Getting Around Dubai

Dubai has one of the best public transport systems in the Gulf, anchored by a clean, reliable metro network. For most of the main tourist areas the Metro is sufficient and far cheaper than taxis. But the city is also large and spread out — some areas require a taxi or rideshare, and a few experiences (like the water taxi crossing in the Creek) are transport options worth taking for the experience alone.

Dubai Metro

The Metro has two lines:

Red Line: The main tourist artery. Runs from Rashidiya (near the airport) through Deira, through DIFC and Sheikh Zayed Road, past Downtown Dubai (Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station), to Dubai Marina and Expo City at the far end. The Red Line is the one most visitors use most of the time.

Green Line: Connects Al Qiyadah in the north to Creek in the south, passing through Deira’s main souk district (Al Ras, Baniyas Square), Deira City Centre, and Al Fahidi (Old Dubai). Intersects with the Red Line at Union and BurJuman stations.

Fares and Nol Cards

All metro journeys require a Nol card (the UAE’s tap-to-pay transit card). Available from ticket machines and customer service counters at all stations. Cards also work on buses, the tram, and water buses.

• Red Nol card: AED 25 (includes AED 19 credit, AED 6 card fee). Best for short stays.
• Silver Nol card: AED 25 (includes AED 14 credit). Reloadable, works on Metro, buses, trams, and water buses.

Fares are zone-based (approximately as of 2026):

• 1 zone: AED 3.00
• 2 zones: AED 5.00
• 3 zones (full Red Line, airport to Marina): AED 7.50

Operating hours: Saturday–Wednesday 05:00–00:00, Thursday–Friday 05:00–01:00. Trains run approximately every 5–7 minutes during peak hours.

Gold Class (front carriage): AED 1.50 surcharge. More space, less crowded — worth it at peak times.

Women and Children carriage: A dedicated carriage for women and children only. Men may not use it.

Key stations for tourists:

• Airport Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 (Red Line — direct from both terminals)
• Union (interchange, Deira area)
• BurJuman (Green Line, Bur Dubai area)
• Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa (Red Line, Downtown)
• Mall of the Emirates (Red Line, Ski Dubai area)
• DMCC/Dubai Marina (Red Line)

Dubai Tram

Connects Dubai Media City and Dubai Marina Walk with Dubai Marina Metro station on the Red Line. Short but useful — covers 10 stations in the Marina/JBR area. Single fare approximately AED 3 with Nol card. Also connects to the Palm Monorail at Jumeirah Lakes Towers station for access to the Palm Jumeirah.

Water Transport

Abra (Traditional Creek Ferry)

The classic Dubai experience — traditional wooden boats crossing Dubai Creek between Bur Dubai (Al Fahidi side) and Deira. Cost approximately AED 1–2 per person. Boats run continuously during daylight and into the evening. No booking required — simply arrive at the dock and board.

Two routes:

• Al Fahidi – Deira Old Souk: Main tourist crossing. Links Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood with the Gold and Spice Souks.
• Bur Dubai – Al Sabkha: Secondary route, slightly less scenic.

RTA Water Bus and Water Taxi

Modern, air-conditioned boats on scheduled routes along the Creek and in the Marina. Nol card accepted. The Water Bus runs regular routes; the Water Taxi is a bookable on-demand service (metered, approximately AED 3 per minute as of 2026).

Dubai Ferry

Runs between Dubai Marina and Al Ghubaiba, passing the JBR beachfront and the Palm Jumeirah. A scenic way to travel between the Marina and Old Dubai. Fare approximately AED 50 — slower than the Metro but a good option for a combined sightseeing trip.

Taxi (RTA)

Dubai’s official taxis are operated by the RTA (Roads and Transport Authority) — metered, air-conditioned, and reliable. The flag fall is approximately AED 5 (AED 3.50 from Dubai International Airport), with a per-km rate of approximately AED 1.96 as of 2026.

Typical fares (approximate, as of 2026):

• Airport (Terminal 1/3) to Downtown Dubai: AED 70–90
• Downtown Dubai to Dubai Marina: AED 45–60
• Dubai Mall to Palm Jumeirah: AED 35–50
• Short hop within Deira: AED 15–20

Minimum fare: approximately AED 12.

How to get one: Hail on the street, use designated taxi ranks outside malls and hotels, or book via the RTA Dubai app. Uber and Careem also dispatch licensed taxis through their apps.

Lady taxis: Dubai Taxi Corporation operates a pink-taxi service for women and families. Driver is female.

Careem and Uber

Both apps operate extensively in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Pricing is broadly similar to metered taxis, with surge pricing during peak hours and busy events. Key advantages over street taxis:

• Upfront pricing: Fare is displayed before booking, unlike a metered taxi.
• Cashless: All payments are in-app.
• Tracking: Trip progress visible on app, shareable with contacts.
• Careem (owned by Uber since 2019): stronger brand recognition in Dubai, tends to have more local drivers with good area knowledge.
• Uber: Also offers Uber Comfort (newer vehicles) for a small premium.

Both are available 24/7. Airport pick-ups require going to designated rideshare meeting points (signposted).

Bus

The RTA bus network covers areas the Metro doesn’t reach. Buses use Nol cards — cash is not accepted on most routes. Key routes for tourists:

• Route E11: Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Abu Dhabi — the main bus option between cities
• Routes 8 and 9: Al Ghubaiba Bus Station along Jumeirah Beach Road
• Route C10 (tourist bus): Hop-on hop-off style route between attractions — approximately AED 50/day

Bus frequency is lower than the Metro (15–30 minutes) and journeys are slower due to traffic. Taxis or rideshares are better for ad hoc travel.

Car Rental

Driving in Dubai is on the right. Roads are generally excellent, well-signed in English, and traffic moves fast. EU, US, UK, and Australian licences are accepted for short-term rentals. GCC residents may use their home licence.

Rental costs: Car hire in the UAE starts from approximately AED 100–200 per day for a standard car at Dubai International Airport as of 2026. Fuel is significantly cheaper than Europe — approximately AED 3 per litre. Salik (toll) charges are approximately AED 4 per crossing and are billed automatically (usually added as a daily fee of approximately AED 7–10 in the rental agreement).

Parking: Free or paid via the RTA mParking app. Most malls have free parking. On-street parking in central areas costs approximately AED 2–4 per hour.

Palm Monorail

Connects the Palm Gateway (Metro connection) to Atlantis at the Palm Jumeirah’s northern tip. Fare approximately AED 25 one-way. Useful for reaching Atlantis or the Aquaventure waterpark without a taxi or car.

Airport Transfers

Metro (recommended): Direct Red Line service from Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 to central Dubai. Journey to Downtown approximately 25–30 minutes, approximately AED 12–15 with Nol card as of 2026.

Taxi: Metered. Flag fall from airport approximately AED 3.50. Journey to Downtown: approximately AED 70–90 depending on traffic.

Hotel transfers: Most four- and five-star hotels offer paid airport transfers — typically AED 150–250 for a saloon car. Worth comparing against taxi costs.

Private transfer: Pre-booked transfers from approximately AED 200. Kiwitaxi, GetTransfer, and Welcome Pickups all offer fixed-price bookings with meet-and-greet service. For more detail, see our Dubai Airport guide.

Getting Between Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Bus: The most affordable option. Buses depart from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in Deira every 30 minutes from approximately 05:30–23:00. Journey time 1.5–2 hours depending on traffic. Fare approximately AED 25 one way as of 2026. The Abu Dhabi end terminus is the Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station near Al Wahda Mall.

Taxi: Roughly AED 250–350 per journey. Careem allows Abu Dhabi intercity bookings but surge pricing can push this higher.

Rental car: The most flexible option. The E11 (Sheikh Zayed Road continuing as Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road into Abu Dhabi) is a well-maintained 130 km motorway — journey time approximately 1.5 hours in off-peak traffic.

There is no train service between Dubai and Abu Dhabi as of 2026 — the UAE national rail network (Etihad Rail) is still under development.

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See Also

• Dubai Airport guide
• Things to do in Dubai
• Dubai Marina guide
• Dubai city guide
• Day trips from Dubai
• UAE road trip — all seven emirates

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