Visiting Dubai

Dubai

Below is a list of Dubai taxi tips for those visiting Dubai for the first time.

1. Many people travelling to Dubai take a taxi from Dubai airport to their hotel. If you do this, make sure that your driver knows where your hotel is, and make sure that the taxi is metered or that you agree on a price before you get in.

2. Most taxi drivers in Dubai are new arrivals. Many of them do not know the city well, and cannot read maps. As such, one of the most important Dubai taxi tips is to always carry a map with you and make sure you give the taxi driver instructions if they do not know where they are going.

3. Try to carry cash and small change with you when taking a taxi in Dubai. It is easier to pay for a taxi when you have exact change than if you don’t.

4. Another of the most important Dubai taxi tips is to not assume that your driver speaks English. Be prepared to use sign language, or have someone from your hotel talk to the driver to make sure they know where to go.

Dubai

Taxis from the Dubai airport to the Dubai city center are offered by the government’s Dubai Transport airport taxi service. The taxis are all uniform beige colored cars with meters that calculate cost by distance.

Taxis from Dubai airport to the Dubai city center charge an up-front pick-up charge of 20dhs. Taxi drivers can take you to anywhere in the Deira or Bur Dubai city centers.

There are also a lot of private taxis that operate near Dubai airport. If you take a private taxi from Dubai airport to the Dubai city center, make sure to agree on a price up front.

NB: Many taxi drivers in Dubai are new arrivals to the UAE. Make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to get from the airport to your final destination, as taxi drivers often get lost or need to call dispach for directions.