Dubai boasts good public transport and exceptional car rental services to allow tourists and residents to commute conveniently. The RTA (Road & Transport Authority) legislated a law in 2017, that allows people to rent cars on an hourly basis.
The program allows tourists to rent a car hourly from Udrive or Ekar, hourly. Knowing the right registration documents and the process can be difficult. Here’s how you can conveniently rent a car in Dubai.
Dubai Hourly Car Rentals
The RTA offers Smart Rental service in areas such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Exploring must-visit places in Dubai becomes easier with car rentals. Plus, when you rent a car on an hourly basis, it becomes even more feasible.
What is the Smart Rental Program?
The Smart Rental program offered by RTA came about with the hourly car rental law. Customers can book with registered car services such as Udrive or Ekar, pay an advance fee and hire the car for an hour.
For a maximum of six hours, the car can be rented for a few hours to travel across Dubai. RTA’s partner apps offer luxurious and economical car options that cater to each customer base and fit everyone’s pocket.
Documents Required
Several documents are required for UAE residents and tourists looking to hire a car on an hourly basis.
UAE Residents
The documents required for UAE residents are listed as follows:
- Emirates ID: A government-authorised Emirates ID is required.
- Driving License: A valid driving license.
- Registered Card: A valid credit card ID that can be charged after the final bill is registered.
Tourists
The documents required for tourists who are visiting Dubai are mentioned here:
- Driving License: A valid driving licence is required for tourists from their home country.
- Passport: A valid passport is needed to verify the identity of the personnel.
- Tourist Visa: A stamped tourist visa.
- Credit Card: A valid credit card ID that can be charged after the final bill is registered.
Process of Using an Hourly Car Rental
Since buying a car can be quite expensive, people turn to renting. The main steps that the tourists or residents need to follow to rent a car in Dubai with Udrive or Ekar, are listed down below:
- Download the Udrive or Ekar from the Google PlayStore or App Store.
- Register on the app.
- A PIN is sent to the renter’s phone number which is the security code.
- Book the car and find it in the RTA parking spaces.
- Unlock the car using the Udrive or Ekar app.
- Enter the PIN and use the car.
- After the car has been verified, customers can ride the car around the city as per their desire.
Udrive Car Rental
Udrive is the leading car rental service registered with the RTA. It makes car-sharing and renting a breeze with its world-class car options and competitive hourly rates.
Benefits
Here are some benefits of relying on Udrive’s hourly car rental service:
- Cost-Effective
- Dedicated customer support available via phone and email
- Choose from a vast array of cars to suit your needs
How to Drive with Udrive
Driving with Udrive is an easy process, as mentioned here:
- Download the app from Google PlayStore or App Store
- Sign up and verify your account
- Unlock the car with the PIN
- Drive.
Fees
The fees for renting cars are mentioned below:
- Budget-Friendly Cars: Starting from AED 1 per minute (AED 60 per hour)
- Luxurious Cars: Starting from AED 1.3 per minute (AED 78 per hour)
Contact Information
The contact information for Udrive is listed below:
- Contact: 80 083 7483
- Email: customerservice@udrive.ae
Ekar Car Rental
Similar to Udrive, Ekar offers pay-per-minute car rental services with a focus on affordability and customer trust. It is also backed by positive customer testimonials.
Benefits
The benefits of taking an Ekar are listed as follows:
- Cost Effective
- Prompt and reliable customer service
- Ensures safety and works on customer trustworthiness
How to Drive with Ekar
The process of registering with Ekar is similar to Udrive:
- Download the app via Google PlayStore or App Store
- Sign up and verify your account
- Choose the desired car model
- Find the car via the app and access it with the PIN
- Drive
Contact Information
- +971 60 056 7564
FAQs
No. Only the registered driver is allowed to drive the rented car. The main reason for that remains to ensure the safety and protocol of the registered cars and to ensure that nothing happens to them.
Areas such as Sharjah and Ajman have designated free parking spaces. The rented car needs to be picked up from the parking lot and returned to the same lot once the customer is done with their drive. For more on parking zones and payment methods, read this comprehensive guide on parking in Dubai.
Udrive and Ekar share similar customer services. Both pride themselves on their friendly staff, good communication with their customer base and instant answers to all customer inquiries. Their representative ensures the safety and anonymity of their customers, increasing their reputation further.
After the rented car has been returned, Udrive and Ekar dispatch a final bill in the following ways:
– Card Payment: The bill is directly charged through the registered credit card added to the payment method in the Udrive or Ekar mobile app.
That’s all there is to know about car rental per hour in Dubai. Knowing the RTA-approved services, required documents and rental process can be helpful for those looking to rent a car.
For more insightful information, keep reading Property Finder blogs!
