Taxis, Dubai

Generally, taxies are not to expensive in Dubai. Altough You can try Metro there, when you are about 3 or 4 people travleing toghether, taxi is a better choice, specially when destination is near. A Metro ticket costs 4 AED,(add 2 AED for first travel) and a taxi for 5 Kilometers costs about 12 AED, which seems more comfortable, faster and cheaper; however I like to experince both.

Hi all. Don't hesitate to use taxis when u are in Dubai. It starts from 3 AED in day time and 3.5 AED at night time.It will cost about 1.5 AED per km.Taxis are generally toyota camry and really comfortable,clean.
You can see the towers from everywhere because there are no hills :) and the places u generally will visit is this area. It will take about 25-30 AED from airport to this area.
The jumeirah beach (near burj el arab) is the area where you can go to sea and it will cost about 35-40 AED from the towers area.
Don't forget to go to Medinad Jumeirah at night , there are some nice view and restaurants there and it will cost about 35 AED from the towers area again.
I hope it will be helpful.

Note: 1 AED is 3.5 USD approximately.

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> Taxis are relatively cheap (base charge Dhs 3.50 and then Dhs 1.60 per km) If the metre is broken, your trip is free.
> Base charge from the airport is a ridiculous Dhs 25.- What a way to rip you off as soon as you step into the country.
> If you have any complaints or forgot something in the car, call the company's number on the rear doors & report the cab number.
> Many taxi drivers have poor English, so if you are not sure if the driver has understood you, don't get in! You could end-up having to pay a big bill for a trip to a wrong place.
> It's normal to round-up the fare. If you were happy with the driver please tip generously - these guys work 12-hour shifts & earn peanuts, so every extra 5 or 10 Dhs really help.
Due to this, unfortunately many drivers speed like lunatics just to squeeze as many passengers into a day as possible. To slow them down say "Shwaye Shwaye!" (slower / patience!)
> Unfortunately, Dubai's taxi drivers are overworked and underpaid, and in the city's notorious traffic jams they have become rather "racist" and very often prefer Westerners and don't stop for Arabs or Asians. FULL STORY HERE: http://www.xpress4me.com/news/uae/dubai/20008259.html

TOURIST TIP:
Try to MEMORISE the general area & direction of your hotel. As in most major cities, some drivers will try & take you "the long way around".

DUBAI IS NOT A PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY CITY. Many roads do not have sidewalks & not sufficient road crossings.

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES try to cycle around Dubai... you can cycle within the city's parks, but trying to cycle on roads is suicide!
There are many different taxi-companies, but they all have a sign & are mostly cream or white with a different coloured roof.
Emirates Taxi: +971 - 4 - 3394455.
Metro Taxi: +971 - 4 - 2673222.
National Taxi: +971 - 4 - 3390002.
UPDATE: There are also LADIES TAXIS for women only. They are cream-coloured with pink roof.

It will cost you more than AED 40 from the airport to Bur Dubai if we consider the traffic. When you reach the arrival area in Terminal 1, just continue walking to the left where the taxis are on stand-by. In Terminal 2, they're on the right side. They're all metered taxis. If you think the drivers unnecessarily drive around, take down the phone number which is written on the glass window (or passenger door). Many drivers complain about their company and very seldom will you find a very satisfied driver in Dubai.

Taxi's are difficult to get in Dubai. My tip is either to google for private taxi and get a smart ride or alternatively go to a decent hotel. Go in for 10 mins then come out and ask them for a car / taxi - they'll realise you are a guest and help you. Try and get a taxi - the hotels will have their own metered vehicles - but it is a different sort of meter - it goes at high speed!!

In my short stay in dubai. The one things i liked most was the taxi service. You just call them up and they will pick you up from your location. I have travelled many times from dubai city to jebel ali area and its been a pleasure riding in them. The taxis are mostly toyota camry's which are clean and odour free from inside. They have GPRS assistance on board and drivers mostly are able to speak broken english.

Dubai shopping centres know how to look after their clients. A concierge service for taxis is at your service when you shop in the larger centres. Red carpet and roped waiting areas, I kid you not.

Taxis are an affordable way to get around Dubai. But some of the drivers are pretty aggressive when on the road. Not the best for whiplash sufferers. We had half and half - some really good drivers and some drivers that made us wonder if I'd we'd ever get in a taxi again!

Taking a taxi in Dubai is akin to a limousine experience. Cool and comfortable under the hot sun.

All drivers wear neat crispy uniform with ties. They speak English. You can flag any taxi down at any spot. Everything is metered so you don't have to waste brain cells with bargaining.

The only catch is that it's probably the most expensive mode of travelling in Dubai, especially if you are on a tight budget.

I took a cab from the Spice Souk in Deira to the Jumeirah Free Beach and the 30 minutes or so journey bled about 20AED from my wallet.

Meter Rate (circa Jan 08):
Day Rate: 3AED plus 1.17AED per km
Night Rate: 3.50AED plus 1.70AED per km
Airport Rate: 16AED plus 0.50 fils per 500 metres