More tourists from China visit Dubai every year, and some are surprised to find brands they know from home in our fleet, from BYD to Hongqi. Here is what you need to rent a car: which licence is accepted, how to pay, and why a Chinese car abroad can feel more comfortable than you might expect.
Licence, no International Driving Permit needed
A Chinese national driving licence works on its own here: China is on the UAE's direct-recognition list (the Markhoos programme), so a tourist can drive throughout the length of their visa on the Chinese licence plus passport alone, no International Driving Permit (IDP) required. That direct recognition is for driving as a visitor; residents who later exchange a Chinese licence for a UAE one need a certified translation for that separate process, but a short-term renter does not need to think about it. The full list of countries on the direct-recognition list, and the general requirements, are covered in our separate guide to UAE driving licence rules.
A familiar side of the road
Unlike visitors from the UK or Pakistan, guests from China do not need to relearn which side of the road to drive on: China and the UAE both drive on the right with the wheel on the left. The only real difference shows up at roundabouts, where the priority logic in Dubai is broadly similar to what you already know from home, and in small details such as the position of some steering wheel controls, which can vary from model to model.
Payment
We accept cash dirhams, bank card and bank transfer, full prepayment at booking, and no deposit on any car. If your card is issued by a Chinese bank, check with your bank before the trip whether international transactions are enabled and the overseas spending limit is sufficient, on some cards this is a separate setting. In case the card does not go through on the first try, it is sensible to carry some cash dirhams or arrange a bank transfer in advance.
Chinese brands in our fleet
The fleet has more than twenty five models from Chinese brands, from budget to premium: Chery, Changan, GAC, Geely, Haval, Omoda, Jetour, Jaecoo, BYD, Hongqi, Zeekr and others. For a Chinese tourist this often means a familiar infotainment layout, controls in a familiar place, and a brand you already know, even if the exact model is badged or specced differently abroad. A detailed rundown of the best Chinese models in the fleet, with prices and specs, is in our separate guide to Chinese brand cars; we will not repeat the full list here, but as examples we carry the BYD Atto 3 and BYD Han electric cars, the Haval H6 and Jetour X70 crossovers, and the more upscale Hongqi H9 and Zeekr 001.
Popular routes
For day trips from Dubai, the usual picks are Abu Dhabi with the Sheikh Zayed Mosque (about 140 km, 1.5 hours on the highway), Al Ain with its oasis and the Jebel Hafeet mountain road (about 130 km), and Hatta in the mountains near the Oman border (about 130 km). All three routes run on good paved roads, four-wheel drive is not required.
What to bring
- Passport, and a hotel booking confirmation if needed.
- Chinese national driving licence and passport, no International Driving Permit needed for a tourist visit.
- A bank card with international transactions enabled, or cash dirhams.
Minimum age 21 and at least 1 year of driving experience apply to every car in the fleet with no exceptions, and there is no separate requirement specifically for Chinese citizens.
Electric cars: BYD and beyond
If you have already switched to an electric car at home, you can keep the habit in Dubai: the fleet includes the BYD Atto 3, BYD Han, BYD Tang, the Zeekr X and Zeekr 001, and the Tesla Model 3, Model Y and Model X. Charging infrastructure in the UAE is strongest in Dubai and Abu Dhabi; the network between emirates is not yet as dense as in China, so plan charging ahead for longer trips such as Al Ain or Hatta. Details on charging networks and what to expect from an electric rental in Dubai are in our separate electric car rental guide.
Business trips and exhibitions
Some visitors from China come to Dubai not as tourists but for business: trade shows such as GITEX in October, negotiations, or opening a new office. For trips like this, the minimum rental is one day, which is convenient if the car is only needed for a couple of meetings rather than the whole visit. Our office is in Princess Tower, Dubai Marina, and support works in English and Russian daily from 10:00 to 19:00, not around the clock, which is worth keeping in mind when planning a late-evening or early-morning pickup.
Tolls
Dubai runs the Salik toll system: AED 6.30 at peak hours (weekdays and Saturday 06:00 to 10:00 and 16:00 to 20:00), AED 4.20 off peak, VAT included, a flat AED 4.20 all day on Sundays, and free travel from 1 am to 6 am. The toll tag is already fitted in the car, nothing extra to connect, charges are deducted automatically as you pass through.
Insurance and what is included
The price already includes insurance (third party plus partial own-damage cover), 250 km of mileage a day, a full tank at handover and a free first tank on rentals of 5 days or more. Extended zero-excess cover is available as a paid add-on, ask for the current rate when booking. There is no deposit on any car, and delivery and collection anywhere in Dubai are free on rentals of 7 days or more; for shorter rentals, delivery and collection together cost AED 210 regardless of location in Dubai.
Travelling as a group
If you are travelling as a tour group or a large family, a single sedan will not be enough. Beyond seven-seat SUVs such as the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and the Nissan Patrol, we also run a separate line of minivans and minibuses for bigger groups, covered in our minivan and minibus rental guide. Splitting a group of ten or more into two SUVs instead of one minibus is usually less convenient and not necessarily cheaper once you count two drivers and two sets of mileage.
