Car Hire - a Guide to Driving in the United Arab Emirates

Situated on the Eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, on the entrance to the Persian Gulf are the seven emirates which form the United Arab Emirates. With the discovery of oil the UAE’s have rocketed from sleepy backwater fishing towns to world class cities, boasting state-of-the art infrastructure and some of the most thriving business and commercial hubs in the world.

Dubai is at the forefront of the UAE’s phenomenal progression with its ever changing sky-line and city streets jam packed with fashionable shopping boutiques, fine restaurants and exotic Arabian souks.

Historically, the small fishing port was an important trade route, with the discovery of oil in Dubai in the 60’s though, the city has rapidly evolved into a thriving business hub and an ever increasingly popular tourist destination. One of the cities main pulls is its tax-free shopping environment, which pulls visitors from all around every year for its Shopping Festival. Dubai caters exquisitely for its visitors with world renowned hotels and the finest in international cuisine.

UAE’s capital, Abu Dhabi is the largest of the Emirates, situated on the tip of the Peninsula almost jetting out into the Persian Gulf. The capital is quite similar to Dubai, with its luxury hotels and sophisticated shopping malls; the capital however, is also home to the world’s richest oil companies and thus, may prove a little more expensive than its sister counterpart.

With petrol prices considerably lower than that of European countries, a well developed network of roads and a wealth of sites to see outside of the major cities for the more seasoned travel, car hire in UAE’s is an excellent option.

Before you are able to legally drive in UAE you need to obtain a temporary UAE driving permit, which requires your passport, a valid licence from your home country and two photographs.

Although the specific road rules differ from Emirate to Emirate, with this permit you are free to travel throughout the whole of the UAE’s. This is by far the best way to discover the vivid country, which from its thriving metropolises to vast arid landscapes forms a stark contrast.

It's worth noting that if you plan to remain solely in the cities then hiring a car isn’t likely to be the best option as inner-city driving can prove somewhat frightening to visitors. In the more rural areas though, driving is much more peaceful, and with a 4x4 you could easily take to the desert for your own adventure or perhaps some unique desert star gazing.

There is a wealth of car hire agencies operating throughout the UAE’s, with many of the large companies offering cheap car hire deals. Organising your car hire before you set off is highly recommended.