South Korean visitors most often come to Dubai on business: projects, negotiations, trade shows and work with local partners. Many stay on for a few days after the meetings or return with family for a holiday. A car saves time on that kind of trip and gives you the freedom to drive to Downtown in the evening or to Abu Dhabi at the weekend. Here are answers to the main questions.

Korean licences in the UAE

South Korea is on the list of countries whose national licences the UAE accepts for visitors without an International Driving Permit. The list is approved by the UAE Ministry of Interior and applies in every emirate.

There is one condition: the licence must be in Latin script or carry a Latin-script duplicate. Korean licences come with an English version, and with it the car is released without any other document. If your licence has no English details, check with us before booking; the safest option is to get an IDP at home and carry it together with the original licence.

What counts is the country that issued the licence, not your passport. If you are a Korean citizen with a licence from another country, check with us whether it qualifies.

If the business trip becomes a relocation

The rule above is for visitors. Once you hold a UAE residence visa, foreign licences stop being valid, even with an IDP. Korean licence holders can exchange theirs for a UAE licence at an RTA service centre without a test: you need an Emirates ID, the visa, the original licence, an Arabic translation from a licensed bureau, an eye test and a fee of about AED 900. It usually takes a day.

Documents at handover

  • Passport with a valid UAE visa or entry stamp.
  • Korean licence, the original with the English version, valid for the whole rental.
  • Age 21 or over with at least 1 year of experience, with no young-driver fee. Some supercars have stricter terms, shown on the car page.
  • A second driver, a colleague for example, is added to the contract with their own licence and passport.

Payment, deposit and insurance

You can pay in cash, by bank card or with an e-wallet. Korean Visa and Mastercard cards with overseas payments enabled generally work in the UAE. Before flying, check that foreign payments are switched on in your card settings and let the bank know about the trip. When paying by card, the rental amount may be held as a pre-authorisation and charged at the end.

Most cars need no deposit. If a car needs one, it is shown on its page. Some cars come from a partner company with its own terms: a 1,000 AED deposit, a minimum of 3 or 7 days, and no driving to Oman. Insurance is included in the price and applies when the driver is named in the contract and holds a valid licence.

Navigation and staying connected

The navigation apps you use at home are built mainly for Korea, so in Dubai an international navigation app is more practical. That requires mobile data: a local du or Etisalat SIM can be bought at the airport with your passport. A local number also helps for reaching us and for paying for parking by SMS. Parking in Dubai is paid almost everywhere, by number plate through an app, a meter or SMS.

On the road: what differs from Korea

Traffic keeps to the right and the wheel is on the left, as in Korea, so the basics are the same. What to watch for:

  • Cameras. You are used to close speed enforcement, and it is strict here too. Sheikh Zayed Road is posted at 100 or 120 km/h depending on the section. Dubai cameras typically record from about 21 km/h over the limit, and Abu Dhabi has no tolerance.
  • Roundabouts. Dubai probably has more of them than you are used to. Give way to traffic coming from the left and choose your lane early.
  • Multi-level interchanges with frequent exits: follow the navigation well ahead rather than at the last moment.
  • Fines arrive electronically and are paid by the renter at actual cost.

Salik instead of Hi-pass

Dubai's toll roads work much like Korea's Hi-pass: a tag in the car and no stopping. The tag is already fitted in the rental car. Monday to Saturday from 6:00 to 10:00 and 16:00 to 20:00 a crossing costs AED 6.30, at other times AED 4.20, Sundays a flat AED 4.20, and from 1:00 to 6:00 it is free. The renter pays Salik at actual cost, with no markup. The data comes through with a delay, so the total may arrive after you return the car. For a business trip expense report, ask for a breakdown by date and gate.

Which car to choose

For meetings, a premium sedan is the usual choice; the fleet has about 365 cars from 56 brands, including Mercedes-Benz and BMW. For a family holiday a crossover or SUV is more comfortable, and if you are interested in electric cars, the fleet has them as well. The minimum period for most cars is 1 or 2 days. For rentals under 7 days, delivery and return together cost 210 AED, and from 7 days they are free. 250 km per day is included. Our office in Princess Tower, Dubai Marina, is open daily 10:00 to 19:00.