Public transport in Dubai in 2025

Real estate in Dubai is in demand among tenants and buyers from other countries. Before coming to this ultramodern metropolis, tourists and expats are looking for housing. They learn more about the city's districts, attractions, and whether it is convenient to get from point A to point B. More than other modes of transport, the Dubai unmanned metro is known in the world. In addition to it, there are also trams, buses, and a monorail in the city. However, taxis remain the most popular in Dubai.

Content:

• Taxi
• How the taxi meter "turns"
• Transport cards in Dubai
• Buses
• Metro
• Monorail
• Trams
• Water taxi
• Fines in transport

Taxi

The state-owned RTA Taxi operates in the megalopolis. The car can be stopped in the street or called via the S'hail app. All parking lots are numbered, so if you are on one of them, you can send a message to the taxi phone by specifying the parking number. In response, you will receive a description and number of the car that will come to you.

Another taxi in Dubai is Hala. The car can be called through the applications Careem, Dubai Taxi Corporation, and Uber.

Since 2022, private taxi services – Koi, Wikiride, XXRide and WOW – have been operating in Dubai. The rates of private organizations to call a taxi in this metropolis are regulated by the authorities of the emirate.

There is also a female taxi in the city. Its drivers are only women. Passengers can be children under 10 years old and women. A man can ride in such a taxi only with a woman.

How the taxi meter "turns"

If the car is coming from the airport, the meter starts to "turn" from AED 25. One-kilometer costs AED 2.33. From 6 to 22 o'clock, the meter starts working from 5 dirhams, a kilometer costs AED 2.19. From 22 to 6 o'clock, the meter works from AED 5.5, and a kilometer costs AED 2.19 at this time of the day.

Transport cards in Dubai

Using a single transport card in the emirate, you can pay for travel in different modes of transport, including taxis. Such cards are sold at bus stops and metro stations.

There are 4 types of cards: red, blue, silver, and gold. You need a red card to take a ride once. Blue, silver, and gold cards can be used many times when paying for trips.

With a gold card, you can ride in more spacious cars, with a silver one – in ordinary ones. Only residents of Dubai can buy a blue card. There is a photo of the holder on it, and in order to issue it, you need an identity card.

At least AED 7.5 must always remain on the card, otherwise travel will be prohibited.

How much you will pay for one trip depends on the distance and type of your card. Different rates apply in different parts of Dubai.

Buses

Dubai's bus routes cover 82% of the metropolis. There are more than 1,500 buses in the city. For comparison: there are more than 6,000 buses in Moscow. The buses have compartments for children and women. Air conditioners are installed at the stops.

Metro

There are 53 metro stations in the city. In the first half of 2022, this type of transport transported 109.7 million passengers.

From Monday to Saturday, you can take the subway from 5 am, and on Sunday from 8 am. All days of the week, except Friday, trains run until 12 am, and on Fridays until 1 am.

Monorail

The Dubai monorail, which is located 10 meters above the ground, is laid on the Palm Jumeirah Island. His route passes through the main attractions of the quarter.

Trains run every 15 minutes from 9 to 22 hours. For one trip, you need to pay AED 10.

Trams

Trams in Dubai began running in 2014. In 2023, the tram route includes 11 stops. Routes run through Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai Marina and Al Sufouh. The tramline connects the Dubai Metro with the monorail.

One tram can accommodate about 400 passengers, there are cars designed only for children and women. There are also more spacious "golden" cars. It is more expensive.

Water taxi

A taxi that transports by water is one of the oldest modes of transport in the Arab Emirates. Currently, most of the taxi boats are modern, they are equipped with TVs and air conditioners, but there are also wooden boats that locals call ‘abra.’

Fines in transport

Before entering public transport, it is better to learn about the rules in it, otherwise they may be fined. Here's what you can't do in the subway, bus, tram, monorail and taxi:

• You cannot drink, eat, smoke, or chew gum on public transport in Dubai. The fine for this is AED 100.
• The same amount – AED 100– will be paid by someone who is drunk in transport or carries alcohol.
• If you get into the wrong car in which you purchased a ticket, you will be fined AED 100.
• You will have to pay AED 100 for leaving garbage, transporting animals and everything else that interferes with other passengers.
• It is better not to sleep at the stops, otherwise you will have to pay AED 300.
• It is not allowed to take seats for disabled and pregnant women – a fine of AED 100 is imposed.
• It is forbidden to press emergency buttons unnecessarily and use the emergency communication console. The fine is AED 2,000.