Can Women Drive in Dubai?

No Ban, and There Never Was One

The UAE has never prohibited women from holding a driving licence or driving a car. Women have been licensed here since the 1970s: Khaleej Times documents a licence issued to Mouza Mohammed Saif Nakhkhan in Ras Al Khaimah in August 1976. The confusion comes from Saudi Arabia, which lifted its ban on women driving in June 2018 and was the last country in the world to do so.

The Same Law for Every Driver

Dubai’s traffic law does not distinguish between men and women. The same law, Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 (in force since March 2025), applies to women and men. For a rental, the limits are set by the car, not by gender: every listing in our fleet shows its own minimum age and minimum driving experience.

What the Police Numbers Show

• Data for 2017 (reported by Gulf News in November 2018): women caused 126 dangerous accidents against 1,299 caused by men. Eight deaths were linked to women and 186 to men, which put women’s share of road deaths at about 4%.
• January to September 2019 (reported in October 2019): women accounted for 9.4% of all accidents in Dubai and 3.2% of fatal ones. Fatal accidents caused by women fell from nine deaths in the same months of 2018 to three.

These figures do not say how many kilometres each group drives, so they do not prove that women are better drivers. They do show that the idea of women being unsafe on Dubai roads has no support in the data. The Dubai Police traffic director also noted at the time that men’s crashes came mostly from speeding and reckless driving, while women’s were more often caused by distraction. The lesson for every driver is the same: keep the phone out of your hand.

Harassment Is a Crime

The UAE Penal Code (Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021) punishes molesting a woman by words or acts on a public road with up to one year in detention and/or a fine of up to AED 10,000, according to the UAE Public Prosecution. Road rage and aggressive driving are also penalised. If someone follows or harasses you, keep the doors locked, drive to a busy, lit place such as a petrol station or a mall, and call 999.

Driving Alone, Day or Night

Driving alone is legal at any hour, and the main roads are busy and lit around the clock. On a rental, check the fuel gauge before a late trip. If something is wrong with the car, message the team: we work 24/7.

Age and Experience: It Depends on the Car

Most cars in our fleet are open to drivers from 25, a good share from 23 and a few from 21. Most ask for 3 years of driving, and the more powerful cars for 5. The rule is the same for every renter: a woman and a man of the same age and experience see the same list of cars.

Ladies’ Parking Bays

Pink-marked bays reserved for women exist in the UAE, usually closer to the entrance. Some Abu Dhabi and Dubai car parks and malls reserve them, and Dubai Police announced ladies’ parking at its stations. Availability differs from building to building, so look for the pink markings and signs when you enter a car park.

Pink Taxis and the Women’s Metro Cabin

If you would rather not drive on a given day, Dubai’s Families and Ladies taxis have a pink roof and women drivers, and ladies and families can ride. Book through the S’hail or Bolt app (choose Families and Ladies) or the Dubai Taxi call centre on 800 88088, or hail one at the airport, malls and hospitals. On the Dubai Metro, the women and children cabin is off limits to men, who risk a AED 120 fine if they travel in it.

Paid Parking Without the Guesswork

Public parking in Dubai is typically paid from 8 am to 10 pm Monday to Saturday, and standard surface zones are free on Sundays and public holidays. Multi-storey car parks charge every day. You can pay through the Parkin app, the RTA Dubai app, Nol or SMS. Rates changed in June 2026 when VAT was added to parking, so check the current tariff on the Parkin page.

Clothing and Comfort

We are not aware of any dress code for driving in the UAE traffic law. Wear what is comfortable, and keep the practical points in mind: sunglasses with UV protection, because the midday sun is strong, and clothing that cannot catch on the pedals or the gear selector. Long scarves, flowing hems and loose sleeves are the usual culprits.

Phone Down, Eyes Up

Dubai Police named distraction as the usual cause of crashes involving women when it commented on its figures. Set the navigation before you pull out, use a holder, and let calls go to voicemail.

If You Have an Accident

If anyone is hurt or the damage is serious, call 999. For a minor crash with no injuries, call 901 or report it through the Dubai Police app (App Store, Google Play), and move the car out of the traffic lane if it is safe to do so. On a rental, every damage, even a scratch left in a car park, needs a Police Report, so call us right after you call the police.

Children, Seats and Breakdowns

Child seats are free, which helps when you drive with children. If the car breaks down, contact us: we collect it and bring you another one. Our team works 24/7, so a late-evening question never waits until morning.

Insurance and the Police Report

Basic insurance is included in the daily rate, and an extended option is available. The excess and what the cover excludes are set out in your rental agreement (see the rental terms). Any damage, even a scratch in a car park, requires a Police Report.

The Short List

Brook Drive does not take a security deposit and has no hidden fees. Handover takes about 20 minutes. Fuel is full-to-full. Salik tolls and Darb gate charges are billed to you separately after the rental ends, and traffic fines are forwarded to you and paid after the rental. Each car has its own daily mileage limit (200–250 km, shown on the car page), and extra kilometres are charged separately. Trips outside the UAE, Oman included, are not allowed. Delivery is free on orders above AED 10,000; otherwise it costs AED 185 in Dubai between 9 am and 9 pm or AED 290 between 9 pm and 9 am, plus 5% VAT, and delivery to Dubai Airport starts at AED 250.