How to get around United Arab Emirates
Navigating United Arab Emirates is straightforward with a variety of public and private transport options. Here's what you need to know about getting between and within its cities and towns.
Inter-City Travel
For journeys between cities, one can opt for inter-emirate buses as a cost-effective choice. These comfortable, air-conditioned buses connect major cities, with typical fares ranging from AED 10 to AED 15 for shorter routes like Dubai to Sharjah. A trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi typically costs around AED 25-30.
More expensive options include private taxis or ride-sharing services, where a one-way transfer from Dubai to Abu Dhabi could be approximately AED 379-500. Shared taxis offer a middle-ground, with fares for Dubai to Abu Dhabi starting from AED 66 per person when four passengers share. Renting a car provides flexibility; economy cars can be found from AED 30-80 per day, with prices varying based on the vehicle and rental company.
Travel Within Cities
Within cities, public transport offers affordable ways to travel. In Dubai, the Metro is efficient, with fares calculated based on zones: a journey within one zone costs AED 3, two zones AED 5, and three or more zones AED 7.5 using a Silver Nol card . The daily fare cap for a Silver Nol card is AED 14 . Dubai's public buses also operate on a zone-based system, with fares ranging from AED 3 to AED 15 .
The Dubai Tram has a flat fare of AED 3 with a Nol card . In Abu Dhabi, public buses have a boarding fee of AED 2 plus 5 fils per kilometer , with a maximum fare of AED 5 for trips over 60 km . Weekly passes are available for AED 35 and monthly passes for AED 95 . Sharjah's Mowasalat buses typically charge AED 6 with a Sayer card or AED 8 cash for many routes .
Taxis and ride-sharing apps like Uber and Careem offer a more convenient but pricier option for intra-city travel. Dubai taxis have a starting fare of AED 8-9 during the day and AED 12 during peak hours, with a minimum fare of AED 12 . Abu Dhabi taxis start at AED 5 during the day and AED 5.50 at night, with a minimum fare of AED 12 .
Sharjah taxis have a starting fare of AED 3 during the day and AED 4 at night, with a minimum charge of AED 10 .
