Getting Around Dubai Using the Metro, Tram & Taxis
Dubai’s main attractions and neighborhoods are fairly spread out, which means if you don’t have a car, you’re going to have to rely on some form of Dubai public transport. But that’s OK! Whether you’re using the Metro, Tram, or taxis (or all three!), getting around Dubai is really affordable and easy to figure out.
The best way to get around Dubai is going to depend on where you decide to base yourself. For example, if you stay in Downtown Dubai, you’ll have easy access to a Metro station. Or, if you are in the Dubai Marina, you can get around using both the Dubai Metro and the Dubai Tram.
If you’re worried about getting around in Dubai, here’s my complete guide to how to use the city’s main public transport options!
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Getting Around Dubai Using the Metro, Tram & Taxis
Taxis and Uber
Taxis are abundant in Dubai and they’re typically easy to hail in touristy areas, at malls, and at hotels. That being said, I personally recommend booking taxis through the Careem or S’hail with RTA app. This will give you the approximate cost of your journey and you’ll be able to track your driver. Plus, it beats standing out in the heat during Dubai’s brutal summer months!
Taking taxis in Dubai is generally more affordable than other major cities – and it’s very safe. To give you an idea, as of July 2024, the base price for hailing a taxi off the street or using either of these apps is AED12 with a rate of AED2.21 per kilometer.
Uber is also a popular option for getting around Dubai. I personally don’t use Uber, mainly because it’s more expensive than hailing a taxi or ordering a taxi using the Careem app, which is my go-to. But I know plenty of people who rely solely on Uber.
One thing to think about before booking a taxi or Uber is traffic. For example, if you’re trying to get from the Dubai Marina to Downtown Dubai (a 22-kilometer drive) during rush hour, you’re probably better off just taking the metro to miss the bumper-to-bumper traffic.
You’ll also notice that taxi prices will increase during peak times and holidays, so you may want to figure out which Dubai public transport option will work best for you.
Dubai Metro
The Dubai Metro isn’t the most extensive or well-connected metro in the world, but when it comes to getting around Dubai, it’s actually a super convenient and easy way to reach some of the most popular parts of Dubai. The metro links places like the Dubai Marina, the Mall of the Emirates, Downtown Dubai (with the Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa), and Old Dubai, which is very handy for tourists and expats alike.
If you think you’d like to take the metro to get around the city, it’s well worth booking a hotel or renting an apartment near a metro station!
Dubai Tram
Another popular Dubai public transport option, the Dubai Tram runs 14.5 kilometers from Dubai Marina along Al Sufouh Road to Palm Jumeirah and Al Sufouh. This is a very handy way to get around the Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) areas.
The Dubai Tram will also take you from these neighborhoods to the Palm Jumeirah stop, where you can hop on the Palm Monorail to explore the Palm. If you plan on taking the Metro or Tram, you’ll need to get a Nol Card, but I’ll go into detail about how to do this below.
Palm Monorail
The Palm Monorail runs from the “base” of Palm Jumeirah at the Palm Gateway station on Al Sufouh Road up the “trunk” and ends at the Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark station. Do note that the Palm Monorail is privately owned, so it’s not a part of the Dubai Metro or Tram, meaning you can’t use your Nol Card to ride it.
Prices vary depending on where you’d like to go. But tickets start at AED10 for a single trip. You can purchase your tickets for the Palm Monorail from a ticket vendor at any monorail station or get them online through the official website.
Insider Tip: Taking the round-trip journey along the entire route is actually one of the best cheap things to do in Dubai. It only costs AED30, and the views of the Palm’s architectural gems and the Arabian Gulf along the way are incredible.
How to Get a Nol Card
If you’re visiting Dubai as a tourist, you can make things easy by just purchasing a red Nol Card for AED2 and preloading it with however much money you think you’ll need. You can purchase these paper red Nol Cards at the ticket vending machine in any metro station or from the ticket booth.
If you’re planning to use Dubai public transport often, are a frequent visitor, or are moving to Dubai, it’s well worth getting a Silver or Gold Nol card (or both!). The Silver and Gold cards cost AED25 each (with an AED19 e-purse value).
The extra perk of the Gold Card is that you’ll get exclusive access to the Gold Cabin in both the Metro and Tram, which offers more spacious seats and far fewer crowds than Silver Class. That being said, the journey costs twice as much as riding in Silver Class. For me, this is well worth it for longer journeys, including getting to and from the airport!
Do be careful not to go into the Gold Class cabin on both the Metro and Tram if you don’t have a Gold Nol Card. The fine is AED100. Men should also be careful that they’re not accidentally riding in the pink women’s-only cabins on both the Metro and Tram. I see this happen all the time!
