Rent a car in Abu Dhabi

Renting Cars in Abu Dhabi: The Real Deal

After living here five years, I've tried every car rental option in the capital. Let me save you some headaches. The airport counters? Convenient but pricey. Those small shops along Airport Road offer better weekly rates. My buddy saved almost 40% last month by walking two blocks past the terminal.

Price-wise, Abu Dhabi runs slightly cheaper than Dubai. Economy cars start around 110 dirhams daily, mid-size sedans about 150-200. Monthly deals slash prices dramatically - my colleague pays just 1,800 monthly for a decent Toyota. Pro tip: negotiate insurance excess - that's where they hide extra fees. Always take timestamped photos before driving away.

What's Worth Renting

Forget those tiny hatchbacks if you're here summer - underpowered AC makes life miserable. Mid-size sedans hit the sweet spot for most visitors. SUVs make sense for desert trips but waste money for city driving.

Popular rental choices include:

• Toyota Corolla - reliable city workhorse
• Nissan Sunny - budget-friendly option
• Mitsubishi Pajero - if you're heading to Liwa
• Hyundai Elantra - good value mid-size

Check that perfect car's manufacturing date - anything pre-2018 gets sketchy with reliability. Thrifty and Budget maintain newer fleets than most local shops. Dollar surprisingly offered the best value last time I compared.

Skip the airport if possible, get unlimited kilometers, and double-check the AC works before signing anything. Your comfort in July depends on it!