Driving in the UAE: rental cars, Dubai and Abu Dhabi tolls, parking and charging

Traffic drives on the right, distances are in kilometres and speeds are in kilometres per hour. A car can be useful for travelling between emirates or reaching places away from urban transport. For a Dubai-only break, first compare the complete rental cost with metro journeys and taxis. Wide roads do not necessarily mean simple navigation.

Dubai skyline, United Arab Emirates · Robert Bock · CC0

Choose a rental that matches the itinerary

Add parking, tolls and the deposit requirement to the daily hire price. A car can make a multi-emirate itinerary more flexible, while an urban stay may not justify paying for it every day. Check whether your accommodation provides parking and how convenient it is to retrieve the vehicle.

You can compare offers through DiscoverCars for your actual UAE pickup point. Read mileage limits, excess, additional-driver charges and one-way return fees. Reimbursement cover is not necessarily the same as a zero-excess contract at the rental desk, and it may not remove the deposit requirement.

Documents and collection checks

Bring your passport and original valid driving licence. Confirm with the supplier whether your licence-issuing country and visitor status require an International Driving Permit, and carry one where required. Permission for a tourist to drive is different from the process for a resident exchanging a licence.

Check the accepted deposit card and named-driver requirements before paying for the booking. Photograph existing damage, wheels, glass, fuel level and mileage. Test the air conditioning and set up navigation while parked. Ask how to report an accident, obtain roadside assistance and resolve charges arriving after the car is returned.

Red lights and left turns

There is no general right turn on red. Stop when the signal governing your lane is red; a separately controlled slip lane is a different arrangement. Do not enter a blocked junction simply because the light is green. Check for pedestrians and vehicles still clearing the intersection.

Follow the signal and arrows for your own lane when turning left. If a turn is unprotected and opposing traffic is permitted to continue, yield rather than crossing its path because a green light is visible. A signal for straight-ahead traffic is not automatically permission for the turn lane. Choose the correct lane before reaching the intersection.

Roundabouts and multilane roads

At an ordinary roundabout, give way to traffic already circulating from your left unless signs or signals establish a different arrangement. Follow lane arrows and signal your exit. Do not cut across an occupied outer lane from the inside.

Keep right when not overtaking on faster roads, maintain a safe gap and check blind spots. A missed exit means continuing to the next suitable one, not reversing or crossing several lanes abruptly. Bus and taxi lanes remain restricted even when empty. Give navigation instructions enough time to make a calm lane choice.

Speed, passengers and distractions

Observe posted limits and electronic signs. Do not treat stories about camera tolerance as permission to exceed the limit; enforcement arrangements vary by emirate. A minimum-speed sign or a limit applying to a particular lane needs separate attention.

Everyone should wear a seat belt. Reserve an appropriate child restraint and check its installation instead of relying on a generic promise that a seat is available. Do not drive after drinking alcohol or use a handheld phone while driving. Stop somewhere permitted if you need to change the route or manage an urgent message.

Two different electronic toll systems

Salik is Dubai’s electronic road-toll system: vehicles pass a gate without stopping and are charged automatically. Prices vary by time and special schedules; 5% VAT applies from June 2026. Rental companies can add administration charges, so ask how each crossing reaches your final bill.

Abu Dhabi uses DARB. Its Ghantoot and Al Qurm gates, introduced in May 2026, operate around the clock and charge AED 4 per crossing. Do not assume every Abu Dhabi gate is charged only during peak hours. Ask the rental company how both systems are handled; do not buy an additional tag or register the vehicle independently without checking its existing arrangements.

Dubai parking: match the zone and operator

For parking operated by Parkin, use the Parkin app or payment methods displayed at the location. Read the zone code, charging hours, maximum stay and price. A nearby private garage or mall can have completely different rules.

Enter the plate’s emirate and code as well as its digits. Wait for payment confirmation and retain it. SMS parking may not work with a foreign phone number, so have a machine or app alternative. Paying a fee never turns a prohibited space into a legal one, and a free day in one parking system does not establish a nationwide rule.

Abu Dhabi parking and residents-only bays

Mawaqif is Abu Dhabi’s public-parking system. Black-and-turquoise kerbs indicate standard parking, while white-and-turquoise spaces have a higher tariff and different maximum stay. The DARB app supports parking payments for the relevant vehicle and area.

Resident Permit Only bays are restricted to permit holders from 9pm to 8am. An ordinary parking payment does not override that rule. Villa parking has additional permit arrangements, so read the actual sign rather than relying solely on kerb colours. Ask your hotel whether self-parking or valet service is included.

Fuel labels at the pump

ADNOC, ENOC and Emarat are fuel-station networks. Special 95, Super 98 and E-Plus 91 are petrol grades; Diesel is separate. Use the grade specified for the car rather than choosing a product because its name sounds better.

When an attendant fills the vehicle, confirm the fuel type and amount before fuelling starts. Keep the final receipt when returning the car under a fuel policy. For longer journeys outside the city, refuel before the reserve becomes tight and carry drinking water rather than depending on one distant station.

Electric cars and guest charging

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, DEWA, operates the EV Green Charger network. Check the DEWA charging-station map. Guest users can start the charging process using the station QR code and guest service rather than needing a local electricity account.

Check the connector, availability, tariff, parking fee and any cable requirement. Other emirates have other operators; one app does not necessarily activate every charger. Ask a hotel whether its advertised facility is an operational guest charger or simply an EV parking space. Leave time to return the vehicle at the charge level specified in the rental agreement.

Heat, fog and desert excursions

Plan for intense heat, carry water and never leave children or battery-powered devices in a parked vehicle. Fog and heavy rain can quickly change road conditions. Slow down for visibility and electronic restrictions, increase following distance and do not drive into standing water or a flooded wadi.

An SUV does not mean permission to drive on dunes. Ordinary rental contracts can exclude off-road driving, which also requires suitable skills and equipment. A professionally driven desert excursion is an alternative; check the activity rather than assuming all tours offer the same ride. An Oman border crossing needs separate permission, insurance and documentation checks, unlike simply driving between UAE emirates.