RTA’s hourly car rental initiative in Dubai

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) officially launched a new hourly car rental service in 2017. The local operator’s pay-per-use rental system, which was launched the previous year, was suspended. 

Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council released a new resolution to allow hourly rental of cars within Dubai. Resolution No. 49 of 2016 aimed at offering alternate low-cost public transport options, particularly in light of the upcoming Expo 2020.

Who benefits from it?

Dubai has more than 20 million tourists annually. A number of visitors arrive for a very short period of time and don’t require a full day rental car. So even if a customer needs a car for a few hours, he has to pay for a full day car rental. Aside from the cost factor, the bigger issue for Dubai is traffic and parking costs. The new hourly car rental system allows users to drive only for the time they require it and avail free parking in RTA parking lots. It has also benefited residents in Dubai who don’t own a car, especially on weekends and holidays.

How does it work?

The hourly car rental system allows drivers to rent cars from various locations: metro stations, tram stations, malls, business hubs such as Rashidiya, Burjuman, Ibn Battuta, Union, and Business Bay Metro Stations. They can freely drop them off in an RTA parking space (except I and J). 

The hourly program requires a driver to borrow a vehicle for a minimum of an hour upto six hours rental. They are limited to drive it within the geographic borders of the emirate of Dubai. This is because the aforementioned legislation has been enacted only for Dubai and not the rest of the UAE. 

Requirements to rent a car on hourly-basis in Dubai

For UAE Residents
1. Emirates ID
2. Driving license
3. Valid credit card

For Tourists visiting the UAE
1. Passport
2. Tourist visa with entry stamp
3. Driving license
4. Valid credit card.

Which cars can I rent on hourly-basis?

RTA has partnered with Udrive and Ekar that offer pay-per-use car rentals in Dubai through their mobile apps. The process is fairly streamlined however your choice of cars are limited to economy, mid-range and a few sports cars. Register and book one of their cars through the app. You can select any of the available cars parked near your present location.

Alternatively, you can explore hourly car rentals in Dubai through OneClickDrive.com from a range of economy and luxury car rental companies. Most companies offer pick-up and delivery service at an additional cost, much required during summer or your present location is away from the car. Their rental terms and requirements such as security deposit are standard to the car rental industry in the UAE. What’s more, you may even be able to rent a car on hourly-basis through them without a credit card.