Dubai is not a city built with pedestrians in mind: the distances are long and the sun is ruthless. The options are: rent a car, take a taxi, or use public transport. Hitchhiking is illegal. Use the route search for detailed instructions on how to get to your destination.
The primary airport serving Dubai is a landmark itself: it is the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic (in 2019 86.4 million passengers had travelled through) — and Terminal 3 is also the largest airport terminal in the world.
You can get in and out of the airport by the Dubai Metro, by bus or by taxi.
If you land in the Terminal 1 or the Terminal 3 you can head directly for the Dubai Metro stations inside the terminals.
Every terminal is connected with another two and with the city centre and metro stations by bus routes.
There are taxi stands in all the terminals. Taking a taxi would often be cheaper than a hotel transfer. A taxi ride from the airport to Downtown Dubai costs circa 50–60 AED. All Dubai government-licensed taxis are metered.
Hundreds of companies offer rental cars in Dubai (this one is a random example). You can rent one at the airport. But there are pros and cons.
On the one hand, taxis in Dubai are inexpensive, public transport is comfortable, the traffic is heavy and the local style of driving may be unaccustomed for a foreigner.
On the other hand, if you are going to move around a lot (and especially if you want to go to neighbouring emirates), renting a car could be cheaper than taking a taxi every time. Some of the points of interest (like camel races) are out of reach by public transport.
Renting a car starts from 60–100 AED per day. Several companies offer luxury cars like Ferraris or Lamborghinis (that will be from 1500 AED per day). Shop around: prices vary, and there might be special offers.
A government-licensed Dubai taxi is a cream-colored car with a bright-colored roof. Various companies have various roof colors. Red roof is a sign of the state-run Dubai Taxi Corporation.
Pink-roofed taxies are ladies only and driven by a female driver. It is OK for women to ride alone in any taxi, but sitting in the front might be considered inappropriate.
All licensed taxis are metered and air-conditioned. The initial fare is 3–7 AED (25 AED from the airport), the meter fare is 1,75 AED/km, minimal payment is 10 AED. Cash is accepted as well as credit cards or Apple/Samsung Pay. If a driver claims that the meter is broken or that there are fixed prices — he is cheating.
During rush hours the Metro may be a better solution.
You can call a taxi by phone, hail one in the street or at the taxi stand (which can be found at the airport, shopping malls, metro stations), or request the nearest car through RTA Smart Taxi app.
Uber also operates in Dubai as well as its local rival — Dubai-based ride-hailing app Careem. Usually Uber and Careem cost slightly more than a taxi. But if you are traveling a long distance, especially when there is traffic, Uber might be cheaper.
You have to buy a smart Nol Card to pay for metro, bus, water bus, and tram rides.
Nol Cards are sold at ticket offices and in ticket vending machines at metro and bus stations.
One ride costs 3–7,5 AED. Fare depends on the number of transport zones you travel through. For example, if you go from Burj Khalifa to Mall of the Emirates, you cross 2 zones, so you will have to pay 6 AED.
Do not forget to check-in when you enter and check-out when you leave. Place your Nol card on the card reader and wait for the beep and green light. If you do not check-in, you will be fined (200 AED). If you do not check-out, you will be charged the maximum fare — 7,5 AED.
If the remaining value is less than 7,5 AED, you will not be able to pay even for cheaper rides.
Children below the age of 5 and height below 90cm travel for free.
There are 4 types of Nol Card.
Blue Nol Card: a personalised card for locals.
Red Nol Card: if you plan just a few rides. A paper card costs 2 AED and can be charged and used for 1–10 rides.
Silver Nol Card: if you plan more than 10 rides or if you need to pay for parking. It costs 25 AED (19 AED are in credits). With a Silver card you can change for another type of transport within 30 minutes and pay for one ride.
Gold Nol Card: gives access to gold class metro wagons (less crowded, with more comfortable individual seats). This card costs 25 AED (19 AED are in credits), one metro ride costs 6–15 AED. Otherwise Gold Nol card and Silver Nol card work equally.
The Nol Card system was developed by the same Hong Kong-based company that produced the Hong Kong Octopus payment system.
You can learn more about Nol cards and Dubai transport at Roads & Transport Authority official page.
A Dubai Metro ride is a trip to the future: it involves one of the few fully automated driverless passenger trains in the world. So you could take the driver’s place at the windshield and take photos and videos of the futuristic cityscape at fantastic speed.
The Red Line goes through the main tourist attraction areas: Dubai Marina, downtown, old neighbourhoods, and also the Dubai Airport.
Eating or drinking on the train or on the platform, taking an unauthorised ride in ladies only or Gold class wagon, sitting on the floor, putting feet on seats will get you a fine of 100 AED. Traveling without a ticket, smoking, spitting, littering will get you a fine of 200 AED. 200 AED is also a fine for carrying an alcohol drink. You may get in trouble even if you carry your purchases in a non-transparent bag!
A Nol Card is required to pay for rides (you can buy one at any station). Do not forget to check-in when you enter and check-out when you leave.
Dubai has a dense bus network of about 100 bus routes. All buses are air-conditioned. Buses can take you between emirates or to destinations that the Metro does not reach – such as Global Village (route 106 from the Mall of the Emirates Metro Bus Stop) or to the Dubai Miracle Garden (route 105 from the Mall of the Emirates). To find out which bus you need and where the nearest stop is use “Route Search” in our app.
Buses stop at request. To get off you have to press a button.The first 3 rows are reserved for women and children. Eating and drinking is prohibited.
A Nol Card is required to pay for rides. Nol Cards are sold at ticket offices and in ticket vending machines at metro and bus stations. Do not forget to check-in when you enter and check-out when you leave. Inspectors patrol regularly and collect 200 AED fines mercilessly.
Trams of futuristic design loop around Dubai Marina and run all across Jumeirah Beach Residence. Palm Jumeirah Station links the tramway with the Palm Monorail.
A Nol Card is required to pay for rides. Nol Cards are sold at ticket offices and in ticket vending machines at metro and bus stations. Do not forget to check-in when you enter and check-out when you leave.
At least a short journey by water is a must for a tourist in Dubai. There are several ways to do it: water bus and water taxi, dinner cruises, dhows and abras.
For hundreds of years abras – traditional boats – sail across the Dubai Creek. Nowadays there are still about a hundred and a half abras in the creek. It takes about 5 minutes and 1 AED to get from Deira to Bur Dubai. Also you can charter an abra for a private cruise (about 120 AED per hour).
There are also modernised air-conditioned abras for tourists sailing around Dubai Marina (2–11 AED).
Water Bus is a motor-ship sailing in Dubai Marina: from Dubai Marina Walk to Marina Terrace, from Dubai Marina Mall to Marina Promenade and from Dubai Marina Walk to Dubai Marina Mall. It costs 2–8 AED. Spectacular views included.
Yellow boars are sightseeing boats for tourists cruising in Dubai Marina and around Palm Jumeirah. The boats are open so you will have a full view and a full sea journey experience (but do not forget to use the strongest sunscreen). Booking in advance is recommended.
60 minute Marina cruise (175 AED) is a slow-paced panoramic evening tour of Dubai Marina and Palm Lagoon: an unforgettable sunset and modern architecture in all its glory.
75 minute tour (210 AED) and 99 minute tour (299 AED) take you through Dubai Marina and along Palm Jumeirah with a view at the famous Atlantis hotel.
Afraid of seasickness? Here are some tips from the Yellow Boats crew. Select a seat in the back of the boat. Avoid getting overheated. If you wear glasses or sunglasses keep the lenses clean. Keep your head up and look out to the horizon. Avoid looking through cameras or binoculars. Before the cruise stay away from acidic foods (such as orange juice).
The Dubai Ferry is more a tourist attraction than a public transport. Most of the tours last about 1–1,5 hour, go along the spectacular areas and bring you back to the same station. There is also a ferry cruising between Dubai and Sharjah (it takes about 35 minutes and 15–25 AED).
The ferry is equipped with LCD-screens and air-conditioners and has 100 comfortable seats (economy and business class). For routes and schedules check the official page.
Water taxis — comfortable motor-ships for private rides — cruise between 32 stations. Water taxis are equipped with 10 leather chairs and LCD-screens. A trip from Dubai Marina to Deira would cost about 320 AED, chartering a taxi for an hour — 400 AED.
A driverless train brings the passengers to Palm Jumeirah island and farther to Atlantis hotel and Aquaventure water park, sitting at the apex of the palm.
The Palm Monorail is a privately owned transport system, so the Nol card is not valid. A one-way ticket costs 20 AED, а return ticket costs 30 AED. Children under 90 cm tall ride for free.
The scenic journey takes about 10 minutes with services operating every 15 minutes.
Like every city teeming with tourists Dubai has bright-colored double-decker buses going in large circles and making stops at main landmarks. You buy a ticket for 1, 3 or 5 days and you can jump on and off any time you want. The choice between an air-conditioned cabin and an open top is also yours.
The ticket price starts from 275 AED. Various bus tours include night tours and tours to the neighbouring emirates Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.