Public transportation
Car is the most popular form of transportation in Dubai, and larger hotels also offer shuttle buses to their guests. From the Dubai Municipality (tel: (04) 285 49 69 Internet: www.dm.gov.ae or www.rta.ae), however, also a very good public between 6:00 to 23:00 bus network operated. The tickets for adults cost depending on the distance to the destination and are bought from the bus driver when boarding, so you should have the appropriate amount ready.
There is a water bus on Dubai Creek , a modern, air-conditioned vehicle that runs every 10 minutes between 6 a.m. and midnight at Al Sabkha, Old Deira Souq, Old Dubai Souq and Bur Dubai. The journey takes about 30 minutes.
The Dubai Tram (Internet: thedubaitram.com) has so far consisted of a line connecting 11 stations.
The driverless Dubai Monorail ( http://dubaimetro.eu/) has so far consisted of the red and green lines. The red line of the fully automatic metro runs daily from 6 am to midnight (1 am on weekends) from the port of Jebel Ali to Rashidiya. A train runs every 60 seconds during rush hour. An extension to the border to Abu Dhabi is planned. The Green Line connects the Etisalat station near Al Qusais with the Dubai Healthcare City / Jaddaff and stops at business and administrative centers such as the Airport Free Zone and Naif Souk. The Purple Line is said to connect the two airports along the Emirates Road in the future.
Simple wooden boats , motorized or as rowing boats, which are also referred to as abras, cross the fjord between 6 a.m. and 12 p.m. from Bur Dubai to the fabric market in Deira (travel time: 5 minutes) and cost 0.50 Dh. Small sightseeing cruises can also be undertaken.
Various bus passes are available, including smart cards, monthly tickets called Taufee, which are valid either for trips on one side of Dubai Creek or for trips within the entire city area. Passes, timetables and route plans are available from the bus stations in Deira and Bur Dubai. Routes and bus numbers are listed in Arabic and English.
Taxis
Air-conditioned taxis can be waved up on the street or ordered by phone. The taxis operated by the Dubai Transport Corporation (Tel: (04) 234 11 11) are equipped with taximeters and can be recognized by their beige color and the uniformed drivers. Women’s taxis are pink. Occasionally, taxi drivers have no precise knowledge of the city and ask passengers for directions.
The taximeter reading starts with a basic fee (between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., this is more expensive than during the day), which increases with every kilometer. There are fixed prices for trips outside the city limits. For a flat rate you can rent a taxi for 12 hours (Tel: (04) 20 80 80 8). Tipping is not expected.
Driving in the city
Dubai has an excellent and well signposted road network; most roads have two to four lanes. Unfortunately, the driving level does not correspond to the road quality. Since street signs are rare outside of Dubai, you need a good street map.
Drivers have to pay a toll in Dubai . Toll points are located at Al Garhoud Bridge on Shaikh Rashid Road and at the Fourth Interchange near the Mall of the Emirates on Shaikh Zayed Road.
Many drivers do not seem to notice that there are other vehicles, and so are fast driving and little distance the rule. In addition, drivers are prone to sudden and dangerous driving maneuvers and accidents – sometimes fatal – are common. Visitors should therefore drive carefully and defensively.
Parking spaces are managed by the Dubai Municipality (Tel: (04) 39 37 75 5. Internet: www.dm.gov.ae). There are two parking garages in the city center, near the Spice Souk and at Baniyas Square in Deira. If the car is towed, you can call the police (Tel: (26) 94 848).
Car rental
In order to rent a car in Dubai, you need a valid international driver’s license and a passport. Visitors from many European and Asian countries as well as from North America can temporarily obtain a local driver’s license if they do not have an international driver’s license. A local driver’s license can be issued upon presentation of the valid national driver’s license, passport and two passport photos. Fully comprehensive insurance is required.
In the event of a traffic accident mustthe police are informed and a written police report is required, otherwise the insurance of the rental company bears u. Maybe not the cost. To rent a car you have to be at least 21 years old and have had a driver’s license for at least one year. For more expensive cars, the age limit is often raised to 25 years. Payment must be made with a credit card.
The major rental car companies represented at the international airport include:
Avis (Tel: (04) 224 52 19. Internet: www.avis.com),
Budget (Tel: (04) 285 85 50. Internet: www. budget.com),
Hertz (Tel: (04) 282 44 22. Internet: www.hertz.com) and
Europcar (Tel: (04) 971 4 22 45 24 0 (airport). Internet: www.europcar.com).
Bicycle rental
Because of the desert heat, cycling is not recommended. However, some hotels rent bicycles.