Do I need an IDP to drive?

Gulf licences are accepted as they are. For everyone else the rental company sets the rule, and many want an International Driving Permit alongside your own licence, particularly if your licence is not in English or Arabic. The catch: an IDP is only issued by the country that issued your licence, usually through its automobile association, so it has to be done before you fly. It is cheap and takes a day or two. Ask your rental company what they need at the time you book, not at the desk.