Back to school: Demand for car rentals rise by up to 40 per cent

Rental cars in the UAE are seeing an uptick in demand of up to 40 per cent during the back-to-school season. While some of it is driven by new families moving into the country, the rising cost of school transportation is another reason.

- Nasreen Abdulla [e-mail]

“Many expat families move in ahead of the academic year, creating a surge in transportation needs while they settle into new routines,” said Soham Shah, CEO and founder of SelfDrive Mobility.

“The region's rapidly growing number of schools adds to the demand, with more parents, students, and staff requiring mobility solutions. Teachers, too, often arrive during this period as they scout and secure new jobs, further driving short-term rental requirements.

Anudeep Raghuthaman, head of sales and marketing at Dollar Car Rental, explained that the company had typically seen a “30 to 40 per cent increase in rentals during this period” due to various reasons.