How to Get Around in Dubai: Public Transport, Cards, and Subscriptions

Dubai is a destination with futuristic and cosmopolitan charm that may disorient you at first glance due to the tall skyscrapers, multi-lane roads, large neighborhoods, and wide distances. For this reason, it is essential to understand how to get around and what the fastest means of transport are.
Here's everything you need to know about how to get around in Dubai!
Check out the infographic: How to get around in Dubai

Dubai is a city that cannot be visited on foot, both due to its enormous size (with attractions located tens of kilometers apart) and the high temperatures and humidity. For this reason, it is necessary to use transport.

One of the best solutions is the taxi. Use official taxis or Uber, the convenient app service for managing your movements and payments.
The metro is also one of the best means. Fast, efficient, and punctual, it consists of two lines and connects most attractions.

Public buses are not recommended due to the difficulty of getting accustomed to them. Instead, we recommend the tourist bus with a panoramic plan, ideal for becoming familiar with the city and moving easily between main attractions.

Finally, driving a car is highly discouraged, both in the city and the surrounding areas; instead, opt for a guided tour in an air-conditioned van. If you want to take any excursions, always rely on authorized guides, such as for the desert safari.

To use public transport, you need to obtain a Nol Card, a rechargeable card to be scanned every time you board a vehicle (check the official site). This is a convenient and quick method that allows you to travel without hassle.
There are different types of Nol Cards, and the fare varies based on the zones. For tourists, the best option is the Nol Red Card, where you pay for the actual journeys you take. It has a fixed issuance fee of AED 2 ($0.46) plus the fare based on the route. This ranges from about AED 4 ($0.90) for a trip within one zone, to AED 8.5 ($1.95) for a trip between two zones. Remember that children under 5 years old (or 90cm) travel for free.
If you are staying for a week, we recommend purchasing the weekly pass (starting from AED 50.00/$13.40).

Dubai International Airport is the largest airport in the Middle East and is located in the Al Garhoud area, about 13 km north of Downtown Dubai, the heart of the city, where the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall are located. You can reach downtown Dubai or other neighborhoods you decide to stay in, such as Dubai Marina, by choosing from several options: taxi, metro, bus, and private transfer.

Getting around only on foot is impossible. This is primarily due to the distances, high temperatures, and high humidity.

Especially the attractions and iconic neighborhoods are very far apart. Between Downtown Dubai, which hosts the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall, and Dubai Marina, there are as much as 20 km! For this reason, a great solution to move around without problems is to participate in a guided tour in an air-conditioned van that will allow you to quickly reach the main landmarks.

Of course, you can discover individual areas of the city on foot: such is the case of the wonderful and fascinating Old Dubai, where you can find the famous gold and spice markets, or Dubai Marina itself. In this case, a walk along the Dubai Marina Walk, from Burj Al Arab to Jumeirah Harbour, along the artificial palm, and by the water canal is a must. It's also very fun to stroll in the City Walk area, with murals and outdoor exhibits, in the pedestrian district Design District.

In general, however, movements from one area to another are mostly done by taxi.

In Dubai, as in most large European cities, you can find numerous sharing services. You can rent cars and bikes for a few minutes, hours, or an entire day through a dedicated official app, which requires registration and account creation. However, keep in mind that this is not the case for electric scooters as a license is required to use them, a rule that is not yet in force in Italy. Moreover, regulations and guidelines have been implemented for their use, hence it is a means we do not recommend using, especially for practical reasons. Instead, let's see how it works for cars and bikes:

In Dubai, it is essential to use public transport. The network, managed by the Roads and Transport Authority, is efficient, timely, and clean. It consists of buses, trams, metro, and ferries. Taxis, on the other hand, are among the most convenient and fastest means to get around in Dubai.

To use the public transport system, you must obtain a Nol Card, a rechargeable card that needs to be scanned every time you board a vehicle. It is a convenient and quick method that allows you to travel without issues.

To understand fares and how to get around, it's important to know that Dubai is divided into 7 fare zones. From a tourist perspective, the zones most relevant are 2 and 6: zone 2 includes Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah, and zone 6 is Downtown Dubai.

To get accustomed to such a large city and move easily between main attractions without worrying about using public transport or negotiating taxi fares, we recommend hopping on the tourist bus with a panoramic view to enjoy the beauty of Dubai.

The Dubai metro is one of the best metros in the world. Cutting-edge, modern, efficient, and punctual, it consists of 2 lines: the Red Line and the Green Line. Constantly monitored by cameras, it has compartments dedicated to only women and children, and WiFi is available on board, making it one of the best means to get around the city, alongside taxis. Most importantly, it runs along the entire Sheikh Zayed Road, with stations near attractions such as the Dubai Mall, the Burj Khalifa, and the Mall of the Emirates.

The bus network is really extensive: over 1,500 buses and 119 lines. All vehicles are air-conditioned, as are the stops, which are also constantly monitored by security systems. However, it is not used much by tourists: the language barrier (even though signs are often in English), the large number of lines, and numerous stops make this mode difficult to use. It's better to stick to the metro, and where the metro does not reach, taxis.

The tram in Dubai is available only in the Dubai Marina area: it consists of a single line running between Al Sufouh Road and Jumeirah Beach Road, connecting the metro station to the Palm Monorail, which in turn connects Dubai Marina and The Palm Jumeirah.

In addition to land transport, you can also find maritime transport in Dubai. Alongside the significantly priced water taxis, the city has 6 lines of ferries, which connect neighborhoods along the coast and along the Dubai Creek. Along the creek, you can also experience boarding an abra, which is the typical boat of Dubai, that travels on the creek and connects the two shores (1.00 AED/$0.30).

Finally, we must also delve into the topic of taxis, as they are the best way to get around in Dubai. Various types exist within the city, but we definitely recommend sticking to official taxis, which are managed by the state and The Dubai Taxi Corporation. The primary taxis are public taxis, but there are also vehicles dedicated exclusively to women and children or families (Ladies and Family Taxi), easily recognizable thanks to their pink tops, or those dedicated to people with disabilities (Special Needs Taxi), with a driver to assist during boarding and disembarking.

Aside from single trips, taxis also offer complete sightseeing tours, reaching Dubai's main attractions, which can last half a day to a full day, with prices ranging from approximately €60.00 to €100.00. In this case, always remember to negotiate! It's certainly more cost-effective to book a guided tour in an air-conditioned van online, which will also provide a precise itinerary and help you prepare better.

Dubai is a large city, and while having a car may offer greater autonomy, driving in Dubai is highly discouraged. The roads are wide with multiple lanes, locals drive fast, and getting accustomed to such a large city can be quite challenging.

Don't underestimate traffic, which can be quite chaotic and often congested. Additionally, all roads are high-speed, and the people of Dubai tend to drive quite recklessly. Be careful of speed bumps as they are much larger than what we are used to!

There are no ZTLs in Dubai, and parking is quite cheap, but don't be tempted by it. Driving in this city is a decision to think over thoroughly, and if you have never driven in such an environment, it's better to get around with taxis.

Dubai has a plentiful number of parking spaces. They can be found near attractions and major shopping centers. This certainly aids in the search for parking, although we remind you that driving in Dubai is not one of the best choices. Also, the costs are not excessive: they vary based on the tariff zone you are in, and it's known that parking near major attractions costs more. Rates start at AED 2.00 ($0.55) per hour.

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