It depends on your licence. Visitors from GCC countries, the US, UK, Canada, most of the EU, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and several other countries can usually rent with their home licence alone. If your licence is from any other country — or isn't printed in English or Arabic — you must carry an International Driving Permit alongside your original licence.
Which licences work on their own
Rental desks in Dubai accept licences from a broad list of countries directly, covering the GCC, North America, the UK, most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea, among others. If your country is on the accepted list, you simply show your home licence at pickup. If it isn't — or your licence isn't printed in English or Arabic — you need an International Driving Permit as well.
The IDP is a translation, not a replacement
An International Driving Permit is only an official translation of your licence. It has no value on its own, so always carry the original licence with it — the desk will ask for both. One more rule worth knowing: UAE residents must drive on their UAE licence, not a foreign one, even if they hold both.
Why it matters beyond the desk
- Insurance: if you drive without the IDP your licence requires, insurance claims can be rejected — an accident could become entirely your cost.
- No fix on arrival: an IDP must be issued in your home country before you travel. It cannot be arranged in the UAE.
Sort it before you fly
Check your licence's status as soon as you plan the trip, and apply for an IDP at home if you need one. Then compare rental cars in Dubai and book with the right paperwork in hand — more pickup-desk essentials are covered in car rental help.