© Thomas Haas・Unsplash License

United Arab Emirates

Dubai

A city of skyscrapers on a desert coast. The metro runs driverless; the boat across the creek costs one dirham.

Taxis and ride-hailing

Dubai splits this in two by law. RTA's metered taxi is booked through apps like Careem and Bolt, while Uber only dispatches limousines, which must charge at least 30% more than a taxi.

Updated on September 1, 2026

How to ride

  1. 1
    Book a taxi in an app
    Pick the taxi tier in S'hail, Careem, Bolt, Zed or Yango - Uber only dispatches limousines.
  2. 2
    Flag a taxi down in the street
    Raise your hand at a designated spot or a car park; at the airport, join the taxi queue in arrivals.
  3. 3
    Check the meter once you are in
    If it is not running, the trip is free; to avoid road tolls, say so as the trip starts.
  4. 4
    Pay as you get out
    The in-car terminal takes bank cards and the nol card; on a Careem cash trip, tell the driver at the start if you need change.

Typical costs

How the meter adds up7

Starting fare when you flag one down
AED 5 from 06:00 to 22:00 and 5.5 overnight; the minimum fare is 12.
5〜5.5 AED ≈ $1
Starting fare when you book in an app
Peak windows charge 13; the 10 rate runs 22:00-06:00 Mon-Thu and 00:00-06:00 Fri-Sun. Minimum fare 13.
9〜13 AED ≈ $2–4
Distance charge (per km)
The per-kilometre meter rate moves with the monthly fuel price.
2.45 AED ≈ $0.7
Waiting charge (per minute)
50 fils, the same for every vehicle type.
0.5 AED ≈ $0.1
Starting fare from the airports
AED 20 for a saloon and 25 for a van, flat all day; airport trips also meter at 2.62 per km.
20〜25 AED ≈ $5–7
Starting fare from Port Rashid
Picking up at the cruise terminal raises the starting fare.
25 AED ≈ $7
Charge for entering Sharjah
Charged even when the trip only passes through Sharjah.
20 AED ≈ $5

Estimates use exchange rates as of November 4, 2026

Only an RTA taxi can be flagged down; a limousine has to be booked through an app or by phone.

Payment

Phone wallet RTA taxis only; they are absent from the limousine tier's list
Apple Pay and Samsung Pay appear in the in-car payment list
Card payment on board
Amex
The card goes through the terminal inside the car
IC card RTA taxis only; nol does not appear in the limousine tier's payment list
On board: The nol card works on the in-car terminal - a Dubai-only option
App tickets
YangoCareemS'hail
In the wallet: The card registered in the app is charged after the ride
QR ticketing RTA taxis only; the limousine tier lists just cash and card
On board: QR code payment is in RTA's list for the car
Cash
On board: Cash is taken in the car

Quick facts

Fares from
5 AED+

Heads-up

  • Do not take a car from someone who approaches you in the street

    Do not go with anyone who approaches you outside the app. Dubai law fines transporting passengers for money in an unlicensed car, and touting for passengers by calling out to them, AED 5,000 each. At the airport or in town, queue at an official taxi rank or walk to the pickup point your app names. A car that solicits you in the street and then haggles over a price is not a licensed taxi.

Timetable

Typical duration The option for places the metro does not reach and for late nights
Check the official site for the latest times and service status
Editor Naotaka