Dubai Taxi Tips: How to Get Around the City Safely and Efficiently

With Dubai’s continued expansion and each year’s arrival of millions of tourists, effective transportation is more and more crucial. The taxi Dubai service is one of the most practical and popular ways of transportation in the city.

Dubai taxis provide a convenient and hassle-free method to travel around busy cities thanks to their large fleet of well-maintained vehicles, online taxi apps, and qualified drivers.

To make sure you have a flawless and pleasurable travel experience in this vibrant city, we will discuss the numerous facets of taxi services in Dubai in this article, including how to hail a cab, fare structure, safety precautions, and more.

About Dubai Taxi

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) controls Dubai taxis, assuring standardized prices, superior cars, and skilled drivers.

The main taxi company is the Dubai Taxi Corporation, although many other franchise businesses follow RTA regulations, like Cars Taxi, Metro Taxi, Arabia Taxi, and National Taxi. Hatta Taxi, Airport Taxi, and Limousine Services, among other services, are offered by Dubai Taxi Corporation.

Each taxi company has a distinct color scheme for their cars, making them simple to recognize. While some cabs may have a full-color body, the majority of them have a cream-colored body with a colorful roof.

As a result, the following taxi operators may be identified:

• Official Taxi
• Private Taxi
• Pink Taxi
• UberChopper

Official Taxi cars have distinctive markings which make them easy to detect.

Passengers shouldn’t be charged if the taxi drivers fail to activate the taximeter at the beginning of the trip. Official transportation is affordable and secure. Watch out for vehicles with matching-colored roofs and bodies, and bear in mind that three federal taxi companies – RTA Taxi, and Careem – offer this service.

Uber drivers cannot use their own automobiles while working. To provide the greatest level of comfort for customers, the taxi depot offers opulent Lexus EX automobiles. Most taxi drivers of Uber are always dressed professionally to provide a pleasant experience. Therefore, their car service is slightly more expensive than others.

RTA Taxi is the best bet if you’re looking for a trustworthy and reasonably priced Dubai taxi service. RTA provides specific services to satisfy the requirements of all customers, including ladies’ taxis, airport pickups, and choices that are accessible to people of determination.

Private taxi refers to the unlawful and perhaps dangerous practice of regular folks using their automobiles to carry clients. These drivers might not be reliable and lack official meters. We urge you to stay away from their services.

You may feel comfortable knowing that the UAE government is concerned about your safety if you’re a lady or a parent of small children. The distinctive Pink Taxi will be easy to recognize on the road thanks to its pink roofs or identification markings. Only female passengers and children under the age of twelve are allowed in these vehicles. The pink cab drivers are all female drivers, which adds another level of comfort.

With the UberChopper service, you can witness the beauty of the well-known sights of Dubai from a breathtaking vantage point. In addition to easily avoiding traffic, you have the option of taking a 12, 15, or 25-minute scenic trip. As you soar over them, you will see the Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab, Palm Jumeirah, The Islands, and more.

Additionally, the Atlantis Hotel’s accessible air transfer helipad guarantees a hassle-free journey. Get together with your friends and family and reserve a helicopter flight for AED 530 per person or pay AED 630 for a single seat.

Fares

The taximeter-based price structure determines how much a ride will cost depending on waiting time and distance traveled.

Here is a list of taxi fares:

• Flagfall: The initial charge that the taximeter makes when you get in the vehicle is often referred to as the “flag fall”. The usual flag fall is around 5 AED. The flag fall is 12 AED for reservations made through the phone center or online app throughout the day (6 AM to 10 PM). The flag fall for airport taxis is 25 AED.
• Charges depending on the distance: after the flag fall, the fare is adjusted for distance. For regular Dubai taxis, the cost of each kilometer is around 2-2.19 AED.
• Time-based fares: the fare is also calculated based on waiting time. The rate for regular and airport taxis is 0.5 AED per minute.
• Minimum fee: each Dubai taxi ride has a minimum cost of 12 AED.
• Additional charges: there can be additional fees; for instance, an extra fare of crossing the emirate costs is 20 AED.

Fares for pink taxis are usually 20% higher.

How To Book A Taxi

Via Mobile App

Use one of the following mobile applications to instantly hire a Dubai taxi:

• Careem
• RTA
• Uber
• Yango
• DTC App

Prices tend to appear a little bit higher on the app. This is due to their a separate charge for calling a car and a small service fee.

Note! Taxi apps are available in all Emirates except Umm-Al-Quwain.

Taxi Lane At Popular Destinations

If you’re in Dubai and need a public taxi, go to the approved nearest taxi rank for a pickup location. These taxi lanes provide a faster method for hailing a ride and are dispersed across the city.

Official taxis including Dubai Taxi Corporation ones may generally be located close to retail malls and popular tourist attractions. They can be identified by their cream color and identifying branding.

Remember that boarding happens on a first-come, first-served basis, so be prepared to wait in a queue during busy times near taxi rank.

At The Street

Due to their distinctive cream color and brightly colored roofs, Dubai Taxis are easily recognized around the city.

Want a ride? You may easily and conveniently pick up a taxi car on the street. Look for taxis with their lights and taximeters on the vehicle. Additionally, they will only stop in safe locations for your protection.

SMS or Phone Call

Follow these easy steps to SMS-order an RTA taxi:

• Send a text message to 4774 with the taxi rank number for your area
• An SMS with your booking number and information about the designated taxi will be sent to you
• As a result of SMS integration with the Dubai taxi reservation and distribution system, you will be allocated to the closest available cab as soon as your request is received

The only locations where this booking option is accessible are taxi ranks.

Additionally, you can call 04-2080808 to book Dubai taxi.

Taxi Reservation Centre

You only need to make a brief call to the Taxi Reservation Centre if you want to reserve a cab in Dubai in an easy and stress-free way. You may quickly hire your cab and prevent any hassles by dialing 800 88088.

How To Pay

Although the majority of taxis in Dubai have credit card machines, it’s advisable to have cash in dirhams on hand to ensure a pleasant journey.

You’ll be ready and won’t face any delays if the terminal is down. Check the terminal’s condition and whether card payments are accepted before you travel.

Look for a sticker on the window of an official Hala Taxi Dubai that promises a free trip if the taximeter or card payment terminal isn’t functional.

You may quickly pay your fare with a debit/credit card or cash when requesting a cab using an app.

Additionally, you can use Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, and NOL Cards to pay for your ride on the subway, buses, and other public transport including taxis through RTA.

Transfers

Instead of hailing a cab to pick up someone at the airport, we advise choosing a transfer to save money.

The UAE has GetTransfer and Kiwi-taxi transfers that provide customers with a dependable and in-demand service for travel between airports, cities, hotels, and other emirates. It’s simple and hassle-free to book online on the website or through the app.

Popular routes include Dubai International Airport to the city center for about 110 AED, Dubai to Abu Dhabi for 300 AED (including toll roads), Dubai to Sharjah from 73 AED (including toll roads), and Dubai to Fujairah from 220 AED.

Tips

As a guide to a smooth and comfortable taxi ride in Dubai, the following suggestions are provided:

• Always order a taxi through an official route. Don’t take trips from illegal or unsafe taxis.
• To make your ride smoother, have your destination address and any nearby landmarks ready to share with taxi drivers. This will help them locate your destination more quickly.
• Although there are several ways to pay in taxis, it’s a good idea to have little change in UAE dirhams on hand for cash payments as drivers might not always have enough.
• Riding in a taxi in Dubai requires respect for local customs and laws. Avoid eating or drinking while driving, for instance, and always make sure to buckle your seatbelt.
• If you need an airport taxi, only female drivers, or a taxi accessible for people with disabilities, make your request through the proper booking channels.
• Before you begin your trip, make sure the taximeter is turned on and functioning properly. If there are any inconsistencies or problems, respectfully bring them up with the driver or contact the RTA.
• Baby seats are not automatically available in Dubai taxis. We kindly recommend carrying your own to guarantee your child’s security and comfort during the trip.
• Finding a Dubai public taxi could be more difficult at peak hours or during major events. If taxicabs aren’t easily accessible, think about other transit choices like the Dubai Metro or buses.

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