Dubai is not just a world-class tourist attraction but also a hotspot for professional business ventures, drawing professionals, executives, and business teams from around the world. When you are travelling for work, mobility matters. From attending meetings in different parts of the city to travelling between business expos and customer locations, the right rental car can add immense value to your trip. However, the convenience comes at a cost if you don’t plan your rentals smartly.
Many people visiting Dubai from nearby emirates, particularly those commuting from the neighbouring capital, find it hard to stay on budget. For them, it is a constant battle to cut down costs on rentals, yet not compromise on the need for convenience, professionalism, and mobility.
In this blog, we explore some strategies that can help business travellers to cut down on car rentals without sacrificing convenience, comfort, or professionalism.
Why Should You Rent a Car for Business Travelling in Dubai?
Before we delve into ways to cut down on your car rentals, let us first explore why renting a car is a necessity when you are travelling for business.
Large Geographical Area: The city of Dubai is vast. There are different business hubs across the city such as Downtown, DIFC, Business Bay, and Dubai Media City, all of which are far apart. Hence, commuting between these locations might take hours.
While the metro and buses are efficient, they don’t reach all parts of the city. You may end up losing time in case of delays or curtailed schedule. Also, not having a professional image is often the last thing that you want when travelling for business. Moreover, travelling in your own car gives you the flexibility of arriving at the meeting on time and making yourself accessible and presentable.
Considering all these, it makes sense to rent a car for corporate travel – and yet, being too conscious about your budget is important.
Let us discuss some tips on saving on your car rentals.
Plan Early to Save on Costs
Last minute bookings tend to be costlier, especially during peak seasons or when there is a large-scale event happening. Moreover, if you are planning to book a car during GITEX, a business conference, or other such mega-events, book it earlier. You might be able to get discounts for early bird booking. Moreover, some rental services offer corporate rates for business travellers as well.
If you are a regular traveller, say, commuting from Abu Dhabi to Dubai every other week, you may even be able to get a long-term or reoccurring package at a reduced price.
Choose the Right Car
You might be tempted to rent a luxury sedan or a SUV, especially if you are meeting with high-profile clients or travelling for a corporate meeting. However, for business purposes, a mid-size sedan will be good enough for most purposes.
When choosing a car for business travel, keep in mind:
You may go for a hybrid or a small engine car that doesn’t consume much fuel.
Check your seating and storage space needs. A mid-size sedan will be sufficient if you are travelling alone or with one colleague.
Choose a car that portrays the image you want without becoming too flashy or indulging in features that you will not use.
By picking the right car and avoiding spending on unneeded extras, you can save big on your rental bill.
Look at Long-Term Rental Packages
Are you staying in Dubai for more than a week? Are you expecting to make several work visits over a month? You may consider long-term rentals (weekly or monthly) for a lower price per day than daily rentals.
For example, if you are visiting for a conference or a multi-day seminar, you may consider weekly rentals.
If you are relocating temporarily or are working on a short-term project, you may opt for a monthly package.
Besides, long-term rentals may come with additional benefits such as free insurance, free maintenance, and free miles, all of which may help you save costs.
Bundle Add-ons Cleverly
You may consider GPS, a Wi-Fi hotspot, a child seat (if you are commuting along with your family), and other add-ons while renting a car. While they may be helpful, they may also push your rental costs.
Here’s how you may cut down on add-ons:
If you have your own smartphone, use it for navigating or getting connected.
Check if your own insurance also covers rentals. You may not need to take additional insurance.
Don’t consider add-ons that you will not use, especially if you are hiring a car for a short period in an urban location.
These factors may significantly bring down your daily rental costs.
Check Mileage and Fuel Options
The number of miles and fuel details may vary for different cars. It is advisable to keep in mind the mileage and fuel policies.
Having unlimited mileage is convenient if you have no fixed schedule and are expected to drive around the city to various places.
Understanding the fuel policy will also help you save on fuel, i.e. whether you need to fill the tank to full or need to return it on the same level as you took.
It is important to return the car on the same fuel level, else you may be charged additionally. Moreover, if you are commuting between different emirates, make sure that the mileage plan allows the mileage that you need without charging overage fees.
Book Around Your Business Days
Sometimes, you may not need the car for the whole day or week. If you have a schedule with meetings only for two or three days, you may rent the car for those days only instead of hiring it for the whole duration.
Besides, you may also consider:
Selecting pickup/dropoff locations carefully. You may choose a rental outlet near your hotel or the venue where you will be holding meetings.
Avoiding airport surcharges by picking up the car at city outlets.
The timing and locations where you are renting may significantly cut down on your costs, especially if you are staying for a week.
Utilize Your Company’s Discounts and Rewards
If you are travelling as a part of your company or even as a part of a small business, check if your organization has any corporate deals or agreement with rental service providers.
Besides, consider:
Enrolling in the rental loyalty programs that may give you points, discounts, or free upgrades.
Utilizing credit cards that give you car rental insurance, reward points, or cashback while booking the car.
Most of these benefits go unused but may bring down your out-of-pocket expenses on rentals.
Avoid Extra Insurance If Not Needed
Basic car rental in Dubai includes basic insurance, but the company often tries to upsell premium coverage. However, if you are travelling for a day or two and you don’t need the insurance, you may skip it.
While there is a lot of fine print, here are some things to keep in mind:
You may check your travel insurance to see if it covers car rentals.
See if your credit card has perks that include free rental car insurance as a part of the package.
Skip extra insurance (if you are already covered) to save on the bill.
These things may bring down your overall bill.
Watch Out for Hidden Fees
Always read the fine print before finalising the booking. Most times, you may not realize the additional fees till you pay for it.
The following are some hidden fees you may want to watch out for:
Extra driver fees
Early or late return penalties
Car cleaning fees
Toll system fees (like Salik fees)
Parking tickets and traffic fines
You may follow these things to avoid being surprised:
Request for a detailed quote before you confirm the booking.
Stick to the agreed-upon mileage and return conditions.
Be careful not to violate traffic rules, especially if you are commuting in the regulated zone.
Use Ride-Sharing for Less Travelling Days
Sometimes, your business meeting may not require much driving between places. If you are commuting to only one or two locations in a day and you don’t need much in-between travelling, you may skip renting a car and instead, use a ride-sharing service for the less-travelled days.
Rather than renting the car for the whole week, combine rental days with using a ride-hailing service on days when you are less likely to drive. By taking this hybrid approach, you may reduce the number of rental days and save money.
Make the Most of Car Rentals from Abu Dhabi to Dubai
Many professionals and corporate travellers, who are based in Abu Dhabi, regularly rent a car from Abu Dhabi to Dubai to commute for meetings, seminars, or short assignments. While renting a car for Dubai is a great option, it works only when you need one-way travel between the emirates. Besides, you may consider a Dubai to Abu Dhabi car rental if you are used to using a driver or want to be more flexible.
If you often travel from one emirate to another:
Make sure that the rental service does not charge an additional fee for inter-city travel.
Make sure that your insurance is valid in both emirates and not just one.
Schedule your travelling to avoid rush hours to commute between cities, and save on fuel.
If you have no better option, inter-city rentals can be a great deal. Rather than hiring a cab or a chauffeur for a fixed price, you may consider the inter-city rental at a cheaper rate.
Final Thoughts
If you are travelling to Dubai for work, you don’t have to burn a hole in your pocket. By being smart about your choice of rental, rental days, and car, you may find renting a car affordable and convenient. Plan your schedule, budget, and locations, and decide on the rental duration and car type.
Besides, consider long-term rentals, stick to necessary add-ons, and use your rewards to make the most of your rentals. If you are travelling to Dubai from Abu Dhabi, fly in, and want to drive around Dubai, make the most of the rentals.