Dubai is never short of transportation options for those who wish to explore the Emirate. From public transport to rent-a-car services, you can choose as per your convenience. If you want to make a short journey on a budget, but without compromising your comfort, you can opt for ride sharing. Car sharing services such as Ekar & Udrive in Dubai make getting around easy and simple for anyone who doesn’t have a licence or cannot drive for any reason.
Read on to find out all about Ekar and Udrive.
Ekar and UDrive in Dubai
Since Ekar and Udrive are the top car-sharing services in Dubai, here is a detailed account of the services they provide:
Ekar
One of the pioneers in the car-sharing service industry, Ekar is among the largest operators in the UAE. They offer on-demand access to more than a thousand vehicles working on the pay-per-minute model. These cars are also available for long-term use such as daily or monthly. Furthermore, it has an easy to use, downloadable Ekar app – one of the various popular apps for Dubai drivers– for the convenience of the customers.
Follow the procedure to avail their service:
Download the Ekar App
Download the Ekar app on your smartphone and register via the Emirates ID, your passport details or a valid UAE driving licence. After registration, you pay AED 1 and receive an email of confirmation from their service centre.
The rest of the process is quite straightforward. Book the Ekar nearest to you. You can book an Ekar on a pay-per-minute (valid for maximum 5 hours), daily, weekly or monthly basis.
Unlocking and driving Ekar
Locate the vehicle via the app and unlock it with the Ekar key. You will find the key in the glove compartment. Enter a personalised pin code to release the key from the holder. After your drive ends, you will have to leave the key into the Ekar portal and replace the glove box.
Types of Cars
You can book three different types of cars on Ekar based on the cost, duration and other factors. For example, you can book the light blue Infiniti Q50 – the signature Ekar vehicle. It comes with a 24-hour booking limit, a mileage charge of AED 1.5 for every kilometre and free usage of 30 km for every hour. You can book it on any one of the three bases with different ekar rates applicable:
- Per-minute: AED 0.7
- Per-hour: AED 42
- Daily: AED 360
Meanwhile, another famous Ekar vehicle, Infiniti Q70 comes at a per-minute charge of AED 0.8, daily booking for AED 399, weekly bookings of AED 2299 and a monthly rent of AED 4750.
Additional charges
There are some Ekar fees required to keep them in the best condition. These charges may include:
- Excessive cleaning: AED 300
- Smoking inside the vehicle: AED 500
- SALIK: AED 5
- Parking/speeding ticket more than AED 200: AED 100
For further information, you can visit the Ekar website or contact them at 800-693-527.
Image Source: Ekar website
UDrive
Another popular car-sharing service in Dubai is Udrive. It offers pay-per-minute rent-a-car services at affordable rental rates. Fine and SALIK excluded for the first trip with Udrive. They work on a pay-as-you-drive, aka self-driving model. The Udrive car fleet includes the latest models from such brands as Yaris, Nissan, Toyota, Chevrolet Spark, Ford EcoSport and more. These are available with automatic transmission.
Given below is the procedure to book Udrive cars via the Udrive app:
UDrive Registration
Sign up on the Udrive website for registration. You will be required to enter your document and information, such as a valid driving licence and Emirate ID.
Activation and Pin Code
After registration, Udrive will verify your account in around 4 hours. On completion, you will receive an email confirming activation and your PIN code.
Using the Udrive App
You can use the Udrive app to locate and unlock your Udrive vehicle. Once you unlock it, enter your pin code in a device you will find on the dashboard to activate the vehicle. This device also has the car keys. You are now free to drive your Udrive car throughout the city. Once your journey is complete, return the car at any point in the city.
Payment Options
When using Udrive, you only pay for the time you actually drive the vehicle. You can choose from different options on the basis of duration, pricing and other requirements. These options include:
- Flexible Fleet
Udrive’s Flexible Fleet pay-per-minute includes cars such as Nissan Kicks, Nissan Tiida, Ford Mustang and several others. The rental rates vary between AED 144 and AED 279 depending on the vehicle. Excess mileage of AED 1 per kilometre is applied.
- Daily Fleet
The Udrive vehicles available only for daily acquisition include Nissan Sunny, Nissan Micra, Ford Focus, Toyota Yaris Sedan, Mercedes Benz A-Class and others. The rate per day has a range from AED 119 to AED 279. The excess mileage is AED 1 for every kilometre.
Additional charges
You can also avail Udrive for intercity travel only for AED 75. Other charges for this kind of service include administrative fees i.e. the service charges for fines under 1000 is AED 100. However, the service charges will be AED 200 if the incurred fines are above AED 1000.
Still, other charges to consider are:
- Excessive cleaning: AED 350
- Unsecured vehicle: AED 125
- Returning car with fuel less than 15%: AED 75
- Lost keys: AED 950
- Smoking inside the vehicle: AED 500
For more information, you can visit the Udrive website or contact them at +971-4-875-3900 | 800-UDRIVE. The Udrive location is in Concord Tower, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street – Dubai.
Other apps you may find handy include these public transport apps in Dubai and careem bike app.
FAQs
Which is better: EKAR vs UDrive?
Ekar and Udrive both offer similar services. They are considered equals in terms of cars and services. However, Ekar has better service and is better at resolving any issues and is more lenient with incurring fines as compared to Udrive.
Can I use Udrive from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
With Udrive’s Intercity service, you can drive to and from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ajman. You will be charged a service fee in addition to the normal trip charges.
Who can drive the Udrive car?
Any registered member can drive the Udrive car with their national identification/passport and driving license. However, it is not allowed for someone else to use the car under your account. In case of noncompliance, the company will incur fines as per their pricing schedule.
Do I have to worry about fuel price when Ekar and Udrive?
The fuel is on the car-sharing company. You do not have to worry about it. The client pays by the minute.
Where can I park my Udrive car?
The Dubai fleet can be parked in the Dubai RTA Parking Zones A, B, C and D and any unlimited free parking. If you park in RTA Zones E, F, G, H, K, L, you must send an email at parking@udrive.ae before you leave the car. Mention the plate number of the parked car. For the Dubai Fleet, you must end the trip within Dubai. However, the RTA Parking Zone I and J are not currently covered by Udrive.
If you want to stay on a budget while enjoying more freedom and flexibility, you can consider owning a used car in Dubai. Also, check out these popular car listings:
This is all about the two leading car-sharing services in Dubai. Enjoy your journey across the city in either Ekar or Udrive with ease and comfort. Also, have a look at some of the latest smart mobility solutions in the UAE for more convenient travelling options.
Stay tuned to the UAE’s top auto blog for more information on transportation across the emirate.
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