For short-term visitors to Dubai or those who do not driver frequently, using a taxi-cab or rental car can be a necessity. Though the process is generally pretty simple, there are some things to consider and some advice that would be very helpful to make this process as painless as possible.
According to tripadvisor.com, the taxis in Dubai are generally inexpensive and clean, though the limo service offered by hotels and airports does tend to be far more expensive. People do not usually line up to get a taxi in designated locations, so a person must actually flag down the driver to get picked up. Local citizens and taxi drivers are friendly, however, so the situation is generally not bad. Proper planning does need to be exercised, however, since during times of peak traffic, the demand for taxis can exceed the available number and it may be practically impossible to flag one down. Though taxi service in Dubai is generally friendly and professional, like anywhere, there will certainly be situations where the service is somewhat less than professional. The website timeoutDubai.com also offers some interesting tips when these are encountered. Hand-brakes are present in taxi cabs, so any time a passenger feels uncomfortable or the driver rolls past the intended destination (sometimes to increase the meter or bump it over a round number to increase the likelihood of a tip), and a passenger should not hesitate to use them. This is probably common sense, but a person should always check their change when paying for a taxi. It is easy for a driver to make a mistake, and not everyone is perfectly honest, so it is far easier to correct the situation before the driver is a kilometer down the road. Taxi drivers are paid by the kilometer, so they tend to drive fast everywhere, but this seems to be especially true in Dubai. Never feel afraid to ask your driver to slow down if you feel unsafe. Taxi companies use different colors in the roofs of their cabs. It is worth noting this color so you can track down your cab in the event that you lose something or need to contact the cab company.
Renting a car is also not difficult, and can make it much easier to get around. The usual international rental car companies (Hertz, Enterprise, etc) are all present, and can be booked online and in advance, which is generally less expensive than booking in person. Local companies also offer competitive prices and friendly service and should also be considered when looking into renting a car in Dubai. Visitors can usually use their driver’s license from their home country, but this can be looked into on the Dubai government website or with the rental companies, who will also generally have the list. Care should be taken when driving in Dubai, however, since it has a relatively high crash rate and highway speed limits can be as high as 120 K/h.
