Driving in Dubai on a Russian Licence

Is a Russian Licence Valid in Dubai?

Russia is not on the UAE's list and is not in the GCC, so a Russia licence needs an International Driving Permit alongside it. Both documents have to be carried.

The list is published by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism and it is the list rental companies here work from, so the answer does not change from one company to the next. The full table of all 30 accepted countries is on our International Driving Permit in Dubai page.

Sources: the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism page Renting a Car (updated 2026-09-13) and the RTA. We last checked both on 2026-09-14. Government rules can change — check the source before you fly.

Prefer to read this in your own language? Our Russian-language car rental pages cover the same fleet and the same prices.

What to Bring

• Your passport, plus the entry stamp or visa page.
• Your original Russia driving licence — the physical card, not a photo of it.
• An International Driving Permit issued in Russia, carried together with the licence itself. An IDP is a translation, not a licence: on its own it is not valid here.
• A credit card in the driver's own name for the refundable hold. A debit card is not accepted for the hold.

Minimum age 21 on standard cars and 25 on luxury, sports and exotic models. A licence held under 6 months carries compulsory full insurance (CDW) and a 25% surcharge. Dubai drives on the right.

What It Costs

The daily rate is the daily rate. Everything else, in full:

• VAT — 5%, added by law.
• Deposit — no cash deposit. A refundable pre-authorisation is held on a credit card in the driver's name and released within 21 days of return.
• Salik road tolls — at cost: AED 5.25 off-peak and AED 7.35 at peak per crossing, admin and VAT included.
• Traffic fines — at cost plus AED 50 admin plus 5% VAT (AED 52.50), with the fine number so you can check it.
• Mileage — 250 km a day, 4,500 km a month on monthly contracts.
• Insurance excess — AED 1,500 standard, AED 10,000 on exotics, and only if you are at fault.
• Delivery and collection — free, DXB included, with no airport surcharge.

Cars start at AED 100 a day, AED 650 a week and AED 1,700 a month, plus 5% VAT, with comprehensive insurance and 250 km a day already in the price. Economy from AED 100 (cheap car rental), SUVs from AED 120 (SUV rental), seven-seaters from AED 150 (7 seater rental) and the luxury fleet from AED 650 (luxury car rental). If you would rather not drive at all, a car with a driver is the alternative.

Collecting the Car

Most visitors from Russia land at DXB. We meet you in the arrivals hall at Terminal 1, 2 or 3 with the contract already signed digitally, so there is no desk and no queue, and there is no premium location fee of the kind an in-terminal counter charges. Delivery to any Dubai hotel is free and usually same day, and so is collection when you leave. See car rental at Dubai Airport.

Visitors Versus Residents

One rule catches people out. A Russian licence works while you are a visitor. The moment UAE residence is issued, the foreign licence stops being valid for driving here — residents need an Emirates ID and a UAE licence, which for some nationalities is a straight exchange at the RTA and for others means taking the test. If your visa status changed while the car was with you, tell us, because it changes what the insurance covers.