For a trip with relatives, one car with seven seats is usually simpler than two separate cars. But citizens of Indonesia have two things to know in advance: the documents and the side of the road.
Licence: national licence plus IDP
Indonesia is not on the list of countries whose national licences are accepted in the UAE without extra documents. So you need two documents together: your national licence and an International Driving Permit (IDP). An IDP is a translation, not a standalone document, and it is invalid without the original licence. A police officer at a stop will ask for both.
It is simpler and cheaper to get the IDP at home, at the authority that issues driving licences in your country. The one the UAE recognises is the IDP under the 1968 Vienna Convention. Ask that authority about the procedure.
If you forgot or ran out of time, we can arrange a digital IDP in Dubai the same day: you need your passport, national licence and a photo. It costs AED 250 and arrives on your phone. A printed version costs AED 500 and is ready the next day. The IDP is valid for three years. This is a legal service through a licensed operator.
Without an IDP, a police stop or an insurance claim becomes a problem: the insurer can refuse to pay and the company will pass the repair bill to the renter. If you live in the UAE on a residence visa, you cannot drive on a foreign licence even with an IDP, and a local one is required.
- Passport with a valid UAE visa or entry stamp.
- Age and experience: 21 or older with at least a year of driving. There is no young-driver fee. A few supercars have stricter terms, shown on the car page.
- A second driver: their licence, IDP and passport are needed at handover.
From the left side to the right
In Indonesia you sit on the right and drive on the left. In the UAE the wheel is on the left and traffic keeps to the right. This is the main adjustment, and here is where mistakes happen most.
- Turns and junctions. The habit of taking the left lane after a turn will show up. Repeat to yourself: "right".
- Roundabouts. At home they run clockwise, here anti-clockwise, and you give way to traffic coming from the left.
- Stalks. Depending on the car, the indicator and wipers may be on the opposite side from what you are used to.
- Judging the car's width. You sit by the left edge, so your feel for the right side of the car is off. Leave extra room when parking and passing.
- Speed and lanes. Roads here are wide and fast, and the left lane is for overtaking. Sheikh Zayed Road is posted at 100 or 120 km/h depending on the stretch, cameras in Dubai typically record from about 21 km/h over the limit, and Abu Dhabi has no margin.
Make the first drive on a wide, well-marked highway in daylight, not on tight streets.
Family cars with seven seats
Models familiar from home are available, but they have special terms because they come from a partner company. Prices are as of October 2026, and the current price is on each car page.
| Car | Day, AED | Week, AED | Month, AED | Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzuki Ertiga 2024, 7 seats | 115 | 750 | 2,590 | partner, AED 1,000 deposit, from 7 days |
| Mitsubishi Xpander 2024, 7 seats | 125 | 820 | 2,790 | partner, AED 1,000 deposit, from 7 days |
| Toyota Innova 2024, 7 seats | 145 | 950 | 3,290 | partner, AED 1,000 deposit, from 7 days |
| Mitsubishi Outlander 2024, 7 seats, all-wheel drive | 200 | 1,300 | 4,400 | no deposit, from 1 day |
| Kia Sorento 2024, 7 seats, all-wheel drive | 220 | 1,320 | 4,400 | no deposit, from 1 day |
| Toyota Fortuner 2024, 7 seats | 280 | 1,680 | 5,600 | no deposit, from 1 day |
Partner cars are cheaper but have their own terms: a deposit of AED 1,000, a minimum rental of 3 or 7 days, delivery at AED 80 each way (free from 30 days) and no driving to Oman. If you need a 2 or 3 day rental, or prefer not to leave a deposit, take the Outlander, Sorento or Fortuner.
Where to go with the family
250 km per day is included. That is plenty for a trip to Abu Dhabi (about 140 km, an hour and a half), where the Sheikh Zayed Mosque is worth a stop, or to the Hatta mountains (about 130 km) and the Al Ain oasis (about 130 km). All the roads are paved, so four-wheel drive is only needed to head into the desert.
Payment and tolls
We accept cash, bank cards and e-wallets. Check with your bank that your card can be used abroad. When you pay by card, the rental amount may be held as a pre-authorisation and charged at the end. Insurance is included in the price.
Salik toll gates cost AED 6.30 at peak times Monday to Saturday (6:00 to 10:00 and 16:00 to 20:00), AED 4.20 otherwise and on Sundays, and are free from 1:00 to 6:00. Salik and fines are paid by the renter at actual cost with no markup. Parking in Dubai is paid almost everywhere. On standard cars, rentals of 7 days or more include free delivery and return anywhere in Dubai, and for shorter ones they cost AED 210 together. Our office is in Princess Tower, Dubai Marina, open daily 10:00 to 19:00, with Russian-speaking support.
