How to Rent a Car in Abu Dhabi; a Comprehensive Guide

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, is known for its dynamism and mobility. There are a few important things to learn about this emirate: Abu Dhabi is so vast that it covers 80% of the UAE’s area, the most important financial, cultural and commercial centers are located in Abu Dhabi and above all it is the second most populated city in the UAE after Dubai.

All this means that as a resident or a newcomer you will probably have many questions about how to get around. Apart from referring to the use of the UAE public transport services, there is another straightforward answer: “Rent a car”.

Using a rental car in Abu Dhabi and other emirates incredibly pushes you forward. In following article, we tried to answer your probable questions by providing a comprehensive guide about car rental in Abu Dhabi.

Age Requirement to Rent a Car in Abu Dhabi

In Abu Dhabi and in the UAE in general, you must be at least 18 years old to drive, provided that the car you are driving is not a rented one. For rental cars, the age legitimacy is slightly different, which works as a guarantee.

The minimum age to rent a car is 21. Note that because of the serious care needs to be taken of super luxury cars, some renowned companies do not rent these cars to individuals under 25.

Required Document to Rent a car in Abu Dhabi

The car rental applicant is required to provide the original and valid documents listed below to the contracting party company. Needless to say, all the documents must be under the applicant’s name. To avoid any confusion, the administrative documents required to conclude the contract are mentioned separately for two groups of UAE and non-UAE residents.

• UAE Residents:

_Passport (copy or image)
_Residential visa
_Emirates ID (copy or image)
_UAE Driving License or International Driving Permit (IDP)
_Security Deposit (determined by the rental company)
_Credit Card

• Non-UAE Resident

_Passport with entry stamp (original)
_Visit visa (original)
_ International Driving Permit / GCC Driving License or Driving License from Exempted Countries
_Security Deposit (determined by the rental company)
_Credit Card

Note that the security deposit applies equally to UAE and non-UAE residents. Based on the type of vehicle and rental period, a security deposit between AED 1000 and 5000 will be blocked on client’s credit card. Credit card must be valid for at least 3 months. The deposit can also be paid from applicant’s debit card.

Additional Insurance When Renting a Car

Many applicants ask if they need to accept any additional insurance when renting a car.

The answer is somehow Yes, because the car rental additional insurance is different from Collision Damage Waiver.

CDW means that you do not have to pay the entire cost of damage to the rental car, but the additional insurance will reduce the part of the payment that is your responsibility for the damages to the vehicle parts and accessories thereof.

Rental Companies Available in Abu Dhabi

• AVIS Car Rental
• BELHASA Car Rental
• THRIFTY Car Rental
• DOLLAR Rent a Car
• INDIGO Rent a Car

FAQ About Car Rental in Abu Dhabi

Is Security Deposit Refundable?

Security deposit is a type of financial guarantee. However, all expenses including traffic fines, administration fees, petrol costs, toll charges, fine for early or late return of the vehicle, the cost of any mileage over the agreed amount and additional accident or damage charges will be deducted from this amount.

The rest will be returned to the applicant’s account within 30 working days. Be sure to check the rules for each company in advance.

Is It Possible to Rent a Car in Abu Dhabi and Leaves in Dubai?

Each of car rental companies have their own policies. What sets some corporations apart from others is the type and extent of services needed by clients.

To better handle of pickup and drop-off the car, some corporations have the note in the contract stating the trip must be within Abu Dhabi, while some allow the car to be dropped off to any of the company’s branches inside the UAE.

Can Foreigners Hire a car in Abu Dhabi?

Citizens of different countries are allowed to rent a car in Abu Dhabi and UAE. Tourists and visitors need to present a valid UAE entry visa, the original and copy of passport, driving license issued by home country and international permit driving to the rental company when signing a car rental contract.

Age-related rules are still standing; age of 21 for normal cars and 25 for special luxury models.

What Types of Cars Are Most Frequently Rented in Abu Dhabi?

According to the gathered-up data, the most popular rented cars in the last month (July 2024) were as follows:

• Toyota Raize: a compact 5-seater SUV with sporty interior design suitable for youths.
• Honda CR-V: a compact SUV with advanced safety features and newly designed interior.
• Toyota RAV 4: a compact SUV with the highest safety and lowest depreciation.
• Toyota Urban Cruiser: a compact SUV with spacious cabin and user-friendly features.
• Nissan Altima: a family roomy car with impressive fuel economy.
• Kia Optima: a mid-size family friendly sedan with elegant body.

End Note

Believe it or not, despite all advantages the public transport system in the UAE is still lagging behind in popularity.

There is a misconception that using public services is much cheaper than renting a car in Abu Dhabi, but this is only true in some cases and locations.

In addition, access to many areas of Abu Dhabi is almost impossible without a personal car. Beyond everything, excessive heat makes difficult in Abu Dhabi to get around. Under this condition, imagine how helpful can renting a car be.

To have a great experience, check car rental prices on all approved websites by UAE authority, carefully read published customer reviews about the service provided by rental companies and most importantly, do not sign any contract without reading it thoroughly.