Do You Need an International Driving Permit in Dubai?
Usually not. If your licence is from a GCC country or from one of the 25 countries on the UAE's published list, it is accepted on its own. Everyone else needs an International Driving Permit carried with the original licence. Below is the full list, then Dubai's ten biggest visitor markets answered one by one. Pindi Boys Car Rental, Dubai Trade Licence 969076.
The Short Answer
Visitors need a passport with their entry stamp or visa and their original home licence. Licences from GCC countries and from the 25 countries on the UAE's published list — including the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and most of Western Europe — are accepted on their own; everyone else also needs an International Driving Permit issued in their home country, carried with the original licence.
An IDP is a translation of your licence into several languages. It is not a licence. It is only valid alongside the original national licence it was issued against, it has to be issued in the country that issued that licence, and it cannot be obtained once you are already in the UAE. Arrange it before you fly.
Dubai's Ten Biggest Visitor Markets
These are the ten countries most Dubai visitors arrive from. The verdict for each comes from the same government list.
India — IDP required
India is not on the UAE's list and is not in the GCC, so a India licence needs an International Driving Permit alongside it. Both documents have to be carried. There is a fuller page for Indian visitors: driving in Dubai on an Indian licence.
Saudi Arabia — No IDP needed
Saudi Arabia is a GCC country, so a Saudi Arabia licence is accepted on its own. No International Driving Permit. Our Arabic pages are at تأجير سيارات دبي.
United Kingdom — No IDP needed
United Kingdom is on the UAE's published list, so a full United Kingdom licence is accepted on its own. No International Driving Permit. Our car hire in Dubai page is written for British visitors.
Russia — IDP required
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. There is a fuller page for Russian visitors: driving in Dubai on a Russian licence.
China — IDP required
China is not on the UAE's list and is not in the GCC, so a China licence needs an International Driving Permit alongside it. Both documents have to be carried. Our Chinese-language pages are at 迪拜租车.
Oman — No IDP needed
Oman is a GCC country, so a Oman licence is accepted on its own. No International Driving Permit. Our Arabic pages are at تأجير سيارات دبي.
United States — No IDP needed
United States is on the UAE's published list, so a full United States licence is accepted on its own. No International Driving Permit. There is a fuller page for American visitors: driving in Dubai on a US licence.
Germany — No IDP needed
Germany is on the UAE's published list, so a full Germany licence is accepted on its own. No International Driving Permit. Our German-language pages are at Autovermietung Dubai.
Pakistan — IDP required
Pakistan is not on the UAE's list and is not in the GCC, so a Pakistan licence needs an International Driving Permit alongside it. Both documents have to be carried.
France — No IDP needed
France is on the UAE's published list, so a full France licence is accepted on its own. No International Driving Permit. Our French-language pages are at location de voiture à Dubaï.
Every Licence the UAE Accepts Without an IDP
30 countries in total — the 5 GCC states and the 25 on the Ministry of Economy and Tourism's published list. If your country is not in this table, you need an IDP.
| Country | Home licence | IDP | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Accepted on its own | Not needed | UAE published list |
| Austria | Accepted on its own | Not needed | UAE published list |
| Bahrain | Accepted on its own | Not needed | GCC |
| Belgium | Accepted on its own | Not needed | UAE published list |
| Canada | Accepted on its own | Not needed | UAE published list |
| Denmark | Accepted on its own | Not needed | UAE published list |
| Finland | Accepted on its own | Not needed | UAE published list |
| France | Accepted on its own | Not needed | UAE published list |
| Germany | Accepted on its own | Not needed | UAE published list |
| Greece | Accepted on its own | Not needed | UAE published list |
| Ireland | Accepted on its own | Not needed | UAE published list |
| Italy | Accepted on its own | Not needed | UAE published list |
| Japan | Accepted on its own | Not needed | UAE published list |
| Kuwait | Accepted on its own | Not needed | GCC |
| Netherlands | Accepted on its own | Not needed | UAE published list |
| New Zealand | Accepted on its own | Not needed | UAE published list |
| Norway | Accepted on its own | Not needed | UAE published list |
| Oman | Accepted on its own | Not needed | GCC |
| Poland | Accepted on its own | Not needed | UAE published list |
| Portugal | Accepted on its own | Not needed | UAE published list |
| Qatar | Accepted on its own | Not needed | GCC |
| Romania | Accepted on its own | Not needed | UAE published list |
| Saudi Arabia | Accepted on its own | Not needed | GCC |
| South Africa | Accepted on its own | Not needed | UAE published list |
| South Korea | Accepted on its own | Not needed | UAE published list |
| Spain | Accepted on its own | Not needed | UAE published list |
| Sweden | Accepted on its own | Not needed | UAE published list |
| Switzerland | Accepted on its own | Not needed | UAE published list |
| United Kingdom | Accepted on its own | Not needed | UAE published list |
| United States | Accepted on its own | Not needed | UAE published list |
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.
What to Bring
- Your passport, plus the entry stamp or visa page.
- Your original your home country driving licence — the physical card, not a photo of it.
- An International Driving Permit issued in your home country, 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.
Visitors Versus Residents
One rule catches people out. A A foreign 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.
What Renting Actually Costs
The daily rate is the daily rate. Here is 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.