Questions You Should Ask Before Leasing a Car in Dubai
Navigating the streets of Dubai is beautiful but if you have never driven there before it can be quite a daunting experience. Different people from all over the world drive there so the mixture of driving styles is very chaotic and can be very overwhelming. Add that to the fact that public transport although very reliable isn’t the easiest way to explore the city. Taxis and trams are expensive so if you are going to be staying a while it might be more economical for you to consider hiring a car for the duration of your stay. There are many rules to take into consideration and you need to be at least 25 years old in order to apply. Agents will ask you to provide your International driver's license and you will need to have a good credit card on file.
Decide on a Short- or Long-term Car Lease
The amount of time that you are spending in Dubai will influence your decision on whether to take a short or long-term car lease contract. If you are only in town for a short weekend road trip, then a weekly or weekend lease would be a good idea. If you are in town for business and planning on spending months in the city, then a long-term lease contract would end up saving you a lot of money.
Find a Reputable Leasing Company
Do your research online to ensure that you are dealing with a reputable company. There are many flies by-night operations waiting to prey on unsuspecting tourists and they won’t hesitate to steal your hard-earned cash. There are a lot of places where you can car leasing in Dubai so try to find a name that you recognize or read a lot of customer reviews before deciding on which company to use.
Get Your Documents in Order
Having your documents in order will make the leasing process run a lot smoother. If you are a tourist, you need to be over the age of 25 and hold an International driver’s license. You will also be required to provide a copy of your valid visa verification. If you have a European or GCC license and you comply with all the other rules and regulations, you can use that license.
Don’t Drive off the Beaten Track
It is illegal to rent a car and then drive it outside of the UAE. Study your map very carefully so you don’t get lost and find yourself on the wrong side of the law. If you plan on visiting a city such as Oman, you will need to borrow a car as if you drive there in your rented car, you will be breaking the law.
Age is Not Just a Number
Residents of the UAE can legally drive by the age of 18 but if you are a tourist in the country and want to hire a vehicle you will need to be at least 21 years old. Some companies insist that you must be 25 or older in order to lease certain brands of vehicles and you must have had your license for at least 2 years.