How to Travel in Dubai – A Complete Transportation Guide

Are you planning a trip to Dubai? Awesome choice! But hold on a sec – before you start packing your bags, let’s talk about getting around in Dubai.

Transportation in Dubai offers a modern and efficient network that connects the city’s key destinations, making it easy for residents and visitors to navigate. Commuting here is easier due to its various modes of transport. You have multiple options to travel on land as well as in the sea.

After landing at the Dubai International Airport, you can find Dubai Metro at Terminals 1 and 3, Bus at Terminals 1,2, and 3.

In this transportation guide, we’ve covered relevant topics and experiences that we have gone through. We’ll make sure to provide you with everything you need to know about getting around.

The Dubai Metro is a state-of-the-art, driverless railway system that serves the city. It is divided into two lines: the Red Line and the Green Line. The Red Line runs from Rashidiya to Jebel Ali(UAE Exchange) and connects Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall, while the Green Line connects Etisalat to Dubai Creek. Since its inauguration on 9th September 2009, the metro has catered to millions of passengers. It operates daily, with trains running at intervals of 5-10 minutes from early morning at 5 AM until midnight throughout the week, on Sunday it operates from 8 AM. You can Check Dubai Metro Timings.

To use the Dubai Metro, you’ll need to purchase a Nol card, which is Dubai’s smart card for public transport. The Nol card can be used on the Metro, buses, trams, and even water buses, making it a convenient option for travelers. This card can be topped up at various locations across the city, including Metro stations, bus stops, and online.

The fare price on the metro varies depending on the zone(s) you travel and the NOL card you use. You can NOL Card Balance Check online before traveling into Dubai Metro.

Another public transportation to commute within the city is Tram. Located in Al Sufouh, Its route is 14.5 KM, which connects Al Sufouh Road from Dubai Marina to the Palm Jumeirah and Al Sufouh. It also connects with Metro’s red line at DMCC and Sobha Realty stations.
Just like the Metro, you also need an NOL card for the Tram. You can use the same Nol pass for the metro as well as the tram.

It operates from 06:00 AM to 01:00 (Next Day) on Monday to Saturday & on Sunday, its time is 09:00 AM to 01:00 (Next Day).
It’s also a budget-friendly option to travel around and costs as low as 3 AED for a trip in a silver-class cabin. You can also choose to travel in gold class for a more comfortable experience.

The Dubai Tram is the world’s first tram network to use platform screen doors at the stations.

Bus is one of the top options available out there to travel within the emirate. Operated by the Public Transport Agency(PTA) under the umbrella of Roads and Transport Authority(RTA), has 1518 buses operational on 119 Internal lines and conveys about 370,000 passengers daily.

The route of the Dubai Bus has been expanded to 87% of the Dubai area. Routes are divided into different zones and have allocated different types of buses to fulfill traveler needs. Following are the Bus routes:

1. Express Buses: Fewer stops, suitable for fast travelling
2. Urban Buses: Frequent stops, suitable for short-distance traveling
3. Night Buses: Runs in the night from 9 PM to 5 AM
4. Feeder/Metrolink Buses: Connects Metro stations to the city
5. Central Business District Buses: Operates in Bur Dubai and Deira
6. Seasonal Buses: Connects multiple points to Global Village
7. Intercity Buses: Connects Dubai with other cities of the UAE including Abu Dhabi
8. Electric Bus(eB1): Runs from La Mer to Al Sufouh with various stops

While traveling, you can use a Nol card to pay the fare. The fare of the Bus depends upon the zones you travel to and the NOL card you have. For example: If you travel within 1 zone using Silver Nol, you’ll be charged 3 AED.

Sometimes you want quick and private transportation to travel from point A to point B. There are multiple taxi services to serve you on the roads of Dubai:
Taxi: Operated by Dubai Taxi Corporation, offers various services including Public/General Taxi, Airport Taxis, Hatta Taxis, Ladies & Family Taxis, Limousine taxis, and Taxi for people of determination. You can book it using the DTC smart app.

Other options include Careem, Uber, Hala Taxi, Arabia Taxi, XXRide, and Blacklane. Although taxi is a quick transport option, in peak hours, you may find some traffic.

Abra is a traditional wooden boat that runs across Dubai Creek. It is like a combination of a Boat and a Raft. Operated by the RTA, Abras offers affordable options for exploring the creek at as low as 1 AED. It runs from 6 AM on 2 routes: From Deira Old Souk to Bur Dubai Abra Station and from Al Sabkha to Dubai Old Souk Abra Station.

There are various types, including Motorised, Air-conditioned, RTA Patrol, Electrical Traditional, and Self-Driving Electric Abras, each serving specific routes along Dubai Creek. The motorized Abra is the most famous and tourists usually prefer it.

Water buses in Dubai are considered safe and comfortable to travel between Dubai Marina Walk, Marina Terrace, Marina Mall, and Marina Promenade. If you want to enjoy sightseeing, then obviously it is for you but it is not suitable for fast traveling. Fares for the water bus range from 3 AED to 5 AED per journey, with a daily pass available for 25 AED.

Another facility available for water travelers in Dubai is water taxis. About 44 water taxis are operational in 2 zones and can be found at the water transport stations. Note that prior booking is required to get a water taxi. ( call at 800-9090 for booking).

Ferry is another option for the sea-traveling. Ferry is a modern and luxurious version of the water taxi and Abra. You get facilities like air conditioning, and separate rooms for males, females, and people of determination. multiple LCDs are also attached on each feery to entertain the passengers. Each ferry has 100 seats of which 84 are in Silver class, 14 in Gold class, and 2 for people of determination.

Palm Monorail is the only transportation option to travel. It connects 4 stations including Palm Gateway, Al Ittehad Park, Nakheel Mall, and Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark.

The fare of the one-side trip starts from 5 AED(depending on the stations you travel). You can also purchase the ticket using your NOL cards and Debit/Credit cards.

It is the most scenic experience of Atlantis and Palm Jumeirah you’ll ever have at this price.

In recent years, E-scooters have become more popular for short-distance traveling in Dubai. More than 2,000 e-scooters are available for the riders. Currently, 4 companies(Tier, Lime, Arnab, and Skurrt) are running these scooters under the regulation of RTA. You can download any of the operators’ apps to rent an electric bike. The fare is typically calculated based on the duration you ride, starting from 3 AED.

It is an initiative the government took under the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 to increase the use of clean energy.

Note that the Minimum age to ride an e-scooter is 16, and riders are not allowed to carry passengers.

Careem Bikes, launched in 2019 in partnership with the RTA, offers a handy and eco-friendly way to explore Dubai. With 2.8 million rides by January 2023, these bikes are popular for short-distance travel. Users can access them through the Careem Bike app, choosing from daily to yearly subscriptions. The network has 186 stations, including popular areas like Dubai Marina and Downtown Dubai. Returning a bike is easy, dock your bike at any Careem station with vacant space and wait for the green light and buzzer to ensure it’s locked.

Tips by a Traveler

1. Make sure to be well aware of all the RTA rules relevant to the particular transportation you are traveling because violation may cause certain fines.
2. Always use Journey Planner by RTA before going anywhere to schedule your journey.
3. Use an NOL card for safe and fast payment.
4. Check Nol’s balance before traveling. The card should have a minimum of 7.5 AED.
5. Try to avoid using public transport in peak hours(6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.).
6. You may find extra traffic on the roads while using taxi during office hours.
7. Use feeder buses to connect to metro stations.
8. Inspect the scooter(tires, brakes, and body) before riding it to avoid any mishaps.
9. If you are a regular traveler, choose Nol Pass for unlimited travel.