What you should know before travelling around the Emirates on a rented car

The UAE is a country with huge modern cities that have grown with skyscrapers, shopping and office centres and resorts. The most famous city of it is Dubai, but there are worthwhile places besides it.

The best way to travel between the emirates is by car. It is not easy to come here by your own car, so renting is the best solution. You can rent a car of any class, including luxury car rentals or a powerful SUV. It is more convenient to drive a rented car in the city streets.

Public transport in the UAE is not as well developed as tourists would like. Only Dubai has an efficient transport system with metro and buses. It is also not very difficult to get from one emirate to another.

What do you need to rent a car in the UAE

In the United Arab Emirates, a rental car is a common way to get around. In order to take advantage of this opportunity, you will need:

1. international passport;

2. international driver's licence;

3. a bank card with the name of the owner. You’ll need to have enough money for a deposit for the car.

What do you need to know about traffic rules

You also need to get acquainted with the rules of the road adopted in this country. A lot of people who have visited the UAE make a point that there is a high driving culture there. There are no drunk drivers on the roads, which is due to the peculiarities of the local mentality. The dominant religion in the country is Islam, which prohibits drinking spirits. The police keep the order on the roads, and it is better not to try to “negotiate” with them on the spot. Trying to bribe law enforcement officers will only make things worse. All fines should be paid at police stations and service centres in large malls.

According to statistics, tourists pay most fines for exceeding the speed limit. It is recommended to carefully follow the road signs showing how fast you can drive along certain sections of the street or country road. Please note that in the United Arab Emirates you will be fined if you:

1. do not fasten your seat belt;

2. smoke when there is a child under the age of 12 in the car;

3. do not use child seats for transporting children under the age of 10;

4. stop on a highway road without a sufficient reason;

5. throw trash out the window.

An interesting feature of the United Arab Emirates is that the road network here is constantly evolving. This means that the latest navigation software updates sometimes fail to keep track of changes. At the same time, to search for a route. It is better to enter into the navigator the name of the object you are going to than the address of your destination.

Parking: what be aware of

The parking situation in the United Arab Emirates is not bad, but not ideal. Sometimes it is not possible to find a parking place near popular shopping centres and other similar objects. But it depends on the time of day.

Parking near hotels and large supermarkets is often free.

Parking near airports and large shopping centres can be paid, but there is often a free period that lasts up to 3-4 hours.

Street parking in permitted places, as a rule, is paid during the day, and you need to pay with cash. 

Where to go in the UAE with a rented car

The UAE is an association of seven small states. Each of them has something to see. However, you should be informed that traffic rules and local customs may vary.

The largest emirate is Abu Dhabi. It has beaches, one of the largest mosques in the world – the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, a huge art museum, the Ferrari World theme park and many other attractions.

Dubai also attracts tourists. This is the city where such famous tourist places as the giant Burj Khalifa skyscraper, the Burj Al Arab sail hotel, and the Wild Wadi Water Park are located. Some people come to Dubai for shopping.

Sharjah is a more conservative emirate. Here you can look at the fish market, stroll through the oriental bazaars, visit attractions such as the King Faisal Mosque and the Al Jazeera amusement park.

In the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, many people go for a beach holiday. Also, many architectural sights are preserved here.

Fujairah, Ajman and Umm al-Qaiwain are not such large emirates. Tourists do not come here as often as in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. But there are many interesting things here too: for example, the National Museum of History in Ajman, the Naval Research Center in Umm al-Qaiwain, or the 17th-century fort in Fujairah.

Travelling by car is a fast and convenient option. You can go any place in the country you like and any time you want. Furthermore, you have the opportunity to do this with comfort. The most simple and efficient way is to rent a car while travelling.