Booking a Dubai rental car through Carmore is one of the easiest ways to plan your trip.
Unless you’re visiting Dubai during the short winter season,
it can be hard to spend even five minutes walking outside
because the sun is intense and the heat is relentless.
That’s why renting a car is basically essentialfor getting around comfortably.
Even in the cooler winter months,
the major attractions are spread out,
so I still strongly recommend using a rental car in Dubai, UAE.
I’ve already been to Dubai and Abu Dhabi three times each,
and I’ve rented a car in Dubai three times too.
At first, I used international booking sites,
but then I found Korea’s top rental car comparison platform, Carmore,and
realized it also handles overseas car rentals.
Since then, I’ve been using Carmore for international rentals too.
I first tried it four years ago on a trip to Ulleungdo,
and the price comparison was so convenient that
I kept using Carmore every time I rented a car—now even abroad.
There’s a PC websiteavailable, and a mobile appas well,
and both have intuitive, user-friendly UX and UI.
You can compare cars from major global rental companies all in one place, including Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Sixt, Budget, and more.
I searched once for Dubai Airport (DXB),
and even though there are tons of rental car companies at Dubai Airport,
you can check them all through Carmore in one place.
From budget-friendly compact and economy cars
to luxury models like the Audi A8, BMW X6, and G-Class, it’s all there.
In Dubai, you’ll see lots of Japanese, Chinese, and American cars,
but if unfamiliar foreign brands make you hesitate, there are also plenty of Hyundai and Kia models
so no need to worry.
Check Dubai rental car prices
Now for my actual experience using it.
Once you finish immigration at Dubai Airport and walk out,
you’ll see a whole row of rental car counters.
Some locals don’t book in advance and just walk up
to any counter to rent a car that same day,
but if you’re like most Korean travelers, that’s probably not your style.
If you book ahead, you’re more likely to get the exact car class you want,
you can compare prices across different companies,
and your car will be ready on time,
so I definitely recommend reserving in advance.
I’ve used Hertz, Thrifty, and Europcar,
and honestly, I just booked whichever one was cheapest at the time.
None of them stood out as dramatically better in service than the others.
Here are some of the car types I saw at Thrifty.
I spotted familiar models like the Kia Morning, Hyundai Accent, and Avante,
which was nice to see,
though the export names can be different.
There were also lots of Japanese cars like Toyota, Honda, and Mazda.
The back section had the pricier cars, and beyond what was displayed there,
they also had vans like the Kia Carnival and plenty of other options.
We usually go for value,
so we rent an affordable car big enough to fit at least two large suitcases.
The most recent one we rented was a Toyota C-HR.
Because of an issue with my husband getting his Abu Dhabi driver’s license issued, I ended up driving the whole time. It felt pretty bare-bones, so not exactly reassuring in a safety-first way, but it was oddly fun because it responded the moment I hit the gas. That said, the soundproofing was basically nonexistent, so once you get up to highway speed, the wind noise is intense.
And one more thing—Dubai rental car options overall
tend to have pretty light window tint, so arm sleeves or two to three layers of sunscreen are a must.
We also rented a Chevrolet Groove once, which was fun.
Since it’s the same left-hand-drive setup,
driving isn’t difficult, and as long as you stay out of the fast lane, aggressive driving isn’t too stressful.
If you cruise slowly in the left lane,
it’s on a completely different level from Korea—you may get tailgated hard, flashed with high beams, and cursed at,
so it’s best to avoid that lane unless you really need it.
Anyway, I haven’t driven in that many countries,
but Dubai and Abu Dhabi have such well-maintained roads
that driving there is genuinely enjoyable.
I highly, highly recommend renting a car for your trip.
Driving video
Since this is such a car-oriented place,
parking is well set up almost everywhere,
and the parking spaces are surprisingly wide,
so even if you pull in casually, it’s easy to stay within the lines.
Gas is also much cheaper than in South Korea, so it doesn’t feel like a burden.
Labor is inexpensive there, so there’s basically no self-service gas,
and attendants—often Indian staff—fill up the car for you, so just enjoy the lower fuel prices.
For navigation, use Waze.
We jokingly call it “Waje,”
and it’s convenient because you can even switch it to Korean.
Once you set the language to Korean, searching becomes easier,
and the voice guidance comes in a Korean male voice,
so it feels almost as convenient as TMAP.
I’ll probably be going back to Dubai again this winter,
and of course I’m planning to rent a car again.
Not just for Dubai, but for rental cars all over the world,
Carmore lets you compare options globally,
>>Compare rental car prices<<