Apps worth downloading before a trip to Dubai

Plan your stay in Dubai and choose the attractions you are interested in from the many available.
See: list of attractions in Dubai

Apps for transportation in Dubai

• Careem

This is a popular app for ordering rides and cabs, which is by far the most used in the UAE in this category. In addition to the transportation service, the app allows you to rent electric bicycles, order food, shopping, as well as rent cars, order cleaning and many other services.

• Uber

This is an app that hardly needs to be introduced to anyone - it serves as an alternative to ordering rides. However, it will not be possible to order transportation organized by state cabs through it, as is possible with the Careem app.

• Bolt

This is another app that will get us to the place we want. Bolt has been operating in Dubai for a short period of time and therefore offers many promotions. It is sometimes worth comparing the price of a ride to the same place in the Careem, Uber or Bolt app. The differences can be significant.

Apps for booking hotels in Dubai

• Booking.com

This is one of the most used apps to plan your accommodation. It has a huge database of hotels so that we can easily find something for ourselves. The company's reputation, technical support in case of problems and the ability to compare accommodation options means that we are able to choose the best hotel at a competitive price.

• Airbnb

This is a great alternative for arranging accommodation at favorable prices. Airbnb brings together homeowners who privately rent out their apartments and rooms, often offering a more attractive price than hotels.

Apps for shopping in Dubai

• Talabat, Careem, Deliveroo

These are interesting apps for ordering food in Dubai, offering a huge selection of restaurants. It is worth checking the price of the same dishes, in all the apps, because they offer discounts and rebates, so sometimes it will be worth it to order food from one of them, at a much lower price. In addition to food from restaurants, we can also order purchases for the hotel/apartment, as well as, for example, medicines from a pharmacy.

It is worth mentioning that through the Deliveroo app we are able to order original Dubai chocolate from Fix Dessert Chocolatier. Admittedly, we can also find similar chocolates in other apps, but Deliveroo offers the possibility to order from the company that started the mania for chocolate with kunafa and pistachio.

• Noon

This is an app that allows us to shop for, for example, electronic products, cosmetics, perfumes, home furnishings, clothes, as well as products from many other categories. The app offers access to a huge number of items, which are delivered at lightning speed, often the same day.
Photo by Sara Kurfeß/Unsplash

Apps for ordering services in Dubai

• Fresha

This is an app that allows you to make an appointment with a hairdresser, beautician or spa salon. You can easily choose the type of service, a salon in a convenient location for you, and the specific person you want to make an appointment with. Fresha gives you the opportunity to preview ratings and reviews of specific salons. So if you need to visit a hairdresser, or simply get the urge for a massage, you can easily make an appointment with this app.

Navigation and transportation app

• Waze

An alternative to the popular Google Maps app, is Waze. Waze works much better in the United Arab Emirates. It is more user-friendly, visibly marks speed cameras placed along the route and has better marked exits at intersections. So if you are going to rent a car while in Dubai, definitely think about downloading the Waze app.

• RTA Dubai

This is an app that allows you to pay for public parking, pay for fines you receive, and top up your NOL card, which you can use to pay for public transportation. If you are renting a car in Dubai, be sure to think about downloading this app.

Apps to help you in Dubai

• Botim

In the UAE, voice and video calls through popular apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, etc. are sometimes blocked. To be able to call your loved ones over the Internet, it is therefore necessary to install the so-called VPN or Botim app, through which you can easily connect with your loved ones. True, they also need to install this application, but this way you can talk without restrictions, over the Internet without paying a penny.

• Revolut

If you don't have a foreign currency account with your bank, don't want to pay high commissions for currency conversion or aren't a fan of carrying cash, then be sure to install the Revolut app. Once you have funded your account and made a card (even a virtual one), you can use it to pay for purchases and services like a normal ATM card.

Revolut offers favorable conversion rates when exchanging, for example, Zloty for the local currency in Dubai - Dirhams (AED). It's worth downloading this app and funding your account to easily pay for attractions, purchases and services while in Dubai.

Planning a stay in Dubai? Check out our article: Dubai - what should you know before you arrive?

Questions and answers (FAQ)

1. What apps are worth downloading before a trip to Dubai?
Before your trip to Dubai, it is worth downloading an app for ordering rides and cabs - such as Careem, Bolt or Uber. Revolut to pay in local currency without large currency conversion fees, and the Waze navigation app if you intend to get around by car. It's also worth thinking about RTA Dubai, with which you can pay for city parking.

2. Where to book a hotel in Dubai through the app?
We can book a hotel in Dubai, for example, through the Booking.com app, we can also look at apartment listings on the popular Airbnb service/app.

3. What food ordering apps are popular in Dubai?
Popular apps for ordering food in Dubai are: Careem, Talabat and Deliveroo.

4. Is it possible to pay through a mobile app in Dubai?
Yes, it's best to download the Revolut app, which will allow you to make cheap currency conversions and pay in the local Dirham (AED) currency.