Most rates are "full-to-full" (or "same-to-same"): you collect the car with a full tank and return it full. If you bring it back with less fuel, the desk charges for the missing fuel plus a refuelling service fee — usually well above pump prices. Petrol in the UAE is cheap, so filling up just before return is the money-saving move.
The policies you'll see
- Full-to-full — the fairest and most common: full tank out, full tank back, nothing owed.
- Same-to-same — the same idea at whatever level the tank started; note the level on the agreement at pickup.
- Prepaid tank — you pay for a full tank upfront and return the car as empty as you like; convenient, but you rarely use every drop.
What a shortfall costs
Return the car with less fuel than agreed and the desk bills the missing litres plus a refuelling service fee — a combination that usually works out well above what you'd have paid at the pump. It's the easiest avoidable charge in the whole rental.
Two habits that save money
Fill up at a station near the drop-off point just before returning, and keep the receipt — it's your proof if the desk queries the fuel level. Helpfully, UAE pump prices are set by the government each month and remain low by global standards, so brimming the tank is painless.
Check your policy before pickup
Your exact fuel policy is stated in the rental conditions and on your voucher — read it before you collect the keys so there are no surprises at return. Ready to book? Compare rental cars in Dubai, and find more pickup and return tips in car rental help.