Dubai – Travel Guide
Dubai, a gleaming city in the UAE, features the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and the Palm Jumeirah, an artificial island. Renowned for luxury shopping and vibrant nightlife, it hosts the vast Dubai Mall and traditional markets like the Gold Souk. Dubai’s futuristic skyline contrasts with historic districts like Al Fahidi. Its diverse culture is evident in its cuisine, arts, and festivals. Rapidly developing yet preserving heritage, Dubai is a city of contrasts and endless possibilities.
All about Dubai
Getting around Dubai
By Metro
One of the best ways to get around the city of Dubai is the metro. Blue and Silver driverless trains take passengers around the city stopping at popular landmarks and neighborhoods. The Red line runs from the airport and serves 28 stations, stopping in downtown Dubai. The Green line has a shorter route with stops in downtown and Jaddaf a neighborhood along the Dubai Creek. All of the metro stations have taxi ranks located outside, so if you are not able to find a stop that goes directly to your destination, chances are you can get a short taxi ride to where you need to be. Hours of operation depend upon the day and line you are traveling on typically trains run from 6:00 am until 11:00 pm Saturday through Thursday but on Fridays the do not start until 2:00 pm and run until midnight. Passenger must purchase a Nol card to use on the metro, bus, and taxis. The Nol cards can be purchased at any of the stations. Fares run from around AED2.00 to AED6.50. For more information visit www.dubaimetro.eu.
By Bus
Dubai features over 1,500 buses with over 70 stations that service destinations across the city. The main bus stations are located in Deira near the Gold Souk and in Bur Dubai on Al Ghubaiba Road. The bus is a budget friendly option providing a cool air conditioned way to get around. Service runs from 5:00 am until midnight and fares start around AED1.80 up to AED6.50, the Nol card can also be used, tickets and cards are available to purchase at the bus stations through vending machines. For more information on the bus routes and timetables visit www.rta.ae.com.
By Taxi
A taxi can be hailed almost anywhere in Dubai, aside from being readily available outside of the metro and bus stations and at the airport to connect passengers to their final destinations, taxis are the most common form of transport in the city. A taxi is cost efficient, safe and reliable featuring beige colored cars and red roofs or pink roofs indicating taxis driven by a woman for woman. All taxis are metered and rates begin around AED3.00 with AED1.60 per mile, a minimum fare of AED10 is required. Most drivers do speak English and are friendly. You can hail taxis on the street, at taxi stands or order by phone from Dubai Taxi Corporation. Uber and Careem are also available taxi services offered in the city, both can be booked using an app on your phone. For more information tel. 04-264-1111 or visit www.dtc.cubai.ae.
By Car
A vehicle can be a great way to venture out of the city to surrounding areas by yourself, giving you the flexibility to explore at your own pace. You need an international driver`s license, passport, credit card and comprehensive insurance to rent a car in Dubai. The roads are well maintained and signs are posted in English and Arabic, with driving on the right-hand side of the road, most vehicles are new, automatic and have air conditioning with reasonable rates. Rental cars are available at the airport and around the city, rush hour traffic can be at a standstill so it is not advised to drive during these times in the city.
By Foot
The city of Dubai features plenty of spacious sidewalks with an increasing number of walking areas along with pedestrian bridges and crossing making walking around the city easy and safe for visitors. The main thing that would keep visitors from walking around is during the extremely hot and humid summer months. December and January are considered the winter months and two of the most pleasant months for walking outside. October and November, as well as February and March, are also relatively comfortable to spend time outside.
By Bicycle
Bike rental services are available in the city and offered by Byky, this service allows you to rent bicycles featured at 10 different rental stations across the city including the Dubai Marina and Downtown. Register online at www.bykystations.com and rent a bike for 15 minutes to 24 hours.
By Monorail
There is a monorail offered in Dubai that runs from the base of the Palm Jumeirah over to the Atlantis hotel, also connecting to the Dubai Marina. Service runs from 8:00 am until 10:00 pm costing around AED15.00 one way and AED25.00 roundtrip, the stations are located at Gateway Towers (base of the palm) and at Aquaventure (Atlantis hotel). Visit www.palm-monorail.com for more information.
By Boat
There are plenty of options to get around the waterways of Dubai on board a boat, such as traditional abras and dhows, ferries and yachts. The abras serve as a mode of transport to cross the Dubai Creek from Bur Dubai over to Deira. There are three stations situated along the water, Deira station and two on the Bur Dubai side, with boats operating from 5:00 am until midnight costing around AED1.00. Dhow boats are used for sunset and dinner cruises. Ferries run from Business Bay all the way down to the Dubai Marina along the newly opened Dubai Canal offering great views of the coast and skyline. Fares start around AED15.00 with the main station at Al Jaddaf with services at 10:00 am, 12:00 pm and 5:30 pm.
Nol Card
The Nol Card (Nol is Arabic for fare) is a rechargeable travel card used for the metro, buses, taxis and some water taxis. They can be purchased from ticket offices at the bus and metro stations as well as vending machines. Fares will depend on the distance traveled; the cards can be loaded with any sum between AED14.00 – 500. Visit www.nol.ae for more information.
Dubai FAQ
How do I get from the airport to my hotel?
The primary airport servicing Dubai is the Dubai International Airport, located in the Al Garhoud district about 3 miles east of Dubai city center. If you have not booked a private transfer through us you have a few options. Visitors can find taxis, metro, buses and rental cars to get from the airport to their hotel.
Dubai is also serviced by Al Maktoum International Airport which opened in 2013 for passenger transportation but as of December 2014, the airport only handles a handful of airlines.
What types of transportation can I find at the airport?
There are several options for transportation at the Dubai International Airport including several rental car companies if you are renting a car for your stay in Dubai, you can find the rental car desk in the arrivals hall.
Taxis are the most popular option when traveling from the airport to downtown Dubai, the taxi ranks can be found at each terminal (just follow the signs for taxis), the taxi ranks are well organized and taxis run 24 hours a day, 7 days week. Taxis are metered and a taxi from the airport to the center of Dubai will start around AED 25 and approximately AED 100 to furthest parts of the city.
The Dubai Metro can be found at terminals 1 and 3 in the airport and travels to many major destinations in the city, the metro runs every 10 minutes daily from 5:50 am until midnight (1:00 am on Thursday and Friday evenings). On Friday mornings the metro does not begin until 1:00 pm. The metro features two lines with most of the stations offer bus and taxis for onward travel. Tickets can be purchased at the airport metro station and prices vary depending on the distance traveled. The Nol card is available, a re-loadable fare card that gives you discounts.
Buses are a low-cost option but can be complicated for travelers due to their extensive network. The bus stops can be found opposite Terminal 1, 2 and 3
Please note: you need to buy a Nol card in advance; you can’t pay cash to the driver. Bus F55 travels to the Ibn Battuta Metro Station from the airport and leaves every hour from 6:00 am until 10:00 pm, the journey takes about 45 minutes. Bus F55A travels to the Satwa Bus Station via Ibn Battuta (Bur Dubai) and operates as the night bus when the metro is not running from 11:00 pm until 6:00 am every hour. Bus drivers do not sell tickets, you must purchase a Nol card or a bus ticket at the airport or station before you board.
Buses 401 and 402 run from the airport to Al Sabkha and Al Ghubaiba bus terminals and the bus stops are located just out front of the baggage claim area.
How do I get from the train station to my hotel?
Every metro station in Dubai offers travelers a bus connection and taxi stands, there is generally a metro station located about every mile on average.
How do I get around the city using other public transportation?
There is an extensive taxi system set up in Dubai which is the most popular form of public transportation. Taxis are metered and rates begin around AED12 when you order a taxi by phone, and AED5 when you take a taxi from a taxi stand or on the street. Taxis can generally be found at taxi ranks, hailing a taxi from the street and outside major attractions including malls and hotels.
The Dubai Metro offers two lines, red and green with future lines planned to be added. The trains run underground in the city center and along elevated railways elsewhere in the city. The trains offer and extensive network that connects to buses and taxis at the metro stations. The Red Line consist of 60 trains and 29 stations, trains run every 7 minutes in off-peak hours and every 3 minutes 45 seconds during peak hours. The train runs from Rashidiya Station to UAE Exchange Station. The Green Line consists of 60 trains and 18 stations and runs from Etisalat Station to Union Station and Burjuman Station. A single ticket costs approximately AED2 – 8.50, trains operate from 5:50 am until midnight, and Friday services do not begin until 1:00 pm. On Thursday and Friday nights the trains run until 1:00 am.
The bus system in Dubai is large with 193 routes and featuring around 1,500 bus stops in the city. The main bus stations can be found at Gold Souq Market in Deira and Al Ghubaiba bus station in Bur Dubai. The most useful bus for tourists is the Line 8 starting at the Gold Souq stations, it travels down Jumeirah Road behind the beach past the hotels and malls, to the Burj Al Arab and Wild Wadi Water Park. It ends near the Internet City, Line 8A travels the same route and travels further down to the Mall of Emirates.
The best way to pay for travel on the bus and metro is by purchasing a Nol stored value card, a day pass valid for unlimited rides on the bus and metro. It costs around AED25 and provides you with a 10% discount. These can be purchased at the stations.
The Downtown Burj Dubai Tram System and the Dubai Tram are two tram systems featured in Dubai. The Downtown Burj Dubai system has two lines, the first runs from the Burj Khalifa metro station to the Dubai Mall making one stop at The Address Dubai Mall with trams that run in both directions. The second line only runs in one direction and serves 10 stations, traveling clockwise in a loop, making the entire journey in about 8 minutes. The Dubai Tram runs along Al Sufouh Road linking the Dubai Marina with the Burj Al Arab and the Mall of Emirates, it connects to two red line metro stations and features 11 trains and 13 stations. The trams run from 6:30 am to 1:30 am, but on Fridays, the service does not start until 9:00 am. Ticket prices are approximately AED 3 per ride, A Nol card can be used.
There is a trolley that runs in Downtown Dubai using double decker, old style trams, providing passengers with transport to top tourist attractions. The track forms a loop around the downtown area.
Dubai has two large Ports, Rashid and Jebel Ali, both are international cruise terminals where the ships dock. The Dubai Creek and Port Saeed are where traditional dhows and abras ferry passengers across the Dubai Creek. Stations for water travel are situated along the Creek on the Bur Dubai and Deira sides; a river trip costs approximately AED 1 per passenger. Sunset cruises and dinner cruises are popular in this area.
Read More
Discover further essential tips for navigating the vibrant city. Learn about must-see attractions, dining hotspots, transportation options, and cultural insights.
How do I call/hail a taxi?
Taxis are available all over the city, they are a fast, efficient way to get around the city and prices are reasonable. You can be hail a taxi from the street, at taxi stands or call an order one by phone. Taxis are metered in the city with rates starting at around AED3.50, and charging around AED1.60 per mile. Prices can differ during daytime and evening hours and are different if you hail a taxi on the street versus by phone. Taxis can be impossible to find during rush hour and it is advised to avoid getting a taxi at these times with the standstill traffic that occurs during these hours.
Uber and Careem are two optional taxi services available in the city, which are booked on an app via your smart phone. Exact pickup and drop off destinations are entered into the app and you are notified when your driver has arrived, pricing is handled directly through the app with your credit card on file.
Should I rent a car in Dubai?
It really is not necessary to rent a car while in Dubai due to the many forms of public transportation offered. If you do decide to rent a car you will need an international drivers license, your passport and third party insurance is required. There are areas outside of Dubai in the mountain town of Hatta and the desert which you might want your own car to visit. Driving during rush hour can be impossible, with standstill traffic and short trips taking up to an hour to go a very short distance.
Is Dubai a walking city?
Walking around certain areas in Dubai is popular with more and more pedestrian paths being added and park areas and beaches being a great place to take a stroll. The temperatures in Dubai can be stifling, to say the least, with very high temps in the summertime and unbearable humidity, which make taking a walk outside a pretty hot experience. Some of the popular places for walking are City Walk, Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach, Downtown Bur Dubai, Bastaki, Burj Park, Dubai Creek Park and Mamzar Beach Park.
Can I ride a bike around Dubai?
Taking a bike ride in the city is a perfect way to get around the city provides around 528 miles of bikeways in the CBD and certain neighborhoods. Here are a few popular cycling paths featured in the City, Nad Al Sheba, Al Qudra, Dubai Autodrome, Al Barsha Park, Mushrif Park. The City has several places where visitors can rent a bike such as Wolfi`s Bike Shop, Trek Bikes, Revolution Cycles and Cycle Bistro. Along with short-term rental stations scattered around the city, Bike-sharing facility Byky gives visitors the option to rent a bike for up to 24 hours offering family fun bikes, tricycles and even go-karts, 85 rental stations are located in areas across Dubai from downtown to the Marina and Palm Jumeirah.
How do I get around Dubai by boat?
Dubai is a great place to take a jaunt along the waterways, travel back in time onboard an Abra, jump on a waterbus, water taxi or ferry and travel the waters such as the Dubai Canal and Dubai Creek providing spectacular views of the breathtaking city. Rides on the Dubai ferry cost around AED15, the ferry will take you on a ride starting at Business Bay all the way to Dubai Marina through the Dubai Canal, a ferry ride provides great views of the skyline and coast. Ferries depart from Al Jaddaf station daily at 10:00 am, 12:00 noon and 5:30 pm. Dinner cruises on board a traditional dhow boat along Dubai`s historical waterways is a nice way to enjoy an evening in Dubai.
Is Dubai a dangerous city, is there anything I should be aware of?
Crime in the UAE is much less than other parts of the world although Dubai is not a crime free city it is generally very safe and visitors should use common sense and caution. Dubai does have a strict interpretation of Islamic law and this should be respected by all travelers. Laws, in general, are very different from most Western countries and are strictly enforced.
What are some popular areas for shopping?
Dubai offers a wide array of shopping variations offering some of the largest most spectacular malls in the world, including the Dubai Mall and The Mall of Emirates which also offer some pretty surreal attractions including an indoor theme park, ice rink, and a huge indoor waterfall, an indoor ski slope, The Dubai Aquarium, the Dubai Fountains and Burj Khalifa. Some may consider the shopping in Dubai to be average but the overall experience is pretty outstanding. Traditional souks (Arab marketplaces) are plentiful in the city where shoppers are advised to `haggle` with the shop keeper for the best prices. Dubai is well known for its gold and textiles along with some electronics.
The Dubai Shopping Festival starts in January and ends in February, it is the biggest shopping event featured in the Middle East, the festival features family fun entertainment, concerts with performances by international celebrities.
What is the currency? Can I pay/tip in US dollars?
The official currency in Dubai is the Dirham also referred to as the prefix AED (Arab Emirate Dirham) or abbreviation Dhs which would follow the numeric amount. The dirham and the US dollar exchange rate is fixed at US$1 = Dhs 3.67.
There is a 10% service charged added to bills in hotels, restaurants, and bars, additional tips can be left in the amount of a few dirhams as most of the time the service charge goes to the restaurant and not the person who served you.
For more detailed information, consult our guide to tipping in the UAE by clicking here UAE
Is there a certain dress code when visiting temples or in public places in Dubai?
In Dubai when visiting a mosque woman are required to cover their hair, bodies and legs and men are required to wear long pants. And to be respectful of the UAE culture it is advised to cover up from the shoulders to the knees, no short shorts/skirts, crop tops, spaghetti strap tanks or low cut shirts and no offensive or obscene t-shirts as these types of clothing are considered offensive.
I don’t speak Arabic will there be many people who speak English?
The official language spoken in Dubai (UAE) is Arabic; English is the most widely spoken language but may be the second language. We recommend you get a good English-Arabic guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, thank you, excuse me and the numbers 1 -10.
What should I do if I need medical assistance or need to go to the hospital?
In the case of emergencies dial 999 for policy (901 non-emergencies), 998 for an Ambulance, 997 for the Fire Department.
One of the top hospitals in the city is the American Hospital Dubai open 24 hours for emergencies. Tel. +971 4 377 5500
Dubai Hospital tel. +971 4 219 5000
Rashid Hospital tel. +971 4 219 2000
Top Attractions
Burj Khalifa
The world’s tallest building offers stunning views of Dubai from its observation decks, along with fine dining and luxurious experiences.
The Dubai Mall
A massive shopping complex featuring over 1,200 stores, an indoor aquarium, an ice rink, and numerous dining and entertainment options.
Palm Jumeirah
An artificial archipelago shaped like a palm tree, known for its upscale hotels, luxury residences, and the Atlantis, The Palm resort.
Dubai Marina
A vibrant waterfront district with a picturesque promenade, dining, shopping, and high-rise buildings offering stunning views of the marina.
Unique Experiences
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Desert Safari: Experience the Arabian desert with dune bashing, camel riding, sandboarding, and a traditional Bedouin-style camp with cultural performances and a BBQ dinner.
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Skydiving over the Palm Jumeirah: Take a traditional wooden dhow cruise along Dubai Creek, experiencing the city’s blend of old and new with a buffet dinner and entertainment onboard.
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Indoor Skiing at Ski Dubai: Enjoy snow sports in the desert at Ski Dubai, an indoor ski resort located in the Mall of the Emirates, featuring slopes, snowboarding, and penguin encounters.
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Visit the Dubai Miracle Garden: Explore the world’s largest natural flower garden, featuring over 50 million blooming flowers arranged in stunning displays and themed installations.
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Dubai Marina: Enjoy a stroll at the vibrant waterfront district with a picturesque promenade, dining, shopping, and high-rise buildings offering stunning views of the marina.
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What to expect while traveling
