Dubai taxis and ride-hailing apps: how to get around safely

Why taxis matter in Dubai

Dubai is a spread-out city. The Metro covers the main corridor from the airport through Deira, Bur Dubai, Downtown and Dubai Marina, but many hotels, beaches, attractions and residential areas sit some distance from the nearest station. For those last few kilometres, for late returns, or when you are carrying luggage or travelling with children, a taxi or a booked ride is usually the most practical choice.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) regulates taxis in the emirate and describes several taxi types for different needs, from regular taxis to dedicated services for families, women, People of Determination and airport passengers. Official taxis are metered, licensed and easy to recognise, and you can hail one on the street, join a queue at a rank, or book through an app.

This guide focuses on cars. For trains, buses, trams and the nol card, see our nol card and public transport guide and our overview of getting around Dubai without a car.

Official taxis: hailing, ranks and what to expect

Official Dubai taxis are licensed and regulated by RTA, and Dubai Taxi Company runs the regular, airport, family and accessible fleets described in this guide. Every official taxi has a roof sign, a visible licence number and a working meter. You can flag one down on most streets, but it is easier and safer to use a marked taxi rank outside malls, hotels, Metro stations and the airport terminals, where cars queue for passengers.

When you get in, check that the driver starts the meter at the beginning of the trip. RTA says you pay the fare shown on the meter, and that extra charges apply when the taxi passes through Salik toll gates. The minimum fares, waiting charges and airport starting fare are set out in the fares and payment section below.

Official taxis are not cash-only. RTA and Dubai Taxi list cash, credit cards, the nol card, Careem Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Alipay and QR code payment among the accepted methods. A card reader can still be out of action now and then, so say how you intend to pay when you get in and keep a little cash as a backup.

Alongside regular taxis, there are dedicated taxis for women and families, for People of Determination and for airport arrivals. The next section explains how each one works and how to get one.

Types of official taxi

RTA describes a range of taxi options for different needs: regular taxis, family and female taxis, People of Determination taxis, airport taxis and Safe Hands taxis, which RTA says use trained drivers to make journeys safe and comfortable. For most visitors a regular taxi is all you need, but the specialist services are worth knowing about.

Dubai Taxi's Families and Ladies Taxi is driven by female drivers and is reserved for women and families of any nationality. It is recognisable by its pink roof, and Dubai Taxi says it can be booked through the Bolt app or the S'hail app, or picked up at Dubai International Airport and at some hospitals and shopping malls when one is available. Men travelling on their own or in a group of men should take a regular taxi instead.

For travellers with disabilities, the Government of Dubai Media Office reports that Dubai Taxi offers a People of Determination Taxi service through its DTC app, with specialised vehicles for wheelchair users available around the clock. Since 2024, people of determination with non-motor disabilities, including visitors, can also book a regular taxi through the DTC app. RTA states that People of Determination are charged on the same basis as normal taxis in Dubai. Our accessible travel guide covers airport assistance, public transport and booking tips in more detail.

Airport taxis are a separate fleet that serves passengers leaving Dubai's airports and Port Rashid, described in the airport section below.

• Regular taxi: hail on the street, queue at a rank or book in S'hail or Careem (Hala Taxi).
• Families and Ladies Taxi: pink roof, female driver, for women and families; book in Bolt or S'hail.
• People of Determination Taxi: wheelchair-equipped vehicles booked through the DTC app.
• Airport taxi: waits at the exits of DXB, DWC and Port Rashid.

Fares and payment

RTA publishes the basic rules for taxi fares. The minimum fare is AED 12 for a taxi picked up on the road and AED 13 for one booked by e-hail, waiting time is charged at 50 fils per minute for all vehicle types, and extra fares apply when the taxi passes through Salik toll gates. For taxis leaving the airport, Dubai Airports gives a starting fare of AED 25, with additional charges based on distance.

RTA also notes that taxi fares can change during peak hours, at event locations and at New Year's Eve event locations, so the same trip can cost more on a busy evening than in the middle of the day. App-booked private cars are priced by the app itself, so read the quote before you confirm and compare it with a metered taxi if you have time.

For payment, RTA lists cash, credit card, nol card, Careem Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Alipay and QR code payment. Paying with a nol card is convenient if you already carry one for the Metro; our nol card guide explains how to buy and top one up. If you plan to drive yourself instead, Salik tolls and parking are covered in our car rental and driving guide.

• Minimum fare (RTA): AED 12 for a road pickup, AED 13 for e-hail.
• Waiting: 50 fils per minute; Salik gates add to the fare.
• Airport taxis (Dubai Airports): AED 25 starting fare plus distance.
• Fares can rise at peak hours, at events and on New Year's Eve.

Booking a ride: S'hail, Careem, Uber and others

S'hail is RTA's official journey-planning app. It combines Metro, bus, tram and marine transport information with taxi options, so it is a good first app to install if you want one official place to compare a public transport route against a car for the same trip.

Careem describes itself as an everything app for the region, covering rides, food and grocery delivery and payments. RTA lists Careem's Hala Taxi, alongside S'hail, as a way to book a regular taxi, so through the Careem app you can call an official metered taxi to your location instead of waiting at the kerb. Careem also offers its own ride categories at prices quoted in the app.

Uber operates in Dubai as well, and Dubai Airports lists Uber, Careem and Bolt among the ride-hailing services available at DXB, with signs leading to the pickup points once you have booked. Available car types, prices and promotions vary by app and change often, so compare the quote in each app at the moment you need the ride.

Whichever app you use, you will need mobile data to request and track the car. If you have not sorted a local SIM or eSIM yet, see our phone, SIM and connectivity guide before you rely on apps for transport.

• S'hail (RTA): official journey planner combining public transport and taxi options.
• Careem: ride-hailing app that also books Hala, the e-hail service for official Dubai taxis.
• Uber and Bolt: ride-hailing apps that Dubai Airports lists as available at DXB.
• Street hail or taxi rank: no app or data needed; pay the metered fare.

Combining taxis with the Metro, tram and buses

On longer trips, a taxi for the whole journey is not always the fastest or cheapest option, especially at rush hour when main roads are congested. A common approach is to ride the Metro for the long section and take a short taxi from the station to your final address. Busy stations usually have taxi ranks or drop-off areas close to the exits.

Before you set off, enter your start and end points in RTA's online journey planner or the S'hail app. The planner shows the Metro, tram, bus and marine options with their walking sections, which helps you decide where a short taxi ride saves the most time. In the Dubai Marina and JBR area, for example, the tram links the waterfront to the Metro, and our Dubai Marina and JBR guide explains how the two connect.

If you plan to mix modes, carry a topped-up nol card for the Metro, tram and buses. Taxis are paid separately at the end of the ride.

Arriving at the airport

According to Dubai Airports, Dubai Taxi vehicles are available 24/7 at designated taxi ranks at each terminal, and app-based rides are picked up at signed pickup points. Dubai Airports gives the starting fare for these taxis as AED 25, with additional charges based on distance. Use only the official rank or your app's pickup point, and decline offers of rides from people approaching you inside the terminal.

Dubai Taxi describes its airport taxis as a fleet reserved for passengers leaving Dubai International terminals 1, 2 and 3, Dubai World Central (Al Maktoum International) and Port Rashid. The cars wait in front of the exit doors, and Dubai Taxi says they can take you to other emirates around the clock. Its airport fleet includes vans with a red roof, which are worth asking for if you have a lot of luggage. Our Dubai airport arrival guide covers the first journey from DXB in more detail.

Safety and practical tips for taxi rides

Dubai's licensed taxis and ride-hailing services are generally safe and well regulated, but a few habits make every trip smoother and help you resolve problems if something goes wrong.

Use only official taxis or cars booked through an app. Unlicensed drivers offering rides are not regulated, are not covered by RTA's complaint process and may not be insured for passengers. For app rides, check that the number plate, car model and driver name match what the app shows before you get in.

Have your destination ready to show the driver, ideally as a pinned map location or an address with a nearby landmark, since many buildings are better known by name than by street address. Wear your seat belt in every seat.

Keep a note of the taxi number or save the app's trip receipt. If you leave something behind or want to report a problem with the fare or the driver's conduct, the plate number, booking reference, pickup and drop-off points and payment method are the details you will be asked for. The lost property section below explains RTA's process.

If you are sharing a taxi, RTA says passengers going to different drop-off points may ride together and the driver cannot restart the meter between stops. Sitting in the back is normal, and it is fine to ask the driver politely to adjust the air conditioning or turn the music down.

Dubai taxis can take you from Dubai to another emirate, but they do not pick up for the return; the section on other emirates below explains what that means for day trips.

• Use official taxis or app-booked cars only; never accept rides from touts.
• Make sure the meter starts at the beginning of the trip.
• Match the plate, car and driver to the app before getting in.
• Ask about card payment before the ride and keep some cash as backup.
• Save the taxi number or app receipt in case of lost items or complaints.
• Plan the return leg before any trip to another emirate.

Receipts, lost property and complaints

Before you get out, note the taxi plate number and keep the receipt if one is offered, or check that the trip appears in your app's history. Those few details make any later claim much easier.

RTA explains that items left in a taxi are reported through the S'hail app. If you booked the taxi in S'hail, open your taxi booking history, choose Report a Lost Item, describe what you lost and upload a photo or any related document. If the taxi was hailed on the street or booked another way, choose Taxi Lost & Found as the category and give the vehicle's roof colour, the pickup and drop-off locations and date, the fare and payment method, a description of the item and, if you have them, the booking reference and plate number.

For property lost elsewhere in the city, the Government of Dubai Media Office reports that Dubai Police's Lost and Found Department receives reports through police stations, approved drop-off points including shopping centres, and Smart Police Stations. For a private car booked through a ride-hailing app, start with that trip in the app's own history and help section.

RTA's taxi page also invites passengers to send ideas, complaints or questions. When you raise a fare or conduct complaint, include the same trip details you would give for a lost item, and do so soon after the ride.

• Note the plate number and keep the receipt or app record.
• Lost item in a taxi: report it in S'hail (booking history or Taxi Lost & Found).
• Have the roof colour, route, date, fare and payment method ready.
• Lost elsewhere: police stations, mall drop-off points or Smart Police Stations.

Late nights and the summer heat

Taxis keep running late: Dubai Airports says Dubai Taxi cars are available 24/7 at the terminal ranks, and the Government of Dubai Media Office reports that the People of Determination Taxi service is available round the clock. At night, the simplest options are a rank outside a mall, hotel or Metro station, or a car booked in S'hail, Careem or another app so that the trip is recorded with the driver and plate details. Women travelling alone may prefer the Families and Ladies Taxi where one is available.

Queues can build at popular venues when events end, and RTA warns that fares can change at event locations, so leaving a little before the crowd or walking a few minutes away to a quieter pickup point can save time. Our guide to Dubai at night covers getting home from evening attractions.

In the hotter months, waiting at the kerb is the uncomfortable part of a taxi trip. Book the car while you are still inside an air-conditioned building, wait in the lobby until the app shows the driver is close, and carry water. Short walks that look easy on a map can be draining in the middle of the day, so a taxi for the last stretch is often the better choice. Our Dubai heat planning guide explains how to schedule days around the heat.

Travelling to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and other emirates

RTA says Dubai Taxi can be used for trips within the emirate of Dubai or from Dubai to another emirate, but that it does not cover trips starting from other emirates, whatever their destination. In practice, a Dubai taxi can drop you in Sharjah or Abu Dhabi but will not pick you up there for the journey back.

Before a day trip by taxi, decide how you will return: a licensed taxi from that emirate, a ride-hailing app or public transport. Tell the driver at the start that you are leaving Dubai, keep an eye on the meter, and remember that Salik gates on the way add to the fare. Longer journeys can add up, so compare the cost with a coach or a booked car before you go.

For route ideas and the practical details of each trip, see our Sharjah day trip guide and our Abu Dhabi day trip guide.

Emergency and useful numbers

If anyone is hurt or in danger during a journey, call 999 for Dubai Police. The Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services lists 998 as its emergency number. For non-urgent police matters, Dubai Police runs a separate non-emergency line, 901, and the Government of Dubai Media Office has reported calls to 999 and 901 separately as emergency and non-emergency numbers.

For a dispute about a fare or a lost item, use the taxi channels described above rather than the emergency numbers. If you feel unwell in the heat or after a minor accident, our health, pharmacies and emergencies guide explains where to get medical help.

• 999: Dubai Police emergencies.
• 998: ambulance (Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services).
• 901: Dubai Police non-emergency line.

Quick checklist before your first ride

Install S'hail and at least one ride-hailing app such as Careem, add a payment method, and make sure you have mobile data. Save your hotel address as a pinned location. Plan longer trips in RTA's journey planner to see whether combining the Metro with a short taxi is the better option. For more first-trip preparation, see our first-time Dubai checklist and our overview of getting around Dubai.

• S'hail and Careem installed, with a payment method added.
• Hotel address saved as a map pin.
• Some cash and a nol card as payment backups.
• 999, 998 and 901 saved in your phone.
• A plan for the return leg of any trip to another emirate.
• Plate number or app receipt saved after each ride.