Car hire
United Arab Emirates

When you rent a car in the UAE from Sixt you can choose from an excellent range of vehicles including premium brands like Mercedes-Benz. Whether you need a people carrier or a convertible, you can also add on optional extras through the booking page such as child seats, additional drivers or navigation systems to make finding your way around even easier. Take a look at our impressive car hire deals in the UAE to help make your holiday more affordable.

Driving licence

Anyone wanting to rent a car in the UAE must hold a valid driving licence, and any driver from a GCC country will also have to present their passport. Valid licences are accepted from a number of countries, however it is wise to check the list before travelling as otherwise an international driving licence is also required.

Age Restrictions

All drivers arranging car hire in the UAE must be 21 or older, and over 23 or 25 years for certain makes and models. Any driver aged under 23 must pay a 25 AED surcharge per day.

Credit Card Payments

You can pay for your car hire in the UAE with any major credit card in the driver's name, whether you are booking at the pre-paid rate or on a Flexi-Tariff. Unfortunately, no debit cards or prepaid cards can be accepted.

Accidents

If you require assistance you can contact Sixt in the UAE by calling 800-SIXT (8007498) or you can contact the emergency services by telephoning 999 or 112.

While the road network in the UAE is well maintained, roads tend to be very busy, especially in cities, and drivers often overtake on both sides so vigilance is vital. Look out for blue road signs which indicate the E routes which link the various emirates together such as the E11 which is the longest road in the Emirates, stretching along the Persian Gulf linking Abu Dhabi to Dubai. Green signs indicate D routes which point to local destinations.

Here you will find more handy tips so you can get the most out of your car rental in the UAE:

• In the UAE you drive on the right and speed limits are marked in kilometres per hour
• Parking can be difficult in major cities due to a shortage of spaces and most city centre car parks charge a fee which can be paid in cash or with a mobile app. Street parking is hard to find, so multi-storey car parks are a better choice
• There are some toll roads in the UAE including the Sheikh Zayad Road and the Al Garhoud Bridge

Speed Limits:

• 120 km/h on motorways
• 100 km/h on rural roads
• 60-80 km/h on dual carriageways
• 40 km/h on single carriageways

Traffic violations which can incur a fine include:

• Dangerous driving - 2000 AED
• Speeding - 400 to 900 AED
• Using a mobile - 200 AED
• Parking violations - 200 AED
• Illegal overtaking - 600-800 AED

Top 4 Architectural Sights

• Burj Khalifa, Dubai
• Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, Schardscha
• Al Badiyah Mosque, Fujairah
• Manarat al Sadiyaat, Abu Dhabi

See the Burj al Khalifa, one of the most luxurious hotels in the world with its distictive sail architecture or visit the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization with its fascinating array of over 5000 artifacts from around the Islamic world. The ancient Al Badiyah Mosque dates back to the 15th century and is the oldest known mosque in the UAE while the *Manarat al Sadiyaat *arts and cultural centre is a wonderful place to see world class artwork and to experience cultural events.

Top 4 Natural Sights

• Palm Jumeirah Island, Dubai
• Dschabel Hafit, Al Ain
• Al Mamzar Beach Park, Dubai
• Hatta Heritage Village, Hatta

The artificial Palm Jumeirah archipelago is the biggest man-made island in the world while Dschabel Hafit is the best known mountain in the UAE, if not the highest. It boasts impressive views and has its own extensive cave system. Stretching for 106 hectares, the Al Mamzar Beach Park has five sweeping stretches of sand and lush landscaping while the Hatta Heritage Village is a reconstructed mountainside settlement with buildings made from natural materials such as mud, stone and reeds.

Filming Locations

Several major movies have been filmed on location in the UAE including Star Trek Beyond, which used downtown Dubai as its futuristic setting; Syriana, which saw celebrities George Clooney and Matt Damon filming in Dubai's desert; Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol during which Dubai's iconic Burj Khalifa hotel was seen in an impressive stunt, and Star Wars Episode VII which used Abu Dhabi's desert location as the planet Jakku.

Customers who want to take advantage of Sixt's car hire deals in UAE to explore the rest of the region can request permission to cross the border into Oman. A fee of 250 AED is charged for each entry and Sixt must be contacted at least 48 hours in advance during office hours to arrange the crossing.