Dubai International Airport (DXB) is one of the busiest airports in the world for international passengers, and for most visitors it is the front door to the city. It is also one of the most convenient places anywhere to pick up a rental car: desks and collection points operate around the clock across the terminals, matching the airport's 24-hour arrivals.
Why rent at the airport
Dubai's taxis are metered and plentiful, but the distances are long — Marina, the Palm and the resort strip are 30–40 minutes from DXB — and repeated rides add up fast. A rental car usually works out cheaper over a multi-day stay, and it opens up the trips taxis make expensive: desert drives, Abu Dhabi day trips, the northern emirates. Many rental companies in Dubai will alternatively deliver the car to your hotel, so you can also land, transfer, and have the car brought to you the next morning.
What you need
Bring your passport, your driving licence and a credit card for the deposit. Visitors from many countries can drive on their home licence; others need an International Driving Permit alongside it — check the requirement for your nationality before you fly, not at the counter.
Rules worth knowing before you drive off
Seat belts are mandatory for everyone in the car, phones are hands-free only, and tolerance for speeding is minimal — speed cameras are everywhere and fines follow the car, which means they follow your deposit. Salik toll gates charge automatically and rental companies re-bill you afterwards. None of this should put you off: roads are modern, well lit and clearly signed in English, and driving in Dubai is far easier than in most cities of its size.
