Renting a Car in Dubai: A Guide for Tourists from Russia & CIS
A large share of our guests fly in from Russia and the CIS, and the same questions come up before every booking: which licence is valid, how much is the deposit really going to be, and what happens if you get a fine after you've already flown home. Here's the practical answer to each.
Which driving licence works in the UAE
A national Russian or CIS driving licence on its own is not accepted for rental in Dubai. You'll need an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside it — it's inexpensive and takes a few days to arrange through the traffic authority before you travel, so sort it out before your flight, not after you land.
- Passport
- National driving licence, issued at least 12 months before pickup
- International Driving Permit (IDP)
Age and experience requirements
The minimum age is 23, with at least 1 year of driving experience in category B. There's no upper age limit or special surcharge for younger drivers past 23 — the requirement is the same across our whole fleet, from business cars to supercars.
How the deposit actually works
The deposit is taken on pickup and depends on the car — a few thousand AED for a business sedan, more for a supercar. It's fully refundable, but not immediately: Dubai's traffic authority takes 3–4 weeks to publish fines online, so we hold the deposit for 20–30 days after your rental ends before releasing it. This isn't specific to CIS guests — it applies to everyone, and it's the main reason the deposit isn't returned on the spot.
Paying in your currency
We accept cash in AED, USD or EUR, card payment (Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay), and USDT for guests who prefer crypto — useful if your bank card doesn't work smoothly with UAE merchants.
Getting fines resolved after you've left Dubai
If a fine is issued after your rental (radar cameras are common on Sheikh Zayed Road), it's deducted from your deposit once published — you don't need to be in the country to resolve it. We add a fixed 50 AED admin fee per fine; there's no extra penalty beyond that for handling it remotely.
Ready to book? Message us on WhatsApp or Telegram with your dates — we reply in Russian and English, any time of day.