Arrival & Transport

The UAE has two international mega-hubs, which are among the best and busiest in the world:

✈️ Dubai International Airport (DXB)

The world's busiest international airport is located in the city center, just 15 minutes from downtown. Emirates has its hub here, along with flights from Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, Eurowings, flydubai, and dozens of other airlines. Three terminals: Terminal 3 (Emirates only, the largest terminal in the world), Terminal 1 (all other full-service airlines), and Terminal 2 (flydubai and regional carriers).

Direct flights from DACH: Frankfurt (6h), Munich (5:45h), Düsseldorf (6:15h), Hamburg (6:30h), Vienna (5:45h), Zurich (6h). Emirates and Lufthansa fly multiple times daily, low-cost carriers like Wizz Air and flydubai offer affordable alternatives.

Prices (2026, round trip): Economy from 350–500 EUR (off-season) / 550–900 EUR (peak season). Business Class from 1,800 EUR. → Package tours with flight

✈️ Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH)

The hub of Etihad Airways, since 2023 with the spectacular new Midfield Terminal. Direct flights from Frankfurt, Munich, and Zurich. Often cheaper than DXB flights, and Abu Dhabi is only 1.5 hours from Dubai — a smart alternative.

🛩️ Sharjah International Airport (SHJ)

The budget airport of the region: Air Arabia (the largest low-cost airline in the Middle East) has its hub here. Sharjah borders directly on Dubai — a taxi to Dubai's center costs about 100 AED (25 EUR) and takes 30–45 minutes. Perfect for bargain hunters.

The Dubai Metro is the backbone of public transport — modern, clean, punctual, and fully automated (driverless). Two lines cover the main tourist destinations:

🔴 Red Line

The most important line for tourists: Rashidiya ↔ UAE Exchange/Expo 2020. Stops include: Airport Terminal 1 + 3, Deira City Centre (for souks), Burjuman (transfer), DIFC, Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates (Ski Dubai), Dubai Marina, JBR.

🟢 Green Line

Etihad Museum ↔ Creek. Passes through historical districts: Al Fahidi (Bastakiya), Bur Dubai, Al Ghubaiba (for Abra rides), Deira/Gold Souk. Transfer to the Red Line at Burjuman and Union.

Fares & Tickets

You need a NOL Card (rechargeable plastic card):

• NOL Silver Card: 25 AED (6 EUR, of which 19 AED credit). Rechargeable. The standard choice for tourists.
• NOL Red Ticket: 2 AED (0.50 EUR) single-use paper ticket + fare. Up to 10 rides can be loaded. For short visits.
• Single Ride: 4–8.50 AED (1–2 EUR) depending on the number of zones
• Day Pass: 22 AED (5.50 EUR) — unlimited rides, worthwhile from 3 rides

Operating Hours

Sat–Wed: 5:00–0:00, Thu: 5:00–1:00, Fri: 10:00–1:00 (later start due to Friday prayer). Every 3–7 minutes.

Taxis in Dubai are affordable, safe, and available everywhere — they are, alongside the Metro, the most important means of transport.

🚕 Dubai Taxi (RTA)

The cream-colored taxis of the Roads & Transport Authority are ubiquitous. All have meters, air conditioning, and GPS. No haggling necessary.

• Starting Fee: 12 AED (3 EUR), from the airport 25 AED (6 EUR)
• Price per Kilometer: 1.96 AED (0.49 EUR)
• Minimum Fare: 12 AED
• Typical Route: Dubai Mall → JBR Marina: approx. 40 AED (10 EUR), 20–35 min.
• Airport → Downtown: approx. 50–80 AED (12–20 EUR)

Pink Taxis: Taxis driven by women for female passengers and families — same prices, often preferred by solo female travelers.

📱 Ride-Sharing Apps

Uber and Careem (local competitor, acquired by Uber) work excellently in the UAE. Advantages: fixed price in advance, payment by credit card, no cash needed, route tracking. Prices are comparable to regular taxis, sometimes slightly cheaper.

The UAE is an excellent car rental country: perfect roads, clear signage (Arabic + English), cheap gasoline, and a modern highway network connecting all emirates.

When is a rental car worthwhile?

• Yes: Day trips to Abu Dhabi, Hatta, Al Ain, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah. Exploring the desert (only with 4WD!). Flexible emirate hopping.
• No: Pure Dubai city stay (Metro + taxi is easier). Parking search in Downtown and Marina is stressful.

Practical Info

• Driver's License: German/Austrian/Swiss driver's license is accepted. International driver's license recommended but rarely required.
• Prices: From 80–120 AED/day (20–30 EUR) for a small car. SUV/4WD from 200 AED/day (50 EUR). Full insurance recommended.
• Gasoline: Extremely cheap — about 3.2 AED/liter (0.80 EUR). Fill up for under 100 AED (25 EUR).
• Car Rental Companies: All international (Hertz, Avis, Europcar) plus affordable local providers (Al Muftah, Thrifty UAE). Book at the airport or online.
• Salik: Dubai's electronic toll system (automatic via radio). Charged through the car rental bill. About 4 AED (1 EUR) per toll station.

Traffic Rules

• Speed Limit: City 60–80 km/h, highway 100–120 km/h, residential 40 km/h. Speed cameras everywhere!
• Alcohol: Zero-tolerance policy! 0.0 per mille. No exceptions.
• Mobile Phone Use: Only with hands-free device. Fine: 800 AED + 4 points.
• Driving Style: Caution on Sheikh Zayed Road — despite speed limits, many drive significantly faster. SUVs flashing headlights are unfortunately common.

The public bus network in the UAE is surprisingly well developed and dirt cheap:

🚌 City Buses Dubai (RTA)

Over 100 bus lines complement the Metro network and reach areas not covered by the Metro (e.g., Jumeirah, Palm Jumeirah, Al Quoz). Same NOL Card as the Metro. All buses are air-conditioned and modern. Fare: 3–5 AED (0.75–1.25 EUR).

🚌 Intercity Buses

Affordable connections between all emirates:

• Dubai ↔ Abu Dhabi: Bus E100/E101, every 20 min., duration 2h, price 25 AED (6 EUR). Departure: Ibn Battuta or Al Ghubaiba Bus Station.
• Dubai ↔ Al Ain: Bus E201, hourly, duration 2h, price 25 AED (6 EUR).
• Dubai ↔ Sharjah: Bus E303/E306, every 15 min., duration 30–60 min., price 10 AED (2.50 EUR).
• Dubai ↔ Fujairah: Bus E700, several times daily, duration 2.5h, price 25 AED (6 EUR).
• Dubai ↔ Ras Al Khaimah: Bus E700, duration 2h, price 25 AED (6 EUR).
• Dubai ↔ Hatta: Bus E16, several times daily, duration 1.5h, price 15 AED (3.75 EUR).

🚆 Etihad Rail

The UAE is building a national railway network. The first route (Abu Dhabi ↔ Al Dhannah, 264 km) has been operational since 2024, with passenger connections planned to link all emirates by 2027 — including a high-speed line Dubai ↔ Abu Dhabi in under 50 minutes.