Thrifty Car Rental of UAE Set to Increase Business in Mall Outlets
The company said that its shopping mall locations have seen a 700% increase in business over the last five years.
Thrifty Car Rental of United Arab Emirates, a franchisee of the Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc., announced Aug. 14 the launch of its newest car rental location at Mirdif City Centre.
“Shopping malls fill a key role within the UAE in terms of retail therapy and entertainment, and our customer feedback indicates that convenience and accessibility are among the main reasons that they rent cars at our 10 mall locations,” said Rahul Singh, general manager, Thrifty Car Rental UAE. “Our businesses in shopping malls have increased by 700% over the last five years. We believe this number is set to increase with the onset of the summer season, with Mirdif City Centre and other malls attracting both tourists and residents.”
Thrifty UAE initiated its shopping mall strategy with a counter at Deira City Centre in 2006. Since then, the car rental company has expanded into most of the leading malls in the country, including Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Festival City, Ibn Batuta Mall, Dubai Mall, Sharjah City Centre and Ajman City Centre, and Al Wadha Mall in Abu Dhabi.
Mirdif City Centre is located off Emirates Road and offers more than 430 international shopping options, attracting more than 19.6 million visitors in 2011 to its retail outlets.
More Rental Operations

Advantage, Sixt Place Among Top Five in Annual Satisfaction Study
While Enterprise and National retain the top spots in JD Power’s 2026 rankings, the latest customer satisfaction results suggest renters can find competitive service beyond the biggest car rental names.
Read More →
The $100,000 Insurance Trap in Exotic Car Rentals
Exotic rental agencies often rely on customers’ personal auto policies to protect six-figure vehicles. But policy language can dramatically change the coverage for vehicles over $100,000 MSRP.
Read More →
The Booking Is Confirmed, But Is Your Customer Ready to Drive?
For international renters, a confirmed reservation doesn’t always mean they’re eligible to drive. Earlier checks can help operators catch documentation and payment issues before the customer reaches the counter.
Read More →
ICRS 2027 Opens Call for Papers
The International Car Rental Show seeks session proposals on the business, operational, and technology issues facing car rental operators. Submissions are due Jan. 15.
Read More →
Turo to Launch Vehicle Delivery Service
Turo Delivered will let travelers search for vehicles that hosts can deliver directly to hotels, homes, airports, train stations, and other locations.
Read More →
Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap
A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.
Read More →
U-Save Continues Dominican Republic Expansion with Launch in Punta Cana
The new franchise location builds on U-Save’s existing Santo Domingo operation and will begin taking reservations for October 2026.
Read More →
When AI Books the Rental Car, Who Controls the Sale?
As AI moves from comparing rental rates to completing transactions, operators need to understand how travelers find, interpret, rank, and ultimately see their offers. (Part 2 of 2.)
Read More →
European Booked Car Rental Rates Fell 5%, Results Varied by Country
Ireland, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom saw steep declines, while booked rates rose in Poland and Hungary.
Read More →Is It Time to Rethink Rental Categories?
As traditional economy and compact cars disappear from the market, longtime rental operator Mike DeLorenzo asks whether the industry’s familiar vehicle categories still make sense — and what operators need to rethink along with them.
Read More →
