Renting a car in Dubai as a Nigerian citizen works the same way as for any other visitor: a passport, a driving licence, age 21 or older and at least one year of driving experience. The one question worth settling before you fly is the International Driving Permit (IDP). Below you will find the documents, payment options, a short list of cars with real prices, and the driving habits worth knowing before your first trip.
Licence and International Driving Permit
The UAE rule is simple: a visitor may drive on a national licence if the issuing country is on the recognised list, and on a national licence plus an IDP if it is not. Nigeria is not on the list of countries accepted without an IDP in our licence guide, and for most countries in Africa and Asia the rule is national licence plus IDP. So the sensible plan for a Nigerian driver is to bring both documents.
An IDP is a translation, not a replacement. It is invalid without your original licence, and at a police stop you will be asked for both. If you drive without one on a licence from a non-listed country, the fine for driving without a valid licence can be up to AED 2,000, the car may be impounded, and an insurer can refuse to pay after an accident.
How an IDP is issued in Nigeria depends on the authority that issues it, so confirm the process at home before you travel. If you run out of time, we can arrange a digital IDP in Dubai: you need your passport, national licence and a photo. It costs AED 250 and arrives on your phone the same day. A printed version costs AED 500 and is ready the next day. This is a legal service through a licensed operator. If you are unsure about your licence, write to us before booking: this is a case where checking first is better than guessing.
What to bring
- Passport with a visa or entry stamp.
- Nigerian national licence, valid and in good condition.
- IDP, issued at home or in Dubai.
- A way to pay: cash, a bank card or an e-wallet.
If a second person will drive, their licence and passport are needed at handover and they are added to the contract. UAE residents cannot drive on a foreign licence at all and need a local one, so if you hold a residence visa the rules are different for you.
Paying: card, cash, wallets
We accept cash, bank cards and e-wallets. Most cars need no deposit, and if a car does need one, it is shown on its page. For travellers whose cards sometimes struggle with international payments this removes the main problem, because nothing is blocked on your card as a security deposit.
When you pay by card, the rental amount may be held as a pre-authorisation and charged at the end. Before you travel, ask your bank to enable international transactions and check your limit, as the hold for a week of rental can be a sizeable amount. If a card is unreliable, cash is the safest option: bring US dollars or euros in clean notes and change them at an exchange house in a mall, not at the airport, where the rate is noticeably worse.
Which car to choose
Prices are as of October 2026, and the current price is on each car page. All of these cars have no deposit, insurance included and 250 km per day.
| Car | Per day, AED | Per week, AED | Per month, AED |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Raize 2024, 5 seats | 109 | 750 | 2,490 |
| Hyundai Tucson 2023, 5 seats | 139 | 890 | 2,890 |
| Toyota Camry 2025, 5 seats | 180 | 1,170 | 3,950 |
| Kia Carnival Noblesse 2022, 8 seats | 199 | 1,390 | 4,990 |
| Toyota Fortuner 2024, 7 seats | 280 | 1,680 | 5,600 |
| Toyota Hiace 13 Seater 2023, 13 seats | 300 | 1,800 | 6,000 |
For one or two people in the city, a Raize or Tucson is enough. A family with luggage will be more comfortable in a Fortuner or Carnival, and a group of six or more fits the Hiace. If a car has its own deposit or minimum rental period, the terms are written on its page.
Driving in Dubai: what to watch
Nigeria and the UAE both drive on the right, so there is nothing to relearn. The habits, though, are quite different. Enforcement in Dubai runs mainly through cameras rather than patrols: they typically start recording from about 21 km/h over the limit, and the fine arrives electronically. On Sheikh Zayed Road the limit is 100 or 120 km/h depending on the section.
- Lanes. Signal before changing lanes, do it smoothly, and keep right unless you are overtaking.
- Following distance. Do not tailgate. On fast roads it is one of the common reasons for a fine.
- Phone. No calls or messages while driving. Use a holder or hands-free.
- Roundabouts. Give way to traffic already on the roundabout.
Speeding fines and Salik tolls are paid by the renter at actual cost. Salik is AED 6.30 at peak hours (6:00 to 10:00 and 16:00 to 20:00 on weekdays and Saturday) and AED 4.20 at other times, and crossings are free from 1:00 to 6:00.
Delivery, terms and the office
Delivery and return anywhere in Dubai are free on rentals of 7 days or more. For shorter rentals delivery costs AED 210 for delivery and return together. The minimum rental is one to two days. Driving to Oman should be discussed when you book, and it is not allowed on partner cars. Our office is in Princess Tower, Dubai Marina, open daily from 10:00 to 19:00, with Russian-speaking support.
