'Our new MotorCity location will service the residential community there, as well as those in Arabian Ranches, Victory Heights and the Green Community,' said Nigel Johnson, managing director of Hertz UAE.

'We’re responding to demand by taking our car rental offering into these communities. The biggest chunk of our monthly car rental business comes from UAE residents, as opposed to tourists, and 80% of this business comes from expat professionals working and living in the UAE,' he said.

'Typically, they’re people who need a car for months at a time, when they come back to the UAE in January after spending Christmas away, or when they return in September at the end of the summer holidays,' he added.

Hertz UAE last year recorded growth figures of 12%, with bookings rising by 35%.

The company is now looking to build on that growth in 2012 and will follow up the purchase of more than 4,800 new vehicles in 2011 by introducing approximately the same number to the fleet this year.

'The new MotorCity branch will be the first neighbourhood car rental service available to residents in that particular area of Dubai,” added Johnson. “It is part of our strategic network expansion which is designed to make the rental experience as easy as possible by extending our reach into every corner of the community in the UAE.

'We’re always looking towards adding new branches, and five are in the pipeline for later this year. At the same time, we’re continuing with the refurbishment of our existing locations across the Emirates to provide the best quality services and products in the market,' he concluded.