Taxis in Dubai: No, you can't get an Uber Camel in Dubai – but you can use these apps to get around

Getting from point A to B in Dubai is super easy thanks to a well-deployed fleet of taxis

You don’t have to wait to flag one down – just use your phone to connect to the right app, and you’ll soon be on your way.

While a recent viral video would have you believe you could even hail an Uber Camel, the options aren’t *quite* that wild, there are plenty of much speedier ways to get around.

The video is a comedy sketch of a woman stuck in the Dubai desert and she is seen “hailing” a camel on an app resembling Uber. But the popular app has confirmed that the video is a hoax and there are no plans to add camels as an option.

Instead, options range from the RTA’s original Dubai Taxi offering (which generally remains the most economical choice) to international ride-hailing apps such as Yango, Uber (minus the camel) and Careem.

And soon, there’ll be the Bolt app, which will be available in the emirate by the end of 2024.

Plus, there are separate taxis deployed to Dubai Airports, too.

Here’s everything you need to know about getting taxis in Dubai, including how to book them and what they’ll cost you.

Taxis in Dubai and ride-hailing apps to use

Blacklane

Chauffeur company Blacklane offers rides from Dubai Airport into the city. You can use the mobile app to book your ride and the chauffeur can wait for you for up to one hour without any additional charge.

How to book: On the website.
Pricing: Depends on the car you choose and how long the drive is.
blacklane.com

Careem

If you want to use taxis in Dubai, you need to download the Careem mobile application. Here you can choose from a range of cars, book a Hala Taxi to travel within Dubai, or even book inter-city journeys between the Emirates.

How to book: Mobile application available for Android and iOS.
Pricing: Your charge will include the starting fee, rate per km, and waiting time. The total cost will depend on the chosen vehicle and distance travelled.
Careem, careem.com

Dubai Taxi Corporation

If you see a red roof-topped car with a friendly person in the driver’s seat, know that you’re sitting in a car that belongs to the Dubai Taxi Corporation. You can hail the cabs around the city or make a booking in advance. These are the only taxis in Dubai that you can flag down on the street (though mind your timings, driver change-over times and rush hour can seriously impact the availability of free cabs).

How to book: Contact the dispatch centre at 800 880 88 or get the DTC mobile application.
Pricing: The meter starts at Dhs5 from 6am-10pm, and Dhs5.5 from 10pm-6am and Dhs2.19 per km.
Dubai Taxi Corporation (800 880 88).

Hala Taxi

Hala Taxi is one of the most affordable taxi options in Dubai. Listed on Careem as one of the car options, you can choose your pick-up and drop-off location, and pick between a car or van.

How to book: Choose the “Hala Taxi” option when booking through the Careem app on Android and iOS.
Pricing: Dhs8 starting fee, Dhs12 minimum fare, and Dhs1.91 per km.
Hala Taxi, halaride.com

Uber

If you don’t know about Uber, you’ve been either been living under a rock, or taking your daily step count seriously. The taxi company runs in 10,000 cities across 71 countries. You can select your destination, receive a cost estimate before confirming pick-up, and book rides up to 30 days in advance.

How to book: Mobile application for Android and iOS.
Pricing: Remember that Uber has a flat rate, which means it can be a more economical option for longer distances.
Uber, uber.com

XXRIDE

XXRIDE is one of the new taxi services to get a license to operate in Dubai, and this one also comes with global acclaim. You can use the ridesharing and ride-hailing service from the company, which runs in over 700 cities across the world.

How to book: Mobile application available for Android and iOS.
Pricing: Your charge will include the starting fee, rate per km, and waiting time. Total cost will depend on the chosen vehicle and distance travelled.
XXRIDE, @xxride_official (04 295 9942).

Yango

Yango may be relatively new to Dubai but it is well-established in more than a dozen countries around the world. The latest to join luxury Dubai’s car service offering, Yango promises features including the ability to book several cars on a single phone, and the ability to find alternative pick-up points that will allow riders to reach their destination faster and at a lower price. Cars offered are similar to other ride-hailing apps, including Lexus ES in its comfort class of vehicle.

How to book: Mobile application available for Android and iOS.
Pricing: Your charge will include the starting fee, rate per km, and waiting time. The total cost will depend on the chosen vehicle and distance travelled.
Yango, yango.com.

Coming soon: Drife

Taking taxis in Dubai is about to get a lot more economical thanks to a new app called Drife, which will be launched later this month. The ride-hailing system will allow cabs that are signed into the system to either charge standard fare as a starting point, or offer discounts or premium pricing. They’ll start with about 100 limos but hope to expand to include RTA cabs.

How to book: Though the Drife mobile app
Pricing: Cost will depend on the chosen vehicle and distance travelled as well as the starting point, chosen by the driver.

Getting a taxi from Dubai International Airport

Dubai International (DXB) has a number of dedicated vehicles which means picking up a taxi at Dubai Airport is pretty simple.

There is a dedicated taxi rank at each Terminal, where taxis are waiting to collect passengers around the clock. The metre will start from Dhs25 (as a standardised airport collection fee) when you’re getting a taxi from Dubai Airport into Dubai. From there, the ride will cost you Dhs1.96 per kilometre.

If you’d prefer to hail an Uber, simply use your Uber app and select the location as Dubai International Airport (DXB). Your ride will then be confirmed and your pick-up point will be revealed, depending on which Terminal you’re at.

Getting a taxi from Dubai to Abu Dhabi

A taxi from Dubai to Abu Dhabi should cost you around Dhs250 to Dhs300 for one way. You can ask one to take you to the capital by hailing one from the side of the road, or by ordering one from Careem.