Special Features
Getting Around in Dubai
Abras Traditional wooden barges, locally referred to as abras, provide a ‘water taxi’ service across the creek between 6:00am and 12:00pm. The journey time is about five minutes and the cost is 50 fils. Abras can also be rented for an hour or so at a negotiable rate, (DHS70-100 per hour) which is a particularly pleasant way to experience the unique architecture of the creek skyline by day and the spectacular lights on the waterway at night.Air CityLink, an amphibious air taxi service between the two Emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai is the first of its kind in the UAE. Operating 22 flights a day, the service provides the visitor with local transportation facilities at a reasonable price. The 30-minute service operates from the Abu Dhabi Corniche to the Dubai Creek Marina at the Golf and Yacht Club.
There are no scheduled internal flights in operation in the UAE, however planes are readily available for charter. There are numerous small landing fields in addition to the six international airports.
Buses The major tourist hotels provide shuttle bus services for guests. Dubai Municipality operates a reasonable public bus service from 6:00am to 11:00pm. Adult fares are DHS1-3.50 depending on the destination and should be paid to the driver on boarding. Passes, timetables and bus maps are available from the bus stations in Deira and Bur Dubai. Routes and bus numbers are posted in both Arabic and English. There is a 24-hour shuttle bus from Dubai International Airport to Deira and Bur Dubai that costs just DHS3.
Air-conditioned buses depart every hour for Hatta and twice a day for Muscat, Oman (5-6 hours). Inter-Emirate travel to Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Northern Emirates is run by Dubai Transport minibuses; however, you can only board them in Dubai.
Car Hire Cars and 4-wheel drives are readily available for hire, the road network is excellent and there are intriguing places to visit far from the cosmopolitan cities. Limousines are offered by the main car hire companies on an hourly or daily basis.
Driving in the City The car is the most popular method of transport in Dubai, as in the other Emirates. Dubai has an excellent and well-signposted road network and the majority of roads have two to four lanes, many of which operate on a roundabout and U-turn system. In general fast, close driving is to be expected and visitors are advised to drive defensively. Outside of Dubai, road signposts are rare, making a good road map or guide essential.
Taxis Taxis are readily available, offering an efficient, relatively inexpensive service and are really the best way to get around. They can be flagged down on the street, pre-booked by telephone or picked up outside your hotel. Taxi drivers are usually familiar with the main souks, shopping centres, hotels and major landmarks.
For metered taxis the pick-up fare ranges between DHS3-4 and the distance tariff is charged at DHS1.17 per kilometre. Fixed fares are applied to journeys outside the city boundaries. In non-metered taxis expect to pay DHS5 for short journeys and DHS10-15 for longer journeys within the city.
