This glossary explains about 30 terms you will meet in a Dubai rental agreement, on the roads and in car parks: from CDW and excess to Salik, Makani and mulkiya. For each term you get what it means and how it works when you rent from Rentalcars Dubai. Terms are grouped by topic: insurance and money, roads, parking, documents, delivery and the cars themselves.
The five terms that matter most
If you read only one section, remember these five: mileage limit, deposit, excess, Salik and IDP. They have the biggest effect on what you pay and on whether you get the car at all.
| Term | What it means with us |
|---|---|
| Mileage limit | 250 km per day, counted day by day and not pooled over the rental. There is no unlimited mileage. |
| Deposit | None on most cars. Partner cars: AED 1,000. |
| Excess | Third-party liability insurance is included. Extended cover with zero excess can be added on request. |
| Salik | Dubai's toll gates. The renter pays for actual crossings, with no markup. |
| IDP | International Driving Permit. Needed if your licence country is not on the UAE recognised list. |
Insurance and money
Third-party liability (TPL)
Third-party liability insurance pays for damage the driver causes to other vehicles, people and property. It is included in the price of most of our cars. Check what exactly the cover of your car includes and what the excess is before you sign.
CDW (Collision Damage Waiver)
A CDW means the rental company absorbs damage to the rental car above a set amount that the driver pays. If you want the car itself protected, not only your liability to others, ask about extended cover when you book.
Excess
The excess is the part of a damage bill the driver pays even when the insurance applies. The amount depends on the car and the type of cover, so confirm it before you sign, not after the first scratch.
Zero excess cover
Zero excess cover is extended insurance that brings your share of damage down to nothing. We add it on request. It makes most sense on expensive cars and when you drive in unfamiliar cities.
Deposit
A deposit is money a company blocks or takes in cash as security and returns after the car comes back. Every Rentalcars Dubai car has a refundable deposit from AED 1,000; the exact amount is shown on the car page. Partner cars (about 90 economy, comfort and business cars) carry a deposit of AED 1,000.
Pre-authorisation
A pre-authorisation is a temporary hold on a card amount without actually charging it. When you pay by card, we may pre-authorise the amount at handover and charge it at the end of the rental. Cash and e-wallets are accepted too.
Mileage limit and extra km
Each rental includes 250 km per day, counted day by day, so unused kilometres do not carry over. Kilometres above the limit are charged at the rate of that specific car, shown on its page and usually AED 1 to 10 per km. Example: 400 km on day one and 100 km on day two means you pay for 150 km from day one, even though day two stayed under the limit.
Roads, tolls and fines
Salik
Salik is Dubai's toll system: 10 gates on the main highways and bridges, with no barriers and no stopping. At peak hours (Monday to Saturday, 6:00 to 10:00 and 16:00 to 20:00) a crossing costs AED 6.30, at other times AED 4.20, all day Sunday AED 4.20, and it is free from 1:00 to 6:00; VAT is included. The tag is built into the car and we bill you from actual Salik data, with no markup. Salik customer service: 800 72545.
Darb
Darb is Abu Dhabi's own toll system, separate from Salik. The tag in the car is the same, but the rates and rules are Abu Dhabi's: charges apply at peak hours on working days, and Sundays and public holidays are free. Darb charges are also paid by the renter at actual cost.
Toll gate
A toll gate is a frame over the road that reads the car's tag at full speed. Crossing data arrives with a delay of days, so a toll charge can reach you after you have returned the car and left Dubai. That is normal, not a billing error.
Speed cameras and the "grace margin"
Speed enforcement in the UAE relies mostly on cameras. In Dubai the cameras are commonly said to trigger from roughly 20 km/h over the limit, while Abu Dhabi has no margin at all. This is not an official promise, so drive to the posted limit.
Traffic fine
Fines arrive electronically and are linked to the number plate, not left as a paper slip under the wiper. The company owns the car, so the fine reaches us first and the renter pays it at actual cost. Driving without a valid licence can cost up to AED 2,000.
RTA
The RTA is Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority, responsible for roads, driving licences, vehicle registration and public transport. RTA call centre: 800 9090. The RTA Dubai app covers many of its services.
Parking
Parkin
Parkin is the company that runs Dubai's public parking, and the app of the same name is how most people pay. Payment is linked to the number plate, and there have been no paper tickets since 2021.
Paid parking zones
Parking in Dubai is paid almost everywhere from early morning to late evening. You can pay through the app, at a meter or by SMS from a local SIM card; the SMS option works even when your card does not, because the amount comes off your phone balance.
Mawaqif
Mawaqif is Abu Dhabi's paid parking system, separate from Dubai's. On a day trip to Abu Dhabi, check the local signs and payment options when you park.
Documents and records
IDP (International Driving Permit)
An IDP is a translation of your national licence and is valid only together with the original. Licences from the UAE Ministry of Interior list are accepted without one: the EU, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, the Gulf states and several others. Citizens of Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan, India and many other countries need an IDP. For partner cars we can help arrange a digital IDP for AED 250 or a paper one for AED 500.
Emirates ID
The Emirates ID is the identity card of UAE residents. With a residence visa you may not drive on a foreign licence even with an IDP; you need a UAE licence, and we check visa status at handover.
UAE PASS
UAE PASS is the national digital identity used to sign in to UAE government services. With it you can, for example, report a minor accident in the DubaiNow app; it is mostly used by residents.
Mulkiya (vehicle registration card)
The mulkiya is the car's registration card. At a police stop the officer asks for your licence, IDP, passport, the mulkiya and the rental agreement, so the car's documents must stay in the glovebox.
Rental agreement
The rental agreement records the car, dates, drivers, mileage limit and terms, and it gives the contact details to use during the rental. A second driver is added to it too, with their own licence and passport.
Traffic file
A traffic file is the record that a driver or company holds with the traffic authorities, linking vehicles, licences and offences. A rental car is registered to the company, so offences land on the company's file first.
Black points
Black points are penalty points added for serious offences on top of the fine. Too many points can lead to losing the licence, and some offences also lead to the car being impounded.
Impound
An impound means the police take the car off the road for a set period, for example when it is driven without a valid licence. In that case sorting it out with the rental company is the renter's responsibility.
Delivery and rental length
Makani number
Makani is Dubai's location numbering system: every building entrance has its own unique number, shown in the Makani app and often on a plate by the door. A Makani number is more precise than a street address, so it is the best thing to send us for car delivery.
Delivery and collection
Delivery and collection in Dubai are free for rentals of 7 days or more; for shorter rentals both together cost AED 210. Partner cars cost AED 80 each way, free from 30 days. You can also collect from our office in Princess Tower, Dubai Marina, open daily 10:00 to 19:00.
Minimum rental
Premium cars have a minimum rental of 1 to 2 days, more affordable cars 7 days (a few partner cars 3 days). The exact minimum is shown on each car page.
Cars and fuel
GCC spec
GCC spec means the car was built for the Gulf market, usually with a stronger air conditioning and cooling system for the heat. For a renter it means the AC is made for summer days, when daytime temperatures above 40 °C are common.
Special 95 and Super 98
These are the petrol grades at UAE stations; the number is the octane rating. Use the grade the car requires: many everyday cars run on Special 95, while powerful and sports cars often need Super 98. An attendant usually fills the car; you name the grade and an amount or say full tank.
4x4 and AWD
4x4 and AWD mean all-wheel drive. You do not need it for Abu Dhabi, Hatta or Al Ain, which are reached on good paved roads. If you plan to leave the tarmac, discuss it with us first; partner cars are for paved roads only.
Partner car
Partner cars are about 90 economy, comfort and business cars that we provide through partners. Their terms differ: a deposit of AED 1,000, a minimum of 3 or 7 days, delivery at AED 80 each way, no trips to Oman and paved roads only. Only partner cars come with help arranging an IDP and the option to pay by rouble transfer at the central bank rate plus 2 %.
In short
Before you book, check five things: whether you need an IDP, whether the car has a deposit, its rate per km above 250 km a day, the excess and whether you want zero excess cover. Drivers must be 21 or older with 1 year of experience. Salik, Darb and fines are paid at actual cost, and in an emergency in the UAE call police on 999 or an ambulance on 998.
