exeexile

Just saying a quick hello.....first post...and first of many I hope....moved out from th Uk (haven't we all?).....found the forum really useful so far, and if you don't mind will probablly pick all your brains at some point for somethig.

Oh, one question anyone know the best place to lease a car from? obviously haven't got the residence visa yet will this be a problem?

Autonomy

I've never rented as car in the UAE - however as far as I am aware you can rent a car as long as you DO NOT have a residency. i.e. - you're fine for now.

This may have changed, but I think it still applies...

Pick away. Just use your discretion with what you believe...

NorthernLad

We used National Rental at airport which wasn't bad, check as your company may have good rates with specific companies.

You can rent without residency, just take your UK license. Once you get residency you cannot rent until you get a UAE driving license, this is one of the easier things to get here though. Take the documentation to traffic police (we sed Bur Dubai office on SZR and should get it within 30 mins depending on time of day (both times we went at 10:00am and no queues.

I would recommend investing in a Dubai Explorer and another book by the same publishers, something like 'The Red Tape Guide to Dubai' - they can save a lot of time!

W10

Try holiday autos

Eeyore

Car Fayre at Media City is good. We used them when first arrived. You also get a discount if you're a DMC/DIC employee.

littlejimmy

Can we just clarify that please? Do you mean you can't BUY until you get your UAE licence?
Also, I've read in the Explorer and heard from others that you can get a temporary licence which enables you to drive a private car. Getting the finance to buy it wihout a residency visa may not be easy though.

NorthernLad

You cannot rent once you have residency - to rent a car you show your passport and driving license, if you have residency in your passport you must have a valid Dubai driver license.

Anyone can get a temporary license - we had friends who had family visiting and got the sister a temporary license to drive their car. I'm not sure on insurance though, I'd expect something in the very small print making visitors liable for any accident within a 5 mile radius

littlejimmy

You have got to be ****ING JOKING! What kind of arse-about-face nonsense is that? You can't get the UAE licence without the visa!

I'm renting two cars at the moment - one for me and one for the wife. What happens when I get my visa? Do I have to give the rental car back and then remain sans voiture until I get a UAE licence? REALLY WELL THOUGHT OUT LAW, THAT ONE!

Or can I just keep the one I rented... ? Or can I get a temporary licence?

NorthernLad

You can probably keep car, they aren't to know. When you get residency go straight to traffic dept and get a license to be safe.

We just hired the car in my wifes name, then if there was any speeding fines, accidents etc. they could just deport her. Didn't work though, she's still here.

littlejimmy

shoushou

I drove 3-4 months my own bought car without having a licence....
It wasnt one of the smartest things I did...Even managed to pass a checkpoint,with my balls in my hands....

W10

That's probably why you passed through. I imagine you have a magnificent pair.

Eeyore

When I arrived (end of March last year), the rule was that if you entered the UAE on an employment visa (as opposed to a tourist visa), you could not drive *either* a private or rental car until you had your residency. Once you had that, though, you could rent a car on a foreign licence, although you were supposed to get a UAE licence as soon as possible.

That wasn't too much of a problem for me because I had my residency within 7 days. Some of my colleagues who also came in on employment visas did choose to rent cars in the period before getting their residency, which was strictly speaking illegal and could have caused them all kinds of hassle if they'd been involved in an accident.

exeexile

Thanks for all the replies....GarethR...how did you get your residency so quick? did your company process it for you it did you do it yourself?

shoushou

They were magnificent....The officers I mean,for letting me through....