Riding with a chauffeur in Dubai: etiquette and in-car rules

Where should you sit?

In the back. A chauffeur car is set up for rear passengers, and the driver works from the front. If you prefer the front seat, say so when you get in. Nobody minds.

Seats vary by car. A Mercedes-Benz S-Class seats up to 3 in the rear. A Mercedes-Benz V-Class seats more. If you are a group of 4, choose an SUV or a van, available through our partner network, subject to availability. The driver loads the bags, so wait at the door and let the driver open it.

Travelling alone and want to know what to expect? Our guide for solo women riders answers the safety questions.

Do passengers in the back have to wear seatbelts?

Yes. The UAE government portal states that all passengers in a car must wear seatbelts, including those in the rear seat. If one is unbelted, the driver is fined AED 400 and receives 4 black points.

That is why a good chauffeur asks everyone to buckle up before the car moves. It is the law, not fussiness. Fasten yours as soon as you sit, and help children with theirs. For child seats, read child car seats in the UAE and tell us the ages when you book.

Can you eat, drink or smoke in the car?

Ask first. The company sets the rule for its car.

• Food. RTA’s taxi rules say no eating or drinking in a taxi. Chauffeur cars are shared with the next guest, so most keep the same line. A bottle of water is rarely a problem. A hot meal is.
• Smoking. RTA lists no smoking among the taxi rules. UAE law also bans smoking in public and private transport when a child is present. Assume the car is smoke-free and ask for a stop if you need one.
• Mess. If something spills, tell the driver straight away.

For what a car carries in the door pockets, see chauffeur car amenities in Dubai.

What about alcohol on the way back from a night out?

Do not bring an open drink into the car. Visit Dubai states that alcohol is for licensed venues, and that drinking in public places outside them is prohibited. The law also treats drink-driving with zero tolerance, which is exactly why people book a chauffeur for dinner in DIFC or on the Marina.

A good plan is simple. Book the car before the evening, finish your drink at the venue and walk out to a driver who is already waiting. Our guide to the laws visitors should know covers the wider picture.

Ramadan: what changes in the car during fasting hours?

Your driver may be fasting, and the roads are different. Visit Dubai says visitors who are not fasting may eat and drink in public, but it suggests discretion. In the car, that means saving the snack for the hotel.

Roads change around sunset when iftar begins, so allow extra time for evening trips. Our Ramadan guide for visitors covers timings and traffic.

How to ask for changes: route, stops, music, temperature

Ask. Everything below is normal.

• Temperature. Ask for the air conditioning to be cooler or warmer.
• Music and quiet. Ask for a station, a lower volume or silence.
• Stops. Ask for a stop at a pharmacy, a cash machine or a viewpoint. Short stops are easy. Long ones change the quote, and the driver will tell you.
• Route. The driver chooses the road by traffic. If you prefer another, say so before the turn.
• Pace. Ask for a smoother drive if you feel unwell.

How long will a chauffeur wait, and what happens if you are late?

Free waiting time is confirmed with your quote. At an airport the driver follows your flight, so a late landing is handled. For a meeting or a dinner, agree the time you expect to be back. If you will be late, message your driver on WhatsApp and say how long.

Tipping is optional and custom varies, so read tipping in Dubai before you decide. How the price is set is in our chauffeur cost guide.

Photos, phone calls and privacy in the car

The rear cabin is private. Take your calls, and drivers will keep their eyes on the road. Ask before you photograph the driver or the inside of the car.

Businesses booking a chauffeur service or a limousine for confidential work should tell us when they book, and we will say what we can arrange.

On a wedding day: what the chauffeur does, and what to agree beforehand

On the day, the chauffeur drives the wedding party between the agreed places at the agreed times, and waits where you ask. Decide these in advance:

1. The pickup time and the address of each stop.
2. Photo stops, and how long the car waits at each.
3. Decoration on the car, and who puts it on.
4. The return time, and who rides back.
5. The route, if a venue has a special entrance.

Send the plan on WhatsApp so it is in writing. Read wedding convoy rules in the UAE if more than one car is in the party, and see our wedding car hire page for the service itself. For all the other bookings, car with driver is the page to start from, and hiring a chauffeur in Dubai explains the whole process.