bringLicence alone |
| UK, US, Canada, Australia, Japan, most EU countries | What to bringLicence alone |
| Country not on the UAE list (for example India or Pakistan) | What to bringLicence plus International Driving Permit |
| Licence not written in English or Arabic | What to bringLicence plus International Driving Permit |
Check the current list with the rental company or the RTA before you travel.
3What do UAE residents need?
Once you hold a UAE residence visa, the tourist route no longer applies: rental companies ask for your Emirates ID and a UAE driving licence. A resident driving on a foreign licence is not insured in most rental contracts, even if the desk hands over the keys.
New residents who have not yet converted their licence can usually still rent on the tourist documents until the residence visa is stamped — confirm with the company, because rules differ between them.
4What is the minimum age to rent a car in Dubai?
The legal driving age in the UAE is 18, but rental companies set their own, higher minimums because their insurance does.
| Driver's age | What you can usually rent |
|---|---|
| Under 21 | What you can usually rentVery few companies will rent at all |
| 21–24 | What you can usually rentEconomy and mid-range cars, often with a young driver surcharge |
| 25 and over | What you can usually rentEvery category, including luxury, sports and supercars |
5Do you need a credit card to rent a car in Dubai?
For a standard rental, yes. The deposit is held on a credit card in the main driver's name — typically AED 1,000–1,500 for an economy car and much more for luxury models — and released 14–30 days after you return the car, once fines and Salik tolls have had time to arrive.
If you do not have a credit card, look at no-deposit rentals. They exist on economy and mid-range cars, usually for a higher daily rate or a non-refundable waiver fee.
6What happens at pick-up?
- 1The company checks your passport, entry stamp and licence against the booking.
- 2It places the deposit hold on your card and gives you the contract to sign.
- 3You walk round the car with the agent. Photograph every scratch, the fuel gauge and the mileage before you drive off.
- 4You get the car's paperwork (the registration card, known as the mulkiya) and the company's breakdown number.
7Can someone else drive the car?
Only if they are named on the contract. Every additional driver shows the same documents as the main driver and must meet the same age rules. Some companies charge a daily fee per extra driver; some include one. An unlisted driver is not insured, so an accident with them at the wheel is paid in full by you.
8Why do rental companies turn drivers away?
Most refusals at the desk come down to paperwork that could have been checked in advance. The common ones:
- The licence has expired, or expires during the rental.
- The driver needed an International Driving Permit and brought only the home licence.
- The credit card is in someone else's name, or has too little limit for the deposit hold.
- The driver is under the company's minimum age for that car.
- The passport shows no valid entry stamp or visa for this trip.
- A resident arrives with a foreign licence instead of a UAE one.
Ask the company to confirm, in writing, that your documents are accepted for the exact car you booked. It takes one message and removes the most common surprise.
9Document checklist before you travel
| Item | Tourists | Residents |
|---|---|---|
| Passport with entry stamp or visa | TouristsYes | ResidentsNot usually |
| Emirates ID | TouristsNo | ResidentsYes |
| Home driving licence (physical card) | TouristsYes | ResidentsNo |
| UAE driving licence | TouristsNo | ResidentsYes |
| International Driving Permit | TouristsIf your licence is not on the accepted list | ResidentsNo |
| Credit card in the driver's name | TouristsYes | ResidentsYes |
| Booking confirmation with the all-in price | TouristsYes | ResidentsYes |
Frequently asked questions
Can I rent a car in Dubai on a visit visa?
Yes. Visitors rent on a passport with a valid entry stamp or visa, their home licence (plus an International Driving Permit where required) and a credit card for the deposit.
Do I need an International Driving Permit to drive in Dubai?
Only if your licence is not on the UAE's accepted list or is not in English or Arabic. Licences from the GCC, UK, US, Canada, Australia, Japan and most European countries are accepted on their own.
Can I rent a car in Dubai with an Indian driving licence?
Yes, with an International Driving Permit issued in India, carried together with the original licence. India is not on the list of countries whose licence is accepted on its own.
Is a digital driving licence accepted?
Rental companies generally want the physical licence card. Bring it, even if your country issues a digital version.
Can someone else pay the deposit for me?
Usually not. The deposit card has to be in the main driver's name at most companies, because the hold covers that driver's fines and damage.
Can I rent a car in Dubai with a UK or US licence?
Yes. Visitors with a licence from the UK, the US, most of Europe and a number of other countries can usually drive on their home licence without an International Driving Permit. Check the current accepted list with the rental company before you travel.
Written by the TripReview team from our own price benchmarks and the rules published by UAE authorities, and updated 22 September 2026. Figures are ranges, not quotes — check the latest rules with the official source before you travel. How we rate companies
