Renting an economy car in Dubai is simple. Renting a Lamborghini Urus or a Rolls-Royce Phantom is a different process, with different requirements, and most of the surprises are financial rather than legal. Here is what actually applies.
The minimum age is higher than you think
For standard cars the minimum age is 21. For sports and luxury vehicles it is 25. This is not a company preference — it is what the insurers underwriting these vehicles require, and no rental company can waive it. If you are 23 and want a supercar for your birthday, the answer will be no everywhere in the city.
Licence requirements
What you need depends on your residency status, not on the car:
- UAE residents — an Emirates ID and a valid UAE driving licence. A home-country licence is not accepted once you hold residency.
- Tourists and visitors — a passport, your visit visa or entry stamp, and a valid licence from home. Depending on your nationality you will also need an International Driving Permit; some countries' licences are accepted directly, others are not.
Get the IDP before you fly. It cannot be issued inside the UAE, and arriving without one when your nationality requires it means you simply cannot drive.
The deposit is the real gatekeeper
This is what catches most people out. Deposits scale with the value of the car, and on the top of the fleet they are substantial. The deposit is refundable and is released after the car is returned and any traffic fines have cleared against it — but it has to be available on your card in the meantime.
Plan for the hold, not just the rate. A deposit is an authorisation held against your credit card limit. If your limit is close to the deposit amount, you may not have room left for anything else during the rental. Check the figure with us before you arrive.
Fines take time to appear in the system, which is why the release is not instant. That delay is normal across the whole UAE market.
Insurance: what "included" covers, and what it doesn't
Comprehensive insurance comes with every rental — it is a legal requirement in the UAE. What it does not mean is zero liability. If the car is damaged and you are at fault, you pay the excess, and insurance covers the remainder.
On a supercar the excess is proportionate to the car. Ask for the exact figure on the specific vehicle before booking, because it varies enormously across a fleet like ours.
Commonly excluded even with comprehensive cover:
- Tyres, wheels, glass and undercarriage — the most frequently damaged parts on a low-slung car
- Interior damage, including smoking
- Lost keys, and putting the wrong fuel in
- Personal belongings left in the car
What voids the insurance entirely
These are different from exclusions. If any of them applies, cover can be refused and you become liable for the full repair bill:
- Letting someone else drive. Only the person named on the contract may be behind the wheel. Adding a second driver is a two-minute request; discovering the problem after an accident is not.
- Off-road or sand driving. No supercar is covered off tarmac, and the desert photo you were planning is not worth the exposure.
- Any alcohol. The UAE limit is zero.
- Track use. A rental is not covered at Dubai Autodrome or any circuit.
- Taking the car out of the UAE without written permission — a trip to Oman needs to be arranged in advance.
Salik, fuel and mileage
| Charge | How it works |
|---|---|
| Salik (road toll) | Charged per gate crossed, billed to the rental at the end. Dubai's main roads are gated, so on a normal week's driving this accumulates. |
| Fuel | Returned at the same level it was collected. Supercars are thirsty — budget realistically if you plan long drives. |
| Mileage | Most rentals include a daily allowance, typically 250 km. Exceeding it is charged per kilometre, and the per-km rate is higher on luxury cars. |
| Traffic fines | Passed on as issued, sometimes with an administrative fee. Dubai's speed cameras are unforgiving and the fines are not small. |
Where you actually want to drive it
If the point of the rental is the drive rather than the arrival, the roads worth your time are Jumeirah Beach Road at night, the Palm's crescent, Al Qudra Road early in the morning before the heat, and the Hatta run if you have a full day. Sheikh Zayed Road looks the part in photographs but is usually a traffic jam with a skyline.
Two practical notes: parking a wide, low car in older multi-storey car parks is genuinely difficult, and speed cameras are placed generously on exactly the roads that tempt you.
Booking without surprises
Before you commit to any luxury rental — with us or anyone else — get these five things in writing:
- The daily rate, and whether it drops for a longer booking
- The deposit amount and when it is released
- The insurance excess on that exact car
- The mileage allowance and the excess-kilometre rate
- Whether delivery and collection are included
Any company that hesitates on those five is telling you something.
Want a straight answer on a specific car?
Send us the car and your dates. We will come back with the rate, the deposit and the excess in one message — before you commit to anything.
Common questions
How old do you have to be to rent a luxury car in Dubai?
25 for sports and luxury vehicles, 21 for standard cars. The limit is set by the insurers, so it cannot be waived.
Do tourists need an International Driving Permit to rent a car in Dubai?
It depends on nationality. Some countries' licences are accepted directly; others require an IDP alongside the home licence. Get the IDP before travelling — it cannot be issued inside the UAE.
How much is the deposit on a supercar rental in Dubai?
Deposits scale with the value of the vehicle and are substantially higher on supercars than on standard cars. The deposit is refundable and released after the car is returned and traffic fines have cleared.
Is insurance included when renting a luxury car in Dubai?
Yes, comprehensive insurance is included and legally required. You remain liable for the excess if you are at fault, and that excess is proportionate to the value of the car.
Can I take a rental car from Dubai to Oman?
Only with written permission arranged in advance. Taking a rental out of the UAE without authorisation voids the insurance.