Car hire prices at Dubai Airport

Dubai Airport car hire for an Intermediate car like the Mazda 6 costs around £36 a day for October 2026 when you book about a month ahead. A Compact car like the Toyota Corolla is £27 a day, while an Economy car averages £23. In the last 2 weeks before pickup, the Intermediate drops to £29 a day. Across the year, prices swing from £22 a day for a Mini in March 2027 to £127 for a larger car class in January 2027. If your quote is higher, the price checker will show rates for your exact travel dates.

Booking late saves money at Dubai Airport: an Intermediate car averages £46 a day 9 months out across the year, but drops to £31 a day in the last 2 weeks. For October 2026 specifically, booking about a month ahead averages £36 a day for an Intermediate, falling to £29 in the last 2 weeks. If you have not booked yet, you have not missed the cheaper window. Across the 395 airports we track car hire prices for, 48% of our customers book within 14 days of pickup.

Autostrad Rent a Car is the cheapest company at Dubai Airport for an Intermediate car, averaging £21 a day over the last 12 months. You give up debit card flexibility, as Autostrad Rent a Car requires a credit card for its £402 deposit, and it does not yet have enough reviews for a score. Alamo costs £34 a day and scores 78/100 from 35 customer reviews. All 16 desks sit directly at the airport, so you never need a shuttle bus.

The cheapest company can cost you a longer queue or a bigger deposit, so check the review score and desk wait beside each car in the results before you book.

Alamo is the best-reviewed company at Dubai Airport, scoring 78/100 from 35 reviews, with an average counter wait of 10 minutes. Alamo costs £34 a day for an Intermediate car, whereas Autostrad Rent a Car is the cheapest supplier at £21 but does not yet have enough reviews for a score. Budget follows on ratings with a score of 75/100 from 30 reviews, averaging a 4-minute wait at £60 a day.

Review scores are CarTrawler customers' own, from the last five months; the score and the desk wait sit beside each car in the results.

Deposits held on cards at Dubai Airport range from £201 with Ace to £2,011 with Edel and Stark Luxury Fleet, and 5 of the 16 desks accept a debit card. The other 11 counters accept a credit card only. Filter for a debit card before comparing prices rather than after. Any extra equipment or coverage charged at the desk is listed beside each car with its price.

If you bring your own child seat, check your airline's rules first: most carry one free, some charge.

Two main traps catch drivers out at Dubai Airport: steep security deposits that require a credit card, and unexpected counter delays. 11 of the 16 desks refuse debit cards entirely, requiring a credit card in the lead driver's name for deposits that reach £2,011. While Budget gets drivers moving in 4 minutes, Sixt averages a 23-minute wait at the desk. You will not face an off-airport bus ride, however, because every desk is based inside the terminal.

Only 61% of prices at Dubai Airport are full tank out, full tank back, so read the fuel line under the car before you book.

For up to 5 passengers, choose an Intermediate car such as a Mazda 6 at Dubai Airport, which costs around £36 a day in October 2026. It seats 5 people and holds 4 bags, which helps with luggage on fast multi-lane highways. A Compact car like the Toyota Corolla costs £27 a day but holds only 3 bags, while a Fullsize car like the Ford Explorer takes 5 bags for £54. 99% of cars offered are automatic, so you will get an easy gearbox without paying extra, while electric and hybrid options are not offered.