Taxi in Dubai - how much does it cost and how to order?

Taxis in Dubai - information

Taxis in the United Arab Emirates are one of the primary forms of daily transport. They are used by hundreds of thousands of residents and tourists every day in Dubai. Public transport in Dubai works well, but it won't take you to certain places or the ride will take a very long time - which is not cost-effective on holiday. Taxi rides in Dubai are a quick and comfortable way to get around the city and visit the most important attractions.

Taxis in Dubai have a distinctive cream colour and the DTC (Dubai Taxi Corporation) logo on the car door. The colours of the roofs of the taxis indicate their purpose - pink for a women-only taxi, for example. What are the operating hours of taxis in Dubai? Taxis in Dubai operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

How much does a taxi cost in Dubai?

Wondering how much does a taxi cost in Dubai? Taxis are cheap and convenient, especially for tourists. This is what the taxi price list in Dubai looks like (updated February 2025):

• price per kilometre: AED 2.14
• starting fare from 6am to 10pm: 5 AED
• starting fare from 10pm to 6am: 5.5 AED
• Minimum tax for taxi fare: 12 AED
• Dubai Airport starting fare: 25 AED
• Dubai Airport starting fare for larger taxis (over 5 people): 30 AED
• A tax of AED 0.5 per minute is charged when the taxi is waiting at the location
• Cost of renting a taxi for 6 hours: AED 500
• Cost of renting a taxi for 12 hours: 1800 AED

As you can see, the price tag for transport in Dubai when using taxis is not exorbitant. Of course, taxis are more expensive than the metro and buses, but they are more comfortable, often faster and will take you directly to your destination rather than to a bus stop.

It's worth remembering that taxi fares in Dubai can vary depending on the time of day and whether it's rush hour. Here's a breakdown of the hours that can affect the price of a ride:

How to order a taxi in Dubai?

How to order a taxi in Dubai - there are several ways to order a taxi. You can order a taxi in Dubai by waving at a taxi on the street (if it's free), by phone or via taxi booking apps (Careem, Bolt, Uber). Taxi rides in Dubai can be booked by tourists in several ways, the most convenient of which is to grab a taxi off the street or order one through a dedicated app. However, there are some people who prefer to call for a taxi. How to call for a taxi in Dubai? You need to call Hala Taxi +97180088088 and book a ride by phone in English.

Apps for ordering a taxi in Dubai

How to order a taxi in Dubai by phone is best done through a taxi ordering app. There are several taxi ordering apps in Dubai, such as: Careem, Hala Taxi, Uber, Bolt. Users therefore have a wide choice of apps with different benefits and price tags. The cheapest of the apps is Hala Taxi and the most used is Careem. The latest new addition is Bolt's entry into Dubai. How do I order a taxi from the app in Dubai? Simply enter your pick-up location (or select search for our location), enter your arrival location and click order a taxi. The app will show us the driver, his car and licence plate numbers so we can recognise our taxi. Customers can pay for their ride by card or other payment methods in the app, by driver's debit card or in cash.

How much does it cost for a taxi in Dubai to order through an app like Careem? Virtually the same as catching a Dubai taxi, Hala Taxi on the street - however, as a rule of thumb, a taxi ordered directly from the street can be marginally cheaper than one ordered from the app. Booking taxis in Dubai is more convenient through apps, where you can order a taxi for a specific time and predetermined route. REMEMBER: If the driver says there is no option to pay by card, the ride is free. Every taxi in Dubai must have this option, otherwise it is a breaking of the rules.

What are the costs of taxis from Dubai airport?

How much does a taxi cost from Dubai Airport to the city centre? Dubai Airport is located several kilometres from the city centre, close to the Deira district and the border with the emirate of Sharjah. The Dubai International Airport Taxi therefore does not have a long route to take to the centre of Dubai, but a higher starting fare applies: AED 25 instead of AED 5. How much does a taxi cost from the airport to downtown Dubai and on other routes?

Prices for sample routes from Dubai Airport to Downtown (using Hala Taxi as an example, max 4 people): Dubai Airport - Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa: approximately 60 AED, Dubai Airport - Dubai Marina: approximately 95 AED, Dubai Airport - Deira (Gold Souq): approximately 40 AED, Dubai Airport - Palm Jumeirah : approximately 110 AED. How do I order a taxi from Dubai Airport? You can order a taxi from the airport via the app (Careem, Bolt, Hala Taxi) or by getting into one of the airport taxis.

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Summary - Dubai taxis and sample routes

Taxi fares in Dubai in 2025 are not much different to those in Europe, and are often even lower and more cost-effective. In general, transport pricing in Dubai is not exorbitant and tourists are not forced to spend large sums of money to get around the city during their holiday. Public transport in Dubai works very well and visitors have a choice of taxi, metro or buses (and trams in the Dubai Marina area). What are taxi fares on the sample routes in Dubai?

• Dubai Marina - Burj Khalifa: around AED 80
• Dubai Mall - Gold Souq: about 50 AED
• Spice Souq - Museum of the Future: approx. 50 AED
• Dubai Marina - Dubai Frame: approx. 80 AED
• Dubai Marina - Miracle Garden: approx. 65 AED

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Questions and answers (FAQs)

• What are the taxi fares in Dubai?

Taxi fares in Dubai are unaffordable and lower compared to major cities in Europe. The tax per kilometre is AED 2.14, the starting fare is AED 5, the minimum fare is AED 12, the taxi wait is AED 0.5 per minute and the starting fare for taxis from the airport is AED 25.

• What apps for ordering taxis in Dubai?

There are a number of taxi ordering apps for tourists to choose from in Dubai. Taxis in Dubai can be ordered via the Careem app, Hala Taxi, Bolt or Uber. The cheapest is the official Dubai taxi app, Hala Taxi. The most commonly used is Careem, which also offers restaurant food delivery and many other features.

• Is taxi in Dubai expensive?

Taxi in Dubai is cheap compared to the size and popularity of the city. Tourists can easily get around Dubai by taxi while on holiday and it won't put too much strain on their budget. It is advisable to combine metro and taxi transport - metro where it can be reached and taxi where Dubai public transport does not reach.