Where in the UAE should you rent a car from a local company?

What the numbers say about car hire across the UAE

This guide reads a snapshot of public Localrent search results for a one-week rental. For UAE, the snapshot holds 1,156 cars across 3 tracked cities. All 1,156 listings were analysed.

The headline is deposits. 81% of cars need no deposit, and 100% need no credit card. The median destination in this guide sits near three in five cars without a deposit.

Cancellation terms are even further ahead. 92% of cars carry free cancellation, against fewer than two in five at the median destination. That gap explains much of the score of 8.0 and the rank of 4.

The fleet is young. The median model year is 2024, 80% of cars are marked as new and 100% are automatic. The weak point is mileage, with only 2% offering unlimited kilometres. Free delivery appears on 14% of cars.

The scoring method is explained on the methodology page. Other countries and islands are listed under all destinations.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah: three local markets side by side

The three tracked cities hold similar fleets, but their booking terms differ in useful ways.

Dubai has the largest choice of cars in the snapshot, ahead of the other two cities. It serves Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum International (DWC). Its no-deposit share is a little below the country level. Dubai stands out for free delivery, which is offered on more than a third of its cars. Searches such as car rental Mall of the Emirates fit here, since the mall is in Dubai. Check the car card for delivery options.

Abu Dhabi has the best deposit and cancellation terms of the three. Both shares beat the country figures. The capital is served by Zayed International (AUH). No car in its snapshot offered free delivery or unlimited mileage. The BMW X5 joins its most listed models.

Sharjah sits between the two on choice, with slightly more cars than Abu Dhabi. Its no-deposit share matches the country. Sharjah International (SHJ) is a short drive from Dubai. Sharjah has the highest unlimited mileage share of the three, though it is still very low.

Which cars suit the roads of the Emirates

The most listed models across UAE are Hyundai Elantra, Nissan Patrol, Cadillac Escalade, Kia Sorento, Kia Sportage. Every car in the snapshot is automatic, which suits heavy city traffic.

• The Hyundai Elantra is a compact sedan that suits commuting on Sheikh Zayed Road (E11) between Dubai and Sharjah.
• The Nissan Patrol is a large SUV that suits the long paved run towards Liwa in the Abu Dhabi region.
• The Cadillac Escalade is a full-size luxury SUV that suits airport transfers from DXB with heavy luggage.
• The Kia Sorento is a midsize SUV that suits families driving the E66 to Al Ain.
• The Kia Sportage is a compact SUV that suits the mountain road to Hatta.
• The MG ZS is a small crossover that suits short trips around Sharjah.
• The BMW X5 is a premium SUV that suits the E11 coastal stretch towards Abu Dhabi.

With a median model year of 2024, most cars are recent. Still, check the year and photos on each car card. Deposit rules differ from car to car. Insurance terms differ by company, so read them on every card.

No deposit, cash deposit or card: what UAE car cards show

Deposit terms are where car rentals in UAE score highest in this guide. 81% of cars in the snapshot need no deposit at all. The remaining 19% take a deposit that can be paid in cash.

Three separate things appear on each car card:

• No deposit means the company does not hold a security amount for that car.
• Cash deposit means a deposit applies, and cash is an accepted way to pay it.
• No credit card means you can rent without a credit card. This applies to 100% of cars here.

The search filters let you show only no-deposit or no-credit-card cars. If a car needs a deposit, its amount and payment methods are on the card. This guide never quotes deposit amounts.

Keep the advance separate from the deposit. The advance is always paid online by bank card, and cash is not accepted for it. Browse no-deposit cars and cash deposit cars, or read the deposits guide.

Free cancellation, mileage caps and delivery in the UAE

Free cancellation is the second strength. 92% of cars allow it, a share far above the median destination. Exact terms differ, so read the cancellation rules on the car card and in your voucher.

Mileage is the clear weakness. Only 2% of cars come with unlimited kilometres. The rest carry a mileage limit set by the company and shown on the car card.

That matters on long drives. A trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and on to Liwa covers a lot of road. Count your planned kilometres before you book.

Delivery is uneven. 14% of cars offer free delivery across the country. Dubai accounts for almost all of it, while the Abu Dhabi and Sharjah snapshots show none. Delivery terms appear on each car card.

For flexible offers, see free cancellation cars. Every car rental service in UAE listed through Localrent shows these terms before you pay.

Driving between the seven emirates

The UAE drives on the right, and cars have the steering wheel on the left. Main roads are wide and signed in Arabic and English.

The main spine is the E11, known as Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. It links Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and the northern emirates. The E311 runs parallel inland and often carries less traffic.

Other useful routes:

• The E66 runs from Dubai to Al Ain near the Oman border.
• The E44 leads from Dubai towards Hatta in the Hajar Mountains.
• Roads north from Sharjah reach Ras Al Khaimah and the climb to Jebel Jais.

Dubai uses electronic Salik toll gates on major roads. Abu Dhabi has its own road toll system. Ask the rental company how tolls are charged to the car.

Speed cameras are common on motorways. Summer heat is intense, so test the air conditioning at pick-up. Minimum age and licence rules are set by each company and shown on the car card.

How booking emirates car rental through Localrent works

Localrent is an online booking service that lists cars of local, independent rental companies. It is an intermediary and does not own any cars. This guide is independent and not part of Localrent.

The process has a few clear steps:

• Search Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah for your dates.
• Pick a specific car from a named local company. The card shows model, year, photos, deposit and payment methods.
• Read the mileage, insurance and cancellation terms on the same card.
• Pay the advance online by bank card. Cash is not accepted for this step.
• Pay the rest to the rental company at pick-up, using the methods shown for that car.

The rental contract is signed with the local company, not with Localrent. Your conditions are listed in your voucher, so keep it at hand.

Use the car card checklist before paying. The how it works guide covers each step in detail. Trust questions are answered in is Localrent legit.

Our verdict

UAE is one of the strongest destinations in this guide, scoring 8.0 and ranking 4. Deposit, card and cancellation terms are excellent, and the fleet is young and fully automatic. Plan around tight mileage limits, especially on long drives between emirates.