How to Get Around
Dubai Metro: Best value
AED 3-7 per trip. Clean, fast, covers major attractions. Buy a Nol card.
Uber & Careem: Convenient
Both work great. AED 25-60 typical trip. Careem accepts cash.
Car rental: From AED 80/day
Easy to drive. International license accepted. Excellent roads.
Best combo: Metro for major attractions + Uber/taxi for specific destinations. Budget AED 50-100/day.
The Basics
- Red Line: Airport → Downtown → Marina → JBR (most tourist areas)
- Green Line: Old Dubai, Deira, Creek, Festival City
- Hours: 5am-midnight (1am Fridays)
- Frequency: Every 3-4 minutes (peak), 7-10 minutes (off-peak)
Nol Card (Required)
- Buy at any metro station (AED 25 with AED 19 credit)
- Tap in at entry gate, tap out at exit
- Also works on buses and trams
- Refundable AED 6 deposit when leaving UAE
Fares
- 1 zone: AED 3
- 2 zones: AED 5
- 3+ zones: AED 7.50
- Day pass: AED 20 unlimited
- Gold Class: 2x regular fare (less crowded)
Key Stations for Tourists
- Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall: Downtown Dubai
- DMCC/Dubai Marina: Marina, JBR Beach
- Mall of Emirates: Ski Dubai
- Al Ras: Gold Souk, Old Dubai
Rush hour tip: 7-9am and 5-8pm are crowded. Gold Class is worth it during peak times.
Ride Apps
- Uber: Works great, similar to taxi prices
- Careem: Local favorite, often slightly cheaper, accepts cash
- Hala: Official RTA app, no surge pricing
- Tip: Download both Uber & Careem, compare prices
Official Taxis (Beige Color)
- Base fare: AED 5 (AED 25 from airport)
- Per km: AED 1.96
- Minimum fare: AED 12
- All metered, safe, can pay by card
Typical Costs
- Airport → Downtown: AED 50-70
- Marina → Downtown: AED 40-55
- Short trips: AED 15-30
- Dubai → Abu Dhabi: AED 250-300
Surge pricing: Uber surges during rush hour/rain. Hala app (official taxis) has no surge — good backup option.
Requirements
- Age: 21+ (25+ for luxury cars)
- License: International Driving Permit + home license (US, UK, EU licenses often accepted directly)
- Credit card: For deposit (AED 1,500-5,000 hold)
Costs
- Economy: AED 80-120/day
- Mid-size: AED 120-180/day
- SUV: AED 200-350/day
- Fuel: Cheap (~AED 2.5-3/liter)
Driving in UAE
- Drive on the right (like US/Europe)
- Speed limits: 60-80 km/h city, 100-140 km/h highway
- Automatic speed cameras everywhere
- Salik toll gates: AED 4-5 per crossing
- Parking: Free at malls, paid in city (AED 2-4/hour)
Speeding fines: Cameras catch everything. 20 km/h over = AED 300. Fines deducted from rental deposit.
Dubai Airport (DXB)
- Metro: AED 5-7, connects Terminals 1 & 3. Best value!
- Taxi: AED 50-90 depending on destination
- Uber/Careem: Similar to taxi, pickup at designated areas
- Hotel shuttle: Many 4-5 star hotels offer free pickup
Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH)
- Bus A1: AED 4 to downtown Abu Dhabi
- Taxi: AED 60-100 within Abu Dhabi
- To Dubai: AED 300-350 by taxi
Late arrival tip: If landing after midnight when metro is closed, pre-book a transfer (AED 100-150) or use Uber/taxi.
Dubai ↔ Abu Dhabi
- Distance: 150 km, 1.5-2 hours
- Bus: E100/E101 from Al Ghubaiba, AED 25, every 20-40 mins
- Taxi: AED 250-300 one-way
- Rental car: Easy highway drive
Dubai ↔ Sharjah
- Distance: 30 km, 30-60 mins (traffic dependent)
- Bus: AED 10, every 15-20 mins
- Warning: Rush hour border traffic is brutal
Dubai ↔ Fujairah (East Coast)
- Distance: 130 km, 1.5-2 hours
- Bus: E700, AED 25
- Scenic mountain drive if renting car
Multiple day trips? Rent a car for flexibility. AED 100/day + fuel beats multiple taxi fares.
Frequently Asked Questions
Best options: Metro (AED 5-7, 30-45 mins to most areas), Taxi (AED 50-90), or Uber/Careem. Metro connects Terminals 1 & 3 directly. For late arrivals, heavy luggage, or families, taxi is more convenient despite higher cost. Many 4-5 star hotels offer free airport shuttles — check when booking.
Yes. Both Uber and Careem work great throughout UAE. Prices are similar to official taxis. Careem (regional app, owned by Uber) is the local favorite and accepts cash. Download both apps before arrival and compare prices — one is often running promotions.
Buy a Nol card at any metro station (AED 25 with AED 19 credit). Tap in at the entry gate, tap out at exit — fare is calculated automatically based on zones (AED 3-7.50). Red Line covers most tourist spots. Runs 5am-midnight (1am Fridays). Download "Dubai Metro" app for real-time schedules.