Minivans & Minibus Rental in Dubai

Dubai's Minivan Scene: Beyond the Tourist Traps

Let me save you the headache I went through last year when our family reunion hit Dubai. After calling about twenty companies, I figured out that those fancy airport rental counters charge almost double what the Al Quoz operators want for identical vehicles. My buddy Rashid now runs all his small tour groups with a 14-seater he gets for 4,200 monthly instead of the 7,000+ the big names quoted.

Price-wise, Dubai's expensive but navigable. Daily rentals for decent 7-seaters start around 350-450 dirhams, while those 14-seat Hiaces run 500-700 depending on model year and AC quality. Pro tip from three painful experiences: those International City and Al Quoz operators charge way less than Marina-based companies. Our driver Ahmed even threw in Dubai Mall pickup when we mentioned our group included seniors who couldn't walk far.

What's Actually Worth Renting

Dubai's range is ridiculous - everything from basic worker transport to VIP luxury:

• Toyota Previa (7 seats) - perfect for small families, handles mall parking
• Toyota Hiace (12-14 seats) - the workhorse that handles everything
• Mercedes Sprinter (12-16 seats) - when you need to impress clients
• Toyota Coaster (22-30 seats) - saved our desert safari when cousins brought friends

Summer lesson learned the expensive way - that AC better be industrial-strength or you'll have mutiny by noon. The driver's English level matters hugely if tourists are involved. Our first guy couldn't understand "please stop at pharmacy" which led to quite the adventure!

Retry