Dubai Taxi
May 22, 2014
Meter starts off with 3.50AED
Riding a taxi to a next destination in Dubai is far more convenient than anything. It seems most taxi companies in Dubai utilize Toyota Camry as a main taxi vehicle. Toyota Camry is very spacious among many sedan cars and small air vents in the rear are plus. The first ride starts off with 3.50AED (a little less than US$1.00). My first taxi experience was from Holiday Inn Downtown Dubai to JW Marriott Marquis Dubai (JWMM) and cost me about 35AED or US$10.
On my way back to the airport from JWMM on the last day, it cost me 42AED or about US$12. Thanks to lower fuel cost in Dubai, taxi meters are pretty friendly to most tourists. Plus, drivers are friendly as well with good spoken English. What I really felt good about is no cheating while I unfortunately encountered one. As long as you catch an official public taxi on the street or a hotel, you should not have any problems getting to your destination. If you talk to a diver nicely, he would be very nice talking to you.
On my way back to the airport from JWMM on the last day, it cost me 42AED or about US$12. Thanks to lower fuel cost in Dubai, taxi meters are pretty friendly to most tourists. Plus, drivers are friendly as well with good spoken English. What I really felt good about is no cheating while I unfortunately encountered one. As long as you catch an official public taxi on the street or a hotel, you should not have any problems getting to your destination. If you talk to a diver nicely, he would be very nice talking to you.
Meter shows 40.50AED from JWMM to DXB
When I hailed a cab at Dubai Mall at night, I got a cab that has smoking smell in. I thought all the public taxis were non-smoking, and yes he took a long detour to my hotel though it still only cost me a little. If you see any irregular things in a cab, such as smoking smell, just do not take it and look for the other one behind. That makes your travel much easier later.
You will see the other taxis in Dubai, and you will see them in front of off-sites of Malls and Palm Jumeirah Gateway station. There is no taxi sign on a car and a meter on a dashboard. They are private taxis, which you may need to negotiate. Normally the price would be plus 5-20AED depending on the distance. Or they just give you a non-negotiable price, which sees already fixed among private taxi drivers. I took one from the Palm Jumeirah Gateway station after coming back from Atlantis on the Sky Train.
The private taxi asked me for 20AED to the nearest Metro station while it cost me 14AED on the same route on the public cab to the Gateway station earlier. Luckily I found a German couple, who is getting to the same Metro station, and we shared 10AED each. The private cab often is Lexus IS, at least better than Toyota Camry but a smaller cabin.
Overall, you should take advantage of good public taxis throughout your trip if Metro or hotel shuttle services are not available. Especially with your heavy suitcases upon your arrival in Dubai or checking-out your hotel, taxi will be your best choice. It is the best way not to get sweat.
You will see the other taxis in Dubai, and you will see them in front of off-sites of Malls and Palm Jumeirah Gateway station. There is no taxi sign on a car and a meter on a dashboard. They are private taxis, which you may need to negotiate. Normally the price would be plus 5-20AED depending on the distance. Or they just give you a non-negotiable price, which sees already fixed among private taxi drivers. I took one from the Palm Jumeirah Gateway station after coming back from Atlantis on the Sky Train.
The private taxi asked me for 20AED to the nearest Metro station while it cost me 14AED on the same route on the public cab to the Gateway station earlier. Luckily I found a German couple, who is getting to the same Metro station, and we shared 10AED each. The private cab often is Lexus IS, at least better than Toyota Camry but a smaller cabin.
Overall, you should take advantage of good public taxis throughout your trip if Metro or hotel shuttle services are not available. Especially with your heavy suitcases upon your arrival in Dubai or checking-out your hotel, taxi will be your best choice. It is the best way not to get sweat.
