Getting around Dubai without a car

Start with the real route, not the map distance

A place that looks close on a map can be awkward to reach on foot. Large roads, the position of crossings and the walk to the nearest station or stop often matter more than straight-line distance. Two attractions a short drive apart may involve a long walk, a transfer and a wait on public transport, while a destination that looks far away may sit near a station on the same line.

So start with the actual journey. Check where you are starting from, which station, stop or jetty is genuinely closest, how you will get between them, and how you will get back. A plan that works in one direction at midday can be less comfortable for the return trip in the dark or after a long day of walking. If you have not booked a hotel yet, our guide to choosing where to stay in Dubai explains how to compare neighbourhoods by the journeys you will actually make.

Know what each mode is for

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) runs Dubai's public transport, and each mode does a slightly different job. Thinking of them as a team rather than as alternatives makes planning much easier.

• Dubai Metro: RTA describes a rail system made up of the Red and Green lines. For most visitors it is the backbone for longer trips across the city.
• Dubai Tram: according to RTA, the tram links Dubai Metro and the Palm Monorail and runs along Al Sufouh Road and Jumeirah Beach Road, so it is most useful for the coastal stretch it serves.
• Dubai Bus: RTA says its bus network covers most of the emirate's urban area, which makes buses useful for filling the gap between a rail station and your final destination.
• Marine transport: RTA operates the abra, Dubai Ferry and Dubai Water Taxi. The traditional abra crosses Dubai Creek between Deira and Bur Dubai, and other abra routes serve areas such as Al Fahidi, Al Seef and the Dubai Water Canal.
• Taxis: RTA states that Dubai Taxi operates around the clock, every day of the week, including public and religious holidays. Taxis are handy for the last stretch, for late returns or when a public transport route needs too many changes.

Pay with a nol card: which one fits your trip

RTA states that you need a nol card to travel on the Metro, buses, tram and marine transport, and that cash is not accepted as payment on its public transport. Sort out your card before your first journey rather than at the barrier.

RTA lists several card types. Which one suits you depends on how often you will travel and whether you need a concession.

• Silver card: described by RTA as the regular card, usable across the transport and non-transport services it lists.
• Gold card: works like the regular card but also gives access to the Gold Class cabins on the Metro and tram, which RTA says are charged at double the regular fare.
• Personal card: registered to you. RTA notes it lets you recover your balance if the card is lost or stolen and that it is required for concession fares.
• Red Ticket: a paper, disposable ticket that RTA says is valid on only one mode of transport at a time and for a limited number of journeys, so it suits very occasional use.
• nol Travel card: RTA presents it as a card with offers and discounts for tourists and residents, usable across its listed transport and non-transport services.

Use the official journey planner well

RTA's online journey planner lets you choose a starting point, a destination and a departure time, then filter the results by mode: Metro, bus, tram and marine. There is also an option to favour routes with the fewest interchanges, which is worth selecting if you are travelling with luggage, children or anyone who finds transfers tiring. RTA also points travellers to its S'hail app for the same kind of planning on a phone.

Treat the result as a starting point rather than a promise. RTA describes the results as a quick summary of your journey, so look at each walking section, each change and where you will board. Its public transport pages also offer bus timetables you can download by route number and a departure board you can search by stop name, which helps when you want to know what is coming next rather than what is scheduled in general.

Planning on a phone only works if you have a reliable connection outside your hotel. If you have not sorted that out yet, see our guide to staying connected in Dubai with a phone or SIM. RTA states that Wi-Fi is available throughout the Metro and tram networks, but it is sensible not to depend on that for planning before you reach a station.

Riding the Metro and tram: cabins, luggage and etiquette

RTA explains that Metro trains have different types of cabins: Gold Class cabins for Gold card holders, cabins designated for women and children, and general cabins. The tram also has Gold Class and women-and-children cabins. Check the signs on the platform before you board so that you end up in the right section; RTA lists accessing areas designated for specific categories among the behaviours that can be fined.

Luggage is allowed within limits. RTA's baggage policy for the Metro and tram allows two suitcases per passenger, one large and one small, each within published size limits, and luggage must be stowed in the dedicated luggage area in each cabin. If you are heading into the city straight from the airport with bigger bags, read the policy first and see our Dubai airport arrival guide for planning that first journey.

RTA also publishes a code of conduct. Its etiquette points include not pushing, respecting personal space, moving along the platform and letting passengers get off before you get on. Its list of fines covers travelling without paying the applicable fare, putting feet on seats, and eating or drinking in areas where it is not allowed, so check the signs before you eat or drink inside stations and trains.

Accessibility on public transport

RTA lists a range of accessibility features on the Metro and tram, including contrasting tactile guidance paths for people with difficulty seeing, audible beeps and flashing lights when doors open and close, dedicated wheelchair spaces on all trains, lift access to all station levels and information screens throughout trains and stations.

On its page for People of Determination, RTA also describes ticket-selling booths designed for wheelchair users, new buses with lowered floors, and space for wheelchairs on Dubai Ferry and the water bus. A taxi service for People of Determination is listed among RTA's taxi options. Concession fares exist for some groups, but RTA says a Personal nol card is required for them, so check the eligibility documents on RTA's nol pages well before you travel.

Even with these features, step-free travel depends on the whole route, including the walk to and from each station. Use the journey planner to check every leg, and contact RTA directly if you need confirmation about a particular station or service.

Plan by area, not by attraction

Dubai rewards travellers who group their stops. Crossing the city back and forth between unrelated sights costs time on transfers and waits, while a day built around one area lets you spend more of it actually exploring.

• Pick one or two areas per day and order the stops so that each leg is short.
• For the older parts of the city around Dubai Creek, consider the abra: RTA's routes link stops such as Al Fahidi, Al Seef, Baniyas and the old souqs on both sides of the creek.
• For the coastal stretch along Al Sufouh Road and Jumeirah Beach Road, check whether the tram connects your stops before you call a taxi.
• Put the longest rail journey at the start or end of the day, when you are least likely to want to stop.
• Leave buffer time for transfers, busy periods and finding the right exit at large stations.

Factor in the weather

Weather changes how far it is comfortable to walk between a station and your destination. A walk that is pleasant on a winter evening can be draining in the middle of a hot day, so in warmer months plan shorter outdoor legs, more indoor stops and a taxi for the stretches you would otherwise walk in full sun. Our guide to planning a Dubai day around the weather covers this in more detail.

When a taxi is the better choice

Public transport does not have to cover every journey. A licensed taxi or booked ride can be the better option for the last stretch to a place that is far from a station, for late returns, for groups travelling together or when you are carrying heavy bags. RTA lists several taxi services, including regular taxis, taxis for families, taxis for women and taxis for People of Determination.

Combining modes often saves the most time: take rail for the long part of the journey, then a short taxi ride for the final stretch, rather than a long taxi ride through busy traffic or a public transport route with several changes.

Before you set out

Routes, timetables, card types and fares can change. This guide describes what RTA publishes on its official pages at the time of review, so always recheck the RTA website before you travel.

• Make sure your nol card has enough credit for the whole day, including the journey back.
• Check the route, walking sections and interchanges in the RTA journey planner or the S'hail app.
• Confirm timetables and any service updates with RTA on the day you travel.
• Check luggage, accessibility and mobility needs against RTA's published rules.
• Have a backup plan, such as a taxi, for the last leg.