Car rental companies are barred from keeping the passports or identity cards of their customers or seeking cash deposits, the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority has said.

“No private documents relating to the renter shall be retained such as the passport or identity card,” said Nasir Al Haj, director of commercial transport activities, RTA’s licensing agency.

“The new conditions aim to improve the business practices of this sector, curb offences and risks, and define the roles and responsibilities of parties associated with this sector.”

On Tuesday, 28th February, 2017, Dubai’s transport regulator announced new regulations on issuing permits to car rental companies in the emirate.

These include allocating designated car permits for rental cars without affecting public parking, complying with the regular service timing as specified in the manuals, and defining the rights and obligations of the client and the car rental company.

The manufacturing year of the used vehicle has to correspond with the same year of the application for registration, according to the regulations.

The company also has to provide at least 10 vehicles during the first year at the head office, and three vehicles at each branch.

If the company owns vehicles worth more than AED 600,000, the head office needs to have at least five vehicles.