Getting Around Dubai
Dubai is a driving city with an excellent metro spine. Most visitors combine the Red Line with metered taxis or Careem — and pre-booked transfers for the airport runs.
Last verified 23 August 2026
Your options
- Metro (Red & Green lines)
Clean, driverless, cheap (AED 3–7.5/trip with a Nol card). The Red Line strings DXB, Downtown, Mall of the Emirates and the Marina together.
- Taxis
Metered, plentiful, honest. Flagfall ~AED 5 (AED 25 from the airport); every major sight has a rank.
- Careem / Uber
Slightly above street taxis in price; useful for fixed pickups and late nights.
- Tram (Marina/JBR)
Connects the Marina loop to the Palm Monorail and the metro.
- Abras
The 1-dirham Creek crossing — transport and sightseeing in one.
- Rental car
Cheap fuel and good roads, but parking and Salik toll gates make it unnecessary for most tourist itineraries.
Airport transfers
The most common arrival hop: 12–15 km from DXB's terminals to the Burj Khalifa district.
The long haul across town: 30–35 km from DXB to the Marina/JBR hotel cluster.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Dubai Metro tourist-friendly?
Very — signage is bilingual, trains run late (past midnight Thu–Fri), and a rechargeable Nol card works across metro, tram and buses. Note the dedicated women/children and Gold-class cars.
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