Automotive
Convenience Is King: The Quiet Revolution in How Tourists Explore the Emirates
Anudeep Raghuthaman, Head of Sales & Marketing, Dollar Car Rental
The UAE is forecast to attract AED 228.5 billion in tourism revenue in 2025, reinforcing its position as one of the most desirable travel destinations globally. With its iconic skyline, desert escapes, and a calendar full of global events, the country offers an experience that few others can rival. It also boasts a well-developed public transport network, particularly in cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where metro lines, buses, and taxis operate seamlessly.
Yet, despite the availability of public transport, more and more visitors are opting to rent a car. This growing trend is being shaped by evolving traveller expectations, the country’s expansive geography, and the digital transformation of the rental industry itself.
Accessibility Beyond City Limits
While urban mobility is well-supported, many of the UAE’s standout attractions are located outside metropolitan areas. A trip to Hatta’s mountain trails, Fujairah’s coastline, or the red dunes of Al Badayer often requires transport flexibility that city-based systems can’t fully support. These destinations are either inaccessible by metro or involve multiple bus transfers and extended travel times.
For visitors with packed itineraries or those travelling in groups, renting a car offers convenience and direct access to a wider range of experiences, from road trips through the Northern Emirates to early morning excursions in the desert.
Cutting Costs Without Cutting Corners
Budget plays a key role in travel decisions. While taxis and ride-hailing platforms like Uber and Careem offer on-demand service, the cost of multiple daily trips can accumulate quickly.
A typical taxi ride in the UAE ranges between AED 30 to AED 40. Over three or four trips a day, the cost can exceed AED 800 to AED 1,000 a week. These figures can be even higher during peak tourism months or major events.
By contrast, car rentals start at approximately AED 90 per day for an economy model. SUVs can be rented for around AED 450 to AED 550 per week. For longer stays, rates become even more competitive, making this a practical option for families and business travellers alike.
Car Rentals in the Digital Fast Lane
One of the key reasons behind the rise in car rentals among tourists is the seamless digital experience now offered by the industry. What was once a time-consuming, paper-heavy process has been replaced by fast, app-based solutions that allow travellers to book, unlock, and return vehicles with minimal effort.
Today’s platforms use smart algorithms to match users with vehicles suited to their preferences, whether based on trip duration, passenger count, or destination type. Keyless entry, mobile check-ins, and digital contracts are now standard features, allowing for a smoother and faster rental experience.
For travellers who value time and convenience, the ability to complete the entire process via a smartphone has significantly increased the appeal of renting a car. The industry’s focus on streamlining user experiences reflects broader trends in tourism, where ease of access and flexibility are key decision-making factors.
Rental Demand Mirrors Seasonal Travel Patterns
Rental activity tends to surge during the peak tourism season between October and March, when the UAE’s milder weather draws a high volume of international visitors. This period also coincides with major events, exhibitions, and shopping festivals that drive movement across cities and emirates.
During these months, higher demand for taxis and ride-hailing services can lead to longer wait times and dynamic pricing. Many tourists, particularly families, solo travellers, and remote workers, opt to rent a car in advance to ensure greater reliability and control over their schedules.
This pattern reflects a broader shift in traveller behaviour, where flexibility, comfort, and the ability to move freely between destinations are valued as much as cost or convenience. Having a personal vehicle enables visitors to explore at their own pace, without being tied to public transport schedules or availability.
The Complete Experience Requires Mobility
In a country known for both urban efficiency and natural beauty, car rentals serve as a bridge between convenience and exploration. Visitors are no longer choosing rentals just for affordability; they see it as a way to enhance the quality and depth of their travel experience.
With the UAE continuing to diversify its tourism offering beyond city centers, demand for car rentals is likely to grow. For many travellers, the journey is just as important as the destination, and in the UAE, that journey often begins behind the wheel.
Automotive
ZEEKR SETS GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ TITLE WITH THE ZEEKR 7X AT YAS MARINA CIRCUIT, CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS OF INNOVATION

The Zeekr 7X has earned a Guinness World Records™ title for the tightest gap passed through whilst drifting an electric car, successfully passing through a gap with an astonishing clearance of just 25 centimetres.
The record was officially achieved at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, showcasing the exceptional precision, stability, and dynamic control of the Zeekr 7X. The achievement demonstrates the advanced capabilities of Zeekr’s intelligent electric vehicle platform and reinforces the brand’s commitment to engineering excellence and innovation.
The Zeekr 7X’s record-setting performance is underpinned by a combination of advanced chassis engineering and intelligent vehicle control systems. Its front double wishbone suspension delivers exceptional steering precision and responsiveness, faithfully translating driver inputs into accurate vehicle movement. The high-output rear electric motor provides instant, precisely controllable torque, enabling smooth, sustained drifts while allowing fine adjustments to the vehicle’s direction through throttle modulation. Complementing these systems, the Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) provides exceptional body rigidity and a low centre of gravity, enhancing stability, balance, and driver confidence under extreme driving conditions.
The record attempt formed the centrepiece of Zeekr’s global celebrations marking its fifth anniversary. Since its launch in 2021, Zeekr has rapidly established itself as a premium intelligent electric mobility brand, continually pushing the boundaries of design, technology, safety, and performance. This latest Guinness World Records™ achievement reflects the brand’s relentless pursuit of innovation and serves as a powerful demonstration of the engineering excellence behind the Zeekr 7X.
“Achieving a Guinness World Records title is a proud milestone for Zeekr and a fitting way to celebrate our fifth anniversary,” said Mr. Mars Chen, Vice President of Zeekr. “The Zeekr 7X embodies our commitment to intelligent engineering, precision, and performance. This achievement demonstrates the strength of our technology and reinforces our ambition to continue redefining premium electric mobility through innovation.”
“This Guinness World Records™ achievement reflects the innovation, precision, and performance that define Zeekr,” said Roberto Colucci, Director of Electric Vehicles at AWR Automotive. “We’re proud to celebrate this milestone and to bring the intelligent technology and advanced engineering of the Zeekr 7X to customers across the UAE.”
The celebration continued on 13 June 2026, when more than 200 Zeekr owners, customers, partners, and members of the UAE media gathered at Yas Marina Circuit to commemorate both the world record achievement and Zeekr’s five-year journey. The event brought together the Zeekr community to experience the brand’s latest innovations and celebrate this landmark moment.
As Zeekr enters its next chapter, the company remains committed to accelerating the future of intelligent electric mobility through cutting-edge technology, exceptional craftsmanship, and customer-centric innovation.
Automotive
UDRIVE CUSTOMERS CROSS 45 MILLION KILOMETRES AS UAE DEMAND FOR CAR SHARING ACCELERATES
Udrive, the UAE’s leading car-sharing platform, has strengthened its mobility network across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ajman, as app-based car access becomes a bigger part of how people move across the country. In 2025 alone, Udrive customers have driven more than 45 million kilometres, reflecting rising demand for smarter urban mobility that aligns with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan’s focus on flexible means of transportation.
The growth reflects Udrive’s expanding role as a practical alternative to traditional car rental and private car ownership. The platform now operates a fleet of over 2,000 vehicles and has completed more than three million rentals to date. In 2025, Udrive recorded over half a million trips, while registrations grew by 14% compared with 2024, indicating stronger adoption among customers seeking on-demand access to vehicles.
Residents make up 90% of Udrive’s customer base, showing how car sharing has become part of daily commuting, errands, weekend plans and short-term transport needs. Retention has strengthened, with active customers for 12 months or more rising from 21% to 32%. Growth across shorter-term segments has also supported higher trip volumes and revenue, pointing to sustained adoption among both new and returning users.
Fleet choice has also expanded; Udrive now offers vehicles from Kia, Ford, BYD and MINI, with Toyota, Suzuki, Nissan and Mitsubishi also available on the platform. With the company’s ongoing partnership with AGMC, recent additions include MINI Cooper S and John Cooper Works models, the launch of MINI Convertibles. Udrive has also added hybrid BYD Song and BYD QIN vehicles to its fleet, offering customers premium, lower-emission mobility options.
“At Udrive, our growth is being shaped by customers who want access without the cost and commitment of ownership. Expanding across four emirates and growing our fleet gives residents and visitors the freedom to choose the right car for every journey. Stronger retention shows that flexible mobility is becoming part of daily life in the UAE, while supporting a more practical alternative to private vehicle dependency,” said Hasib Khan, Founder and CEO of Udrive.
As part of its wider network growth, Udrive has added new Business Zones in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman, extending coverage across almost every area within its operating network. This gives customers more flexibility to pick up and end trips across key residential, commercial and lifestyle districts, supporting everyday journeys across the UAE’s major urban centres.
Through the Udrive app, customers can locate, book and unlock a vehicle in minutes, with flexible rental options by the minute, hour, day, week or month. The service is designed around convenience and transparency, with zero deposit, no paperwork, office visits or delivery fees, and inclusive benefits such as free fuel and parking.
As the UAE’s mobility needs continue to evolve, Udrive will focus on deeper coverage, stronger fleet variety, and partnerships that improve access to flexible transport across the country. The company’s growth strategy is centred on making shared mobility easier to use, more widely available, and more relevant to how residents move across cities every day.
The expanded Udrive network is now live on the app. Customers can open the map, find a nearby car, choose the rental option that fits their journey and start driving in minutes.
Automotive
Udrive customers cross 45 million kilometres as UAE demand for car sharing accelerates
Udrive, the UAE’s leading car-sharing platform, has strengthened its mobility network across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ajman, as app-based car access becomes a bigger part of how people move across the country. In 2025 alone, Udrive customers have driven more than 45 million kilometres, reflecting rising demand for smarter urban mobility that aligns with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan’s focus on flexible means of transportation.
The growth reflects Udrive’s expanding role as a practical alternative to traditional car rental and private car ownership. The platform now operates a fleet of over 2,000 vehicles and has completed more than three million rentals to date. In 2025, Udrive recorded over half a million trips, while registrations grew by 14% compared with 2024, indicating stronger adoption among customers seeking on-demand access to vehicles.
Residents make up 90% of Udrive’s customer base, showing how car sharing has become part of daily commuting, errands, weekend plans and short-term transport needs. Retention has strengthened, with active customers for 12 months or more rising from 21% to 32%. Growth across shorter-term segments has also supported higher trip volumes and revenue, pointing to sustained adoption among both new and returning users.

Fleet choice has also expanded; Udrive now offers vehicles from Kia, Ford, BYD and MINI, with Toyota, Suzuki, Nissan and Mitsubishi also available on the platform. With the company’s ongoing partnership with AGMC, recent additions include MINI Cooper S and John Cooper Works models, the launch of MINI Convertibles. Udrive has also added hybrid BYD Song and BYD QIN vehicles to its fleet, offering customers premium, lower-emission mobility options.
“At Udrive, our growth is being shaped by customers who want access without the cost and commitment of ownership. Expanding across four emirates and growing our fleet gives residents and visitors the freedom to choose the right car for every journey. Stronger retention shows that flexible mobility is becoming part of daily life in the UAE, while supporting a more practical alternative to private vehicle dependency,” said Hasib Khan, Founder and CEO of Udrive.
As part of its wider network growth, Udrive has added new Business Zones in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman, extending coverage across almost every area within its operating network. This gives customers more flexibility to pick up and end trips across key residential, commercial and lifestyle districts, supporting everyday journeys across the UAE’s major urban centres.
Through the Udrive app, customers can locate, book and unlock a vehicle in minutes, with flexible rental options by the minute, hour, day, week or month. The service is designed around convenience and transparency, with zero deposit, no paperwork, office visits or delivery fees, and inclusive benefits such as free fuel and parking.
As the UAE’s mobility needs continue to evolve, Udrive will focus on deeper coverage, stronger fleet variety, and partnerships that improve access to flexible transport across the country. The company’s growth strategy is centred on making shared mobility easier to use, more widely available, and more relevant to how residents move across cities every day.
The expanded Udrive network is now live on the app. Customers can open the map, find a nearby car, choose the rental option that fits their journey and start driving in minutes.
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