Getting Around
Taxis are by far the easiest way of travelling around Dubai and are surprisingly good value, especially compared to Western Europe and the USA. The meter will start on Dhs 3.00 (under 60p) and go up in Dhs 0.50 increments. There is a minimum charge of Dhs 10.00. You can hail a taxi from pretty much anywhere, they are easily identified by the yellow sign on the roof and if not occupied the drivers are always happy to stop and pick you up.
TIP: when getting a taxi from your hotel the doormen will very often try and get you to use the hotel’s own cars – these will always end up costing you a lot more (quite likely they won’t have a meter in and you won’t have any idea what you’re expected to pay until you get to your destination). Instead politely decline and insist on “Dubai Taxi”, which are the officially licensed and metered cabs.
The other option to consider is the (relatively new) metro system. This first opened in September 2009 and the main part of it runs adjacent to the Sheikh Zayed Road. Fares are relatively inexpensive and you can pay extra to go in “Gold” class. The trains are driverless (like the Docklands Light Railway in London) so if you get in the front carriage you can look directly out the front of the train.
More information about the metro can be found here.