Teach Middle East Magazine Issue 1 Volume 3 Sep-Oct 2015 | Page 58

In the UAE Transportation: To rent or to buy? A fter the excitement of realising that you have just landed a teaching job in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or the Middle East, comes the reality of setting up life in a brand new country. The questions are many and they range from what is appropriate work wear to how to get to work. This article will hopefully help to answer your questions on renting or buying a car. Renting Renting a car in the UAE is relatively straightforward. There is a multiplicity of car rental agencies with rentals ranging from the well-known international brands to the smaller more locally based agencies. In order to rent a vehicle, the driver needs to be over the age of 21 and hold a valid drivers licence from their home country. Some rental car companies may ask for an international drivers’ license but most don’t. It may be useful to have one before you arrive just in case. You can drive on your foreign license until you become a permanent resident at which time you must convert your licence to a UAE license. Licences from some selected countries can simply be exchanged while others will require retesting. Visit www.abudhabi.ae for more information or call 800 5000. Mo