Public transport in Dubai
The Dubai Metro is technologically advanced. There are no machinists in trains: train-running is fully automatic.
There are 2 lines in the Dubai Metro: a red one and a green one. The red line runs through the entire emirate, the green one forms a small semicircle around the Old Town.
Trains run from 05.00 till 00.00, on Thursday and Friday — till 01.00. On Friday, the metro opens at 10.00.
Anne and Toni FinnsAwaytell about the rules of behavior in the Dubai Metro:
And then the rules. This picture of an instructions sign in a window tells quite much. According to it, pretty much everything, except just sitting tight and being quiet, seems to be forbidden in public transportation vehicles. Most of these rules are very obvious and part of normal behavior of course, but it’s somehow funny how they have defined fines for all 21 different violations in the list. Don’t worry too much about the rules, just take care that you pay for the ride, don’t sit in reserved seats and don’t eat during the trip, and you’ll be just fine.
These are things you can be fined for in the Dubai Metro: smoking — 200 AED, sleeping — 300 AED, eating, drinking, and chewing gum — 100 AED. If you press the emergency stop button for no good reason, you’ll have to pay 2000 AED.
There are 3 types of train cars in Dubai: “golden”, “silver”, and women-only.
Anyone can use “silver” cars for a standard fare.
Only women and boys under 12 are allowed in women-only train cars. A man will be definitely fined.
Special pink signs will help you to recognize such a car.
The “golden” luxury car can only be used by those who have paid the Gold fare. Anyone can do this by simply paying the double fare.
There is a myth that you can take a ride in a subway car in the driver’s seat if you pay the Gold fare but that’s not the case.
The metro will take you to the main sights of Dubai: Burj Khalifa, the Zoo, the Dolphinarium, and Mushrif park.
Buses and trams in Dubai
Since the metro can reach all the interesting places in the city and it is much faster, buses and trams are not popular with locals and tourists. However, in terms of comfort, these means of transport are not worse than the metro. Buses and trams in Dubai are air-conditioned and equipped with interactive maps and comfortable seats.
Dubai buses carry passengers from 05.00 till 00.00. To stop the driver, wave your hand. If you want to get off at the stop, press the STOP button on the handrail.
Dubai trams run from 06.00 till 01.00 daily. On Fridays, trams start running at 09.00. There are 3 types of tram cars: for everyone, only for women and children, and “golden”.
There are no conductors on buses and trams, but it is not worth traveling for free: there are a lot of controllers in Dubai and they work conscientiously.
Tram and bus stops are usually close to the subway.
Apinoyindubai blogger liked the stops’ facilities:
One of the surprising things about Dubai is their air-conditioned bus stops. Each bus station is 2.5 metres wide and six metres long and has a capacity for 14 people. Eight people can sit while six can stand inside the shelter.
A tram will take you to the beaches of Jumeirah and Barasti and to the Dubai Marina Mall. It’s a good choice for everyone who wonders how to get around Dubai and save money.
Schedule and routes
The schedule and routes of public transport in Dubai can be found on the website of The Roads and Transport Authority or through the special S’hail app (AppStore and GooglePlay). Before traveling, be sure to check on the website or in the app, if there are any new stops or entire subway lines. In Dubai, this often happens.
Public transport passes
In Dubai, there are no traditional tickets that a passenger buys for every trip. But there are very convenient NOL passes.
These are contactless cards to pay for travel in all types of public transport. It’s a very convenient way: the only one card and no worries about how to get around Dubai. You can buy and top it up at metro stops, RTA offices, and ticket machines. Online top-up is also available.
Dubai is divided into seven geographic zones. The more zones you cross, the more expensive the trip will be. If you cross one or two zones, but the distance is less than 3 km, the price is calculated according to T1 rate, two adjacent zones – T2, 3 and more zones – T3. You make one change for free within 30 minutes.
Do not forget to wave the card over the card reader after the trip, otherwise, it will be charged as much as possible.
Non-residents of the UAE can use Red, Silver and Gold NOL cards.
NOL Red is the most popular travel pass among tourists. You should top it up right after the purchase. You can make no more than 10 trips with the card and pay for up to 5 unlimited trips. In 90 days from the moment of purchase, it becomes inactive.
The card costs 2 AED.
- A trip on the metro and trams of usual comfort will cost you 4, 6 and 8.50 AED at T1, T2, and T3 rates respectively. “Unlimited” pass for 1 day costs 20 AED.
- For a trip in the “golden” class, the card will be charged 8, 12, 17 AED, respectively. The price of an “unlimited” pass for 1 day is 40 AED.
NOL Silver can be topped up as many times as you want within 5 years. You buy it for 25 AED, and 19 AEDs are immediately credited to your account. T1, T2, and T3 trips will cost 3, 50 and 7.50 AED respectively.
For lovers of comfort, NOL Gold is perfect. It allows you to ride in the “golden” metro and tram cars. A trip with a Gold card will cost 6, 10 and 5 AED at the T1, T2, and T3 tariffs respectively.
There is no class division in buses, that’s why the cost of the trip is written off according to NOL Silver rates.
The author of Avendi blog reminds that you have to top up cards in advance:
Please note that you cannot pay cash on public transport. You must purchase the nol-card and top up with enough balance beforehand.
Individual transport
Taxi
Almost all taxi services in Dubai are state-owned, and prices are controlled by the authorities.
The cost of the trip depends on the time of day:
- From 06.00 till 22.00, you will pay 5 AED for boarding and 1.80 AED/km. Additionally, 1 minute of waiting will cost you 1 AED.
- From 22.00 till 06.00, getting in a taxi will cost 5.50 AED, 1 km – 1.80 AED, the idle time will also cost 1 AED per minute.
The minimum cost of the trip is 12 AED at any time of the day.
Those who want to feel like a VIP can choose a business class taxi, which is also called Limousine Taxi. These are mainly Lexus or Audi cars. Most often drivers wait for clients near expensive hotels and restaurants. A trip in a premium taxi will cost about 30% more than in an ordinary one.
Another interesting thing about Dubai is the taxi for women that men aren’t allowed to use. All the drivers are women, and you can recognize it by the pink color of the car.
Yy1dubai, a Tripadvisor user, tells how to use Dubai taxi safely, especially if you are a female:
If your travel is within the city limits I would say the taxis are very safe. However if you are travelling in the middle of the night to middle of nowhere like Bab Al Sham or Al Maha it would be safer to take the pink taxi which has female driver. From time to time I see reports in the Gulf News of unpleasant incidents involving lone female passengers and taxi drivers in the middle of nowhere locations in unholy hours.
So, bear that in mind if you are a woman and interesting in how to get around Dubai. Rates are the same as in an ordinary taxi.
Car rental
Car rental price starts at 120 AED per day.
Hannahengland, a Tripadvisor user, tells about pitfalls of car rental in Dubai:
The traffic is manic and driving standards are appalling – you have lots of different nationalities with differing styles of driving. Many locals don’t even sit driving tests prior to getting behind the wheel.
It is common for people to cut in without indicating etc and it’s not uncommon to see drivers who’ve missed their turn off to reverse back on a major busy road. There’s not much I haven’t witnessed whilst on Dubai roads.
You also have to be aware of Salik ( toll) charges . If you want to do it then go for it but it’s not like driving in The States. There’s lot of places that don’t charge for parking but free parking spaces aren’t easy to come by especially if you’re in The Marina area.
Most malls are free providing you’re there for less than 4 hrs. I think some have imposed a mid week charge but I’m not sure if it’s adhered to as I can’t recall paying.
Transfer
If you don’t want to look for ticket machines and wait for transport at the stops, book an individual transfer in Dubai. It will be especially convenient for those who want to know how to get around Dubai in comfort and:
- don’t speak any foreign language. To use the transfer service, it is enough to greet and thank the driver
- travel with small children and lots of luggage. A driver with a name sign will meet you at the airport and help you carry your bags to a car
- are in a hurry. The car arrives at the specified time, and an experienced driver will choose the shortest route.
Car rental with a driver
If you plan to stop at several places, it is better to rent a car with a driver. You won’t have to look for parking and plan a route yourself.
Special transport means
Dubai monorail
The Dubai monorail connects the artificial island of Palma Jumeirah with the mainland. The length of the monorail is 5.45 km.
The monorail begins at the very base of the palm island at Palm Gateway Station. The station has free parking for 1,600 cars and is connected to Palm Jumeirah Tram Station by a pedestrian crossing. Dubai monorail ends on the island at Atlantis Resort near the famous hotel of the same name.
The train runs from 09.00 till 21.45 with an interval of 15 minutes. A one-way ticket is 20 AED, a round-trip ticket is 30 AED. Payments are only possible in cash. Tickets can be purchased at a ticket machine or at the ticket office just before the trip.
Water Taxi
The water taxi is a part of the public transport system, and you can pay for it with NOL-cards.
The water taxi runs in two bays of Dubai:
- In Dubai Creek — from 07.00 till 22.00;
- In Dubai Marina — from 10.00 till 22.00.
Let the view of the “floating shack” not scare you: inside the water taxis are air-conditioned. Do not worry about safety — you will definitely receive life vests.
Transport hubs in Dubai
There are several intercity bus stations in Dubai. Here are the main ones:
- Al Ghubaiba Bus Station. From here, buses run to Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.
- The Union Station. From this bus station, you will get to Sharjah, Fujairah, and Ajman.
In this article, you’ll find out how to get from the International Dubai Airport to the city.
Conclusion
Public transport in Dubai is very well developed: you will get to all the sights quickly and inexpensively. Therefore, you can do without a personal car. But remember that from May to October the temperature in the UAE rarely drops below 40°C, and the way to public transport stops often takes more than 10 minutes. In this case, it is reasonable to order a taxi or rent a car and do not worry about how to get around Dubai at all.
