Licensed partner of leading UAE developers
Call us, we're working now
+971 (556) 06-53-76
24.09.2025
1308
Save the article:
What is it about? Cars in Dubai are accessible even to tourists: neither citizenship nor residency in the country is required for purchase and rental. However, there are certain peculiarities to car ownership in the Emirates, from acquisition methods to insurance and traffic regulations.
What to pay attention to? In Dubai, driving without a fastened seat belt is prohibited, the driver must not smoke in the vehicle in the presence of a child under 12 years old, use a mobile phone, or drive below the established speed. And this is just a small part of those peculiarities.
Generally, dealerships in the UAE offer a large selection of brands of new cars. In such places, you can also purchase a used vehicle in any condition, and staff will help not only with the purchase but also with vehicle registration.
There is a myth that tourists need to obtain additional documents, such as Emirates ID, to get a car. But in truth only a passport, which they used to enter the country, is required.
It is recommended to pay for a vehicle in cash, but when such an option is not available, card payment may also be possible. If you plan to take the car for a test drive before making a purchase, leave a request on the dealership's website. A manager will contact you regarding your application, and you can arrange the date and time of the meeting.
Keep in mind that cars in Dubai differ from those sold in Russia. Most often, instead of heated seats and steering wheel, there will be a more powerful air conditioning system that is better suited to the climate. There are also differences in the audio system: cars in the UAE are equipped with built-in multimedia systems.
Another common option for purchasing a vehicle is through auctions. They feature all types of cars available in Dubai: both used and new, in various conditions. Most often these are models from foreign countries. Online auctions are available for your convenience.
To participate in an offline auction, you need to select a vehicle at the organiser's venue and wait for the bidding to begin. You should have at least 30% of the car's cost available; the remaining amount is paid within a couple of days, after which you can collect the documents. If this condition is not met, usually the money spent cannot be refunded.
Image source: Jocelyn Peralta / shutterstock.com
If you're considering an online auction option, then Emirates Auction might be suitable. Registration is available both on the website and in the application. After logging into your account, you need to make a deposit that will determine the maximum possible bid amount.
You can participate in car auctions if the full cost does not exceed five times your deposit amount. At this stage, you can choose the desired option and monitor the auction progress. In case of winning, you need to pay the remaining amount and collect your new car.
Auction venues also have certain mandatory service fees. Taking Emirates Auction as an example, the amount will be 80–140 dollars. Additionally, extra costs will include vehicle value tax (about 5%) and lot loading and unloading fees.
Online auction participants can inspect the car personally before bidding begins. However, all clients are warned that the venues are not responsible for the vehicles on display.
Speaking of the downsides of this format, it lies in the possibility of transaction rejection even in case of winning. Sometimes the seller cancels the agreement to increase the car's price and put it back up for auction. For the final decision, you need to wait several days. If the seller cancels the deal, the deposit is returned to the buyer in full.
You can buy a car not only in a car showroom or at an auction. The car market is full of different options: new and used cars, either in good or poor condition. One of the leaders among car markets in Dubai is Al Awir. New cars there will be cheaper, and they can be shipped to the client's country.
To purchase a car from a private owner, you can search for advertisements on social networks or on specialised websites, such as Dubicars and Dubizzle.
Image source: TippaPatt / shutterstock.com
It's worth noting that sometimes cars may have rolled back mileage or have been in a serious accident. Checking the history of UAE vehicles is simple, but such cars in Dubai are considered expensive.
Registering a car in the UAE is quite easy. You need to complete several steps:
The amount of money spent will depend on the type of car and place of vehicle registration. If you go to dealerships, the cost will be higher. Generally, the price for basic services ranges from 150 to 1,500 dirhams.
Regarding petrol costs, they are quite low in the UAE (less than 3 dirhams per litre). Diesel vehicles are rarely seen there.
It should be noted that the city has toll roads. There is a special toll collection system called Salik. To travel through toll gates, a special tag is purchased and installed on the car's windscreen. Its cost is 100 dirhams.
While only a passport is needed to buy and register a car, for driving in the UAE you need an international or local driving licence. If you drive without such a document, there is a risk of receiving a fine of 5,000 UAE dirhams.
Naturally, it's necessary to know the basic rules of driving in the country. Speed limits on main roads are 60–80 km/h; when driving through narrow streets — up to 40; on motorways it's permitted to reach 100–120 km/h.
Of course, the main rules are reflected on road signs that will help you navigate better. However, don't forget that there are penalties there for both exceeding and driving below the speed limit.
A fine of 400 dirhams will be charged if:
You'll have to part with AED 500 in the following cases:
There are other fines, for example:
Violations such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs result in driving licence revocation and sometimes arrest. Besides a large fine, there's a risk of imprisonment if children or animals are left unattended in the car.
To drive a car in the UAE as a tourist, you need to obtain a special international driving permit. In Russia such a document can be ordered through Gosuslugi; you’ll need to pay the state fee, and collect it from the traffic police on the appointed date.
Image source: carsguru / shutterstock.com
If you are a resident of the United Arab Emirates, you need to obtain a licence locally. For this, you'll have to undergo special training at a driving school and successfully pass the exam.
In case of car rental, you must have with you:
Car rental in Dubai with a debit card is rarely available, so when planning your trip, don't forget to set up a credit account. The "MIR" payment system is not supported in the UAE. With this type of card, you can use a special website to make a deposit for the rental.
To successfully book a car, you need to make sure there are sufficient funds or your account to pay for it.
It's also worth notifying your bank about planned expenses so that your account isn't blocked due to suspicious transfers and purchases. If the car booking is successful, a payment receipt will be sent to your email. It's recommended to print it or be ready to show it on your phone.
Remember that car rental is usually only possible with a pledge. If there is no pledge, the rental fee will be increased.
To rent a car, you can contact a local rental company. In this case, it's best to choose a car with a pledge that's accepted in cash. The pledge is returned after 30 days, as the police sometimes delay sending information about received fines.
To rent a car at the airport, you need to find a special counter of a rental company. Such counters are located at the exit.
However, there are some important factors to consider when choosing this rental option:
The car must be returned to a company employee. They will inspect the vehicle, check it for damage, and note the fuel level. After this, you will sign an agreement on transferring the vehicle to the company.
Image source: Inside Creative House / shutterstock.com
The employee will check Salik, but the payment typically processes later. You can check for fines yourself on dubaipolice.gov.ae, where entering the Dubai car number is sufficient. Within 30 days, all debts will be paid, and the previously blocked deposit will become available again.
Smoking in the car when a child under 12 is present is prohibited. Leaving children and animals unattended in the car is also forbidden.
Such a policy must cover not only repairs to your car but also damage to other people's health and property. Therefore, its cost will depend on factors such as: car make, age and driving experience of its owner. It's important to properly select an insurance plan that will determine the company's payout amount in case of an accident.
As in other countries, cars left in unauthorised places in the UAE are often sent to special impound lots. Retrieving the vehicle will cost around 50–75 dirhams.
If you discover your car is missing, you should contact the police and check if it was taken to the impound lot. They will tell you where exactly the car is and how much you need to pay. From 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, city parking is free. But don't forget that this is lunchtime for most employees, meaning finding a free parking space is quite difficult.
Initially, you might find it unusual driving in Dubai, but if you follow all the rules, trips in another country will become routine for you. By observing road order in the UAE, you will feel safe, as all drivers take it very seriously.
For comfortable driving in Dubai, you'll need not only the necessary documents but also knowledge of local driver rules.
Article header image source: carsguru / shutterstock.com
