Metro, Etihad Rail, buses, taxis and ride-hailing in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates — with an honest answer to the question every new arrival asks: can I live here without a car?
Looking for licences, buying a car, insurance, Salik, Darb or parking? Those live in our UAE Driving and Vehicle Guide. This guide covers everything you can do without your own car.
Covers
Public transport in the UAE is not one system. Dubai has a driverless Metro, a tram and a single card that works on everything. Abu Dhabi runs on buses and taxis. The Northern Emirates rely on buses and cars. And since 30 September 2026 a national passenger railway connects Dubai and Abu Dhabi for the first time. This guide is organised around the decisions you will face, starting with the biggest one: do you need a car at all.
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Can I live in the UAE without a car? | In parts of Dubai, yes, comfortably. In central Abu Dhabi, yes, with taxis. In the suburbs of either city, in the Northern Emirates, or with school-age children, it is hard. See section 2. |
| What card do I need? | Dubai: a nol card, AED 25 including AED 19 of credit. REPORTED Abu Dhabi: a Hafilat card, AED 10. OFFICIAL They do not work in each other's emirate. |
| What does the Dubai Metro cost? | AED 3, AED 5 or AED 7.50 per journey on a Silver nol card, depending on zones. Gold Class is double. OFFICIAL |
| Is there a monthly pass? | Yes. Dubai: AED 350 for 30 days across all zones. Abu Dhabi: AED 95 for 30 days of local buses. OFFICIAL |
| What does a bus cost in Abu Dhabi? | AED 2 to board plus 5 fils per kilometre, capped at AED 5 per journey. OFFICIAL |
| Can I take a train from Dubai to Abu Dhabi? | Yes, since 30 September 2026. From AED 39 one way, about an hour station to station. Both stations are outside the city centres, so plan the first and last leg. REPORTED |
| What does a taxi cost? | Dubai: AED 12 minimum on the street, AED 13 by app. REPORTED Abu Dhabi: AED 12 minimum, AED 1.82 per kilometre. OFFICIAL |
| What is the single biggest mistake? | Choosing a home from a map. A flat that looks 600 metres from a Metro station can mean a 15-minute walk along a highway in 42 degree heat. Walk it before you sign. |
If your picture of UAE public transport comes from a visit or an older article, start here.
| Change | Effective | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Etihad Rail passenger trains began running between Dubai (Al Yalayis) and Abu Dhabi (Mohammed Bin Zayed City). Al Dhaid station in Sharjah opened the same day | 30 Sep 2026 | REPORTED |
| First Etihad Rail passenger service launched, Abu Dhabi to Fujairah | 30 Jun 2026 | REPORTED |
| Dubai began commercial driverless taxi rides in Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah, booked through the Uber and Apollo Go apps | 30 Mar 2026 | OFFICIAL |
| Driverless taxis in Abu Dhabi extended to downtown, covering about 70% of the city's core areas | 12 Feb 2026 | REPORTED |
| Dubai restructured fares for taxis booked by app: minimum fare raised to AED 13, with booking fees that vary by time of day | Nov 2025 | REPORTED |
| Abu Dhabi bus passes are now listed at AED 35 for 7 days and AED 95 for 30 days. Many websites still quote AED 30 and AED 80 | Current | OFFICIAL |
| Dubai is replacing the nol card system with account-based ticketing that will accept bank cards and digital wallets. Completion is targeted for the end of 2026 | In progress | REPORTED |
| Dubai Metro Blue Line (30 km, 14 stations) is under construction, with opening announced for 9 September 2029 | 2029 | REPORTED |
This is the decision that shapes where you live, what you pay in rent and how your first year feels. It deserves an honest answer rather than a cheerful one.
| Your situation | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Single or couple, living and working near the Dubai Metro Red Line | Yes | Metro for the commute, taxis for the gaps. Often cheaper and less stressful than driving |
| Living in Dubai Marina, JLT, Business Bay, Downtown, Barsha Heights or Deira | Yes | Metro or tram within walking distance, taxis plentiful |
| Living on Abu Dhabi island: Corniche, Al Reem, Al Maryah, Al Zahiyah | Yes, with taxis | No Metro. Buses are cheap but slow for commuting. Taxi fares are low enough to make it work |
| Living in a Dubai villa community away from the Metro | Difficult | Feeder buses exist but journeys are long. Taxi costs add up quickly |
| Living in Abu Dhabi mainland suburbs such as Khalifa City, MBZ City or Al Reef | Difficult | Low-density areas built around the car |
| Family with school-age children | Rarely | School runs, activities and weekly shopping. Most families own at least one car within six months |
| Living in Sharjah or Ajman and working in Dubai | Possible, slow | Intercity buses run but share the congested road with cars |
| Commuting daily between Dubai and Abu Dhabi | Newly possible | Etihad Rail makes this realistic for the first time if you live and work near the stations or their connections. See sections 7 and 8 |
All figures are monthly, for one adult. ESTIMATE
| Item | Car-free, light taxi use | Car-free, heavy taxi use | Owning one car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai 30-day all-zones nol pass | AED 350 | AED 350 | — |
| Taxis and ride-hailing | 12 trips at about AED 35 = AED 420 | 30 trips at about AED 40 = AED 1,200 | — |
| Car, all in | — | — | AED 2,000 to AED 4,500 |
| Total | About AED 770 | About AED 1,550 | AED 2,000 to AED 4,500 |
The car figure is the all-in range from our UAE Driving and Vehicle Guide, which sets out the assumptions line by line. The taxi figures are illustrations. Replace them with your own pattern using the calculator below.
What the numbers say. For one or two adults living near the Metro, going car-free usually saves between AED 1,000 and AED 3,000 a month. The saving shrinks fast if you live far from a station, because every gap is filled by a taxi.
Where a partner can help. If you want to test car-free living before committing to a long lease, a furnished short-term rental near a Metro station is the low-risk way to do it. Maison Privée is a Relocate2UAE partner for short-term furnished rentals. We mention it here because this is the point where the option is useful, not because it suits everyone. How our partnerships work is explained on Our Partners.
Related reading: Dubai Area Guide and Map for Metro access by neighbourhood, and the UAE Housing Guide.
Three quick calculators from the guide. Change any number to match your own situation. Fares last verified 3 October 2026.
Compares paying per trip with a 30-day travel pass on Dubai Metro, tram and bus.
| Option | Cost over 30 days |
|---|
Assumes every trip crosses the same number of zones. Transfers made within 30 minutes count as one trip. 30-day passes need a registered nol card.
Figures last verified 3 October 2026. Fares from RTA, Abu Dhabi Mobility and Etihad Rail announcements as reported. Results are estimates for planning, not quotes. Relocate2UAE accepts no liability for decisions made using this tool.
One card pays for the Metro, tram, buses and water buses in Dubai. It can also pay at RTA parking meters. OFFICIAL
| Card | Cost | Who it suits | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | AED 25, including AED 19 of travel credit | Almost everyone. Buy this on day one | REPORTED |
| Gold | AED 25, including AED 19 of travel credit | People who want Gold Class cabins on the Metro and tram, at double the fare | REPORTED |
| Blue (personal) | AED 70, including AED 20 of credit | Residents who want a registered card with balance protection, and anyone eligible for a concession. Requires Emirates ID | REPORTED |
| Red ticket | AED 2 for the paper ticket, then loaded with up to 10 single trips | One-off journeys only. Each trip costs more than on a card | REPORTED |
Buy cards at Metro station ticket offices and vending machines, RTA Customer Happiness Centres and authorised retailers. Top up at the same places, or in the nol Pay, S'hail and RTA Dubai apps. REPORTED
Dubai is divided into seven fare zones. You pay by the number of zones your journey passes through, not by distance or by the number of vehicles you board.
| Journey | Silver | Gold | Blue (personal) | Red ticket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Within 1 zone | AED 3 | AED 6 | AED 3 | AED 4 |
| 2 adjacent zones | AED 5 | AED 10 | AED 5 | AED 6 |
| More than 2 zones | AED 7.50 | AED 15 | AED 7.50 | AED 8.50 |
Source: RTA nol Fares page, accessed 3 October 2026. OFFICIAL
Concessions. Children aged five and under travel free. People of determination travel free with a personal card. Students and senior Emiratis receive 50% off with a personal card. OFFICIAL
A journey can use up to three transfers across Metro, tram and bus and still be charged as one trip, provided you tap in to the next vehicle within 30 minutes of tapping out and the whole journey takes no more than 180 minutes. OFFICIAL
In practice: a feeder bus to the station, the Metro, and a bus at the other end is one fare, not three.
If you commute most days, a pass costs less than paying per trip.
| Pass | 1 zone | 2 zones | All zones |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | AED 50 | AED 80 | AED 110 |
| 30 days | AED 140 | AED 230 | AED 350 |
| 90 days | AED 330 | AED 550 | AED 830 |
| 365 days | AED 1,060 | AED 1,770 | AED 2,670 |
Silver prices. Gold passes cost exactly double. Students and senior Emiratis pay half. OFFICIAL
An unregistered Silver or Gold card can only hold a 7-day pass. To buy a 30, 90 or 365 day pass, register the card first. OFFICIAL
ESTIMATE
| Your commute | Pay per trip, 22 working days | 30-day pass | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 zone each way | 44 x AED 3 = AED 132 | AED 140 | None. Pay per trip |
| 2 zones each way | 44 x AED 5 = AED 220 | AED 230 | None, unless you also travel at weekends |
| 3 or more zones each way | 44 x AED 7.50 = AED 330 | AED 350 | None on the commute alone. Worth it if you make six or more extra trips a month |
The pass is better value than these figures suggest for most people, because it also covers evenings and weekends. If you make more than about 47 all-zone trips in 30 days, the pass wins.
Many websites state that spending on a Silver card is capped at AED 14 a day. RTA's fares page does not mention a daily cap. RTA does sell a one-day pass, reported at AED 22 for Regular and AED 42 for Gold Class when bought alongside an Etihad Rail ticket. Do not plan your budget around an automatic cap until you have confirmed it at a ticket office. VERIFY
RTA applies a minimum card balance to enter the Metro. Reported figures vary. Keeping at least AED 15 on the card avoids the problem. VERIFY
Samsung and Huawei users can add a digital nol card to their phone wallet through the nol Pay app. At the time of the most recent report we found, Apple Wallet was not supported. REPORTED
RTA is moving nol to an account-based system that will let you tap a bank card or phone wallet directly at the gate. RTA has said the work will be complete by the end of 2026. Until you see it working at the gates, carry a nol card. REPORTED
The Dubai Metro is fully automated and driverless, with two lines. OFFICIAL
The Dubai Tram runs along Al Sufouh Road through Dubai Marina and JBR, and connects to the Red Line at Sobha Realty and DMCC stations. The Palm Monorail links the tram to Palm Jumeirah and is ticketed separately from the zone fares above. REPORTED Together the Metro and tram have 64 stations. REPORTED
| Day | Metro |
|---|---|
| Monday to Thursday | 5am to midnight |
| Friday | 5am to 1am |
| Saturday | 5am to midnight |
| Sunday | 8am to midnight |
REPORTED Gulf News, citing RTA. Hours are extended for public holidays and major events. The Metro does not run overnight, and the Sunday start is three hours later than on other days. If you work early shifts or fly at dawn, check the last and first trains in the S'hail app before you rely on them.
Trams are reported to run from 6am to 1am Monday to Saturday and from 9am on Sundays. REPORTED Confirm in the S'hail app.
Standing in the wrong cabin, even briefly while the train is crowded, is the fine new arrivals pick up most often.
RTA publishes a schedule of fines for the Metro and tram. OFFICIAL The ones that catch newcomers:
| Offence | Fine | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Eating or drinking where it is not allowed. This includes water and chewing gum on trains | AED 100 | OFFICIAL |
| Using a cabin reserved for another category (Gold Class, women and children) | AED 100 | REPORTED |
| Travelling in a fare area without paying the correct fare, such as Gold Class on a Silver card | AED 200 | REPORTED |
| Sleeping where it is prohibited, including passenger shelters | AED 300 | OFFICIAL |
| Putting feet on seats | AED 100 | REPORTED |
| Misusing emergency equipment | AED 2,000 | REPORTED |
Luggage goes in the luggage area of each cabin. Lifts serve every level of every station. OFFICIAL
A third line of 30 km and 14 stations is under construction. It will connect the Green Line at Creek and the Red Line at Centrepoint with Dubai Festival City, Dubai Creek Harbour, Ras Al Khor, International City, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Academic City, Mirdif and Al Warqa. Opening has been announced for 9 September 2029. REPORTED
If you are buying or signing a long lease in one of those areas on the strength of the Blue Line, remember that 2029 is the announced date, not a guarantee.
RTA buses cover most of the city, including the many communities the Metro does not reach. They use the same zone fares and the same nol card as the Metro, and a bus-to-Metro transfer within 30 minutes counts as one journey. OFFICIAL
Buses are cashless. Tap your nol card when you board and again when you leave. If you forget to tap out you are charged the maximum fare. Route numbers tell you what kind of service it is. REPORTED
| Prefix | What it is |
|---|---|
| No prefix | Regular city routes |
| F | Feeder routes linking communities to Metro stations |
| X | Express routes with fewer stops |
| E | Intercity routes to other emirates |
| N | Night routes |
Plan journeys in the S'hail app, which combines Metro, tram, bus, marine transport and taxis and shows live departure times.
An honest note. Buses are cheap and air-conditioned, and most stops in busy areas have air-conditioned shelters. They are also slow. A journey that takes 20 minutes by car can take over an hour with a change. Buses work best as the link between your home and a Metro station, not as your whole commute.
Marine transport is part of daily life around the Creek, Dubai Marina, Business Bay and Dubai Festival City.
Tell us where you will work and what you want from a neighbourhood, and we will help you weigh up areas, commutes and costs before you sign a lease.
Abu Dhabi has no metro or tram. Public transport means buses, run by Abu Dhabi Mobility, supported by cheap and plentiful taxis.
Buses are cashless. You need a Hafilat card before you board. OFFICIAL
| Item | Detail | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Card price | AED 10 for the standard anonymous card | OFFICIAL |
| Where to buy | Ticket machines at bus stations and major stops, customer offices at bus stations and Zayed International Airport, Lulu Hypermarket and Lulu Exchange branches, SPAR (Abu Dhabi Cooperative Society) | OFFICIAL |
| How to use | Tap the reader when you board and again when you get off. The fare is calculated when you tap out | OFFICIAL |
| Loss | An anonymous card's balance cannot be recovered if the card is lost, unless it has been linked to your Emirates ID | OFFICIAL |
A nol card does not work in Abu Dhabi, and a Hafilat card does not work in Dubai.
| Item | Fare | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Standard service (city and suburbs in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra) | AED 2 boarding fee plus 5 fils per kilometre | OFFICIAL |
| Maximum per journey | AED 5 | OFFICIAL |
| Children aged 10 and under | Free | OFFICIAL |
| Transfers | No second boarding fee if you tap in within 60 minutes of tapping out, travel onward in the same direction, and make no more than two transfers | OFFICIAL |
| Fare evasion | Fine reported at AED 200 | REPORTED |
Source: Abu Dhabi Mobility, Public Transport Fare page, accessed 3 October 2026.
| Pass | Price | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| 7-day | AED 35 | Unlimited local trips in Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain and Al Dhafra. Intercity services not included |
| 30-day | AED 95 | Same |
OFFICIAL Abu Dhabi Mobility, Public Transport Passes page, accessed 3 October 2026.
Many websites, and one page on Abu Dhabi Mobility's own site, still show the 30-day pass at AED 80 and the weekly pass at AED 30. AED 80 is now the subsidised rate for people registered with social support bodies. Expect to pay AED 95.
At AED 95 a month for unlimited travel, the pass pays for itself after about 24 average journeys. ESTIMATE
An honest note. On Abu Dhabi island a combination of buses and taxis works well. From the mainland suburbs, bus commutes into the city are long. Most people who live in Khalifa City, MBZ City, Al Raha or Al Reef and work on the island end up driving.
The UAE now has a passenger railway. This is the largest change to getting around the country in more than a decade, and it is brand new, so expect timetables and fares to keep moving through 2027.
| Station | Where it is | Opened | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | Mohammed Bin Zayed City, on the mainland near Mussafah | 30 Jun 2026 | REPORTED |
| Fujairah | Madinat Al Hilal | 30 Jun 2026 | REPORTED |
| Dubai (Al Yalayis) | Jumeirah Golf Estates, beside Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) | 30 Sep 2026 | REPORTED |
| Sharjah (Al Dhaid) | Al Dhaid, in Sharjah's central region | 30 Sep 2026 | REPORTED |
| Station | Announced opening | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Madinat Zayed and Liwa (Al Dhafra) | 30 Nov 2026 | REPORTED |
| Al Mirfa, Al Dhannah and Al Sila (Al Dhafra) | 30 Dec 2026 | REPORTED |
| Sharjah University City | 30 Mar 2027 | REPORTED |
A second Dubai station has been reported as planned. REPORTED
Starting fares, one way. Prices rise with demand and with the flexibility of the ticket you choose.
| Route | Comfort from | Premium from | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai to Abu Dhabi | AED 39 | AED 109 | OFFICIAL |
| Abu Dhabi to Fujairah | AED 55 | AED 120 | REPORTED |
| Dubai to Fujairah | AED 29 or AED 39. Sources differ | AED 89 or AED 109. Sources differ | VERIFY |
| Fujairah to Al Dhaid | AED 19 | AED 49 | REPORTED |
| Al Dhaid to Abu Dhabi | AED 59 | AED 149 | REPORTED |
Comfort has standard seating with food and drink for sale. Premium has wider reclining seats, more legroom and complimentary drinks and snacks. Both include free Wi-Fi and charging points.
Five trains each way, taking about 64 minutes. REPORTED Gulf News, 29 September 2026.
| Dubai to Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi to Dubai |
|---|---|
| 6.14am | 6.43am |
| 7.14am | 7.43am |
| 1.14pm | 12.43pm |
| 5.14pm | 4.43pm |
| 6.14pm | 5.43pm |
There is a gap of several hours in the middle of the day and no late evening train. Check the current timetable on the Etihad Rail app before every trip. A launch timetable rarely stays the same for long.
Book on etihadrail.ae, in the Etihad Rail app, or at a station ticket machine, up to five minutes before departure if seats remain. Your ticket is a QR code that you scan at the gates. REPORTED
Neither station is in a city centre. How you reach the station decides whether the train works for you.
One ticket for the Dubai leg. You can add a nol one-day pass when you book (AED 22 Regular, AED 42 Gold Class). It rides on the same QR code as your train ticket and covers Metro, tram and bus for the day you activate it. REPORTED
Etihad Rail has said its connection guarantee does not extend to its shuttle buses or to the Dubai Metro. If the Metro is delayed and you miss your train, a Saver ticket is lost. REPORTED
Around 130 km separates the two cities. Thousands of people make the trip every day, and until now nearly all of them drove.
| Option | Cost one way | Time, centre to centre | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Etihad Rail | From AED 39, plus AED 3 to AED 7.50 Metro and AED 10 shuttle | About 64 minutes on the train. Allow 2 to 2.5 hours door to door | Regular commuters near the Red Line. Anyone who wants to work on the way | Five trains a day. Stations outside both centres. REPORTED |
| Intercity bus (E100, E101) | About AED 25 | 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours 20 minutes, traffic permitting | The lowest price. Runs through the day | Uses the same highway as the cars. You need a nol card. REPORTED |
| Taxi | About AED 250 to AED 350 | 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes | Groups, luggage, late nights | Cost. MARKET |
| Your own car | About AED 40 fuel plus about AED 4 to AED 14 in tolls | 1 hour 15 minutes to 2 hours | Flexibility, families | Peak traffic, Abu Dhabi's strict speed enforcement, parking. ESTIMATE |
The bus routes: E100 from Al Ghubaiba in Bur Dubai and E101 from Ibn Battuta, both to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station. REPORTED A third route, E102, is reported by one source to have been withdrawn in June 2026. Confirm before you plan around it. VERIFY
For someone living near the Red Line and working near the Corniche. ESTIMATE
| Item | Calculation | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Train, Comfort at the starting fare | 2 x AED 39 x 22 days | AED 1,716 |
| Abu Dhabi shuttle | 2 x AED 10 x 22 days | AED 440 |
| Dubai Metro, 30-day all-zones pass | — | AED 350 |
| Total | — | About AED 2,500 |
The same commute by car costs about AED 1,700 in fuel (260 km a day at 8 litres per 100 km and AED 3.69 a litre) plus about AED 350 in Darb tolls, before Salik, parking, servicing and the wear of 5,700 km a month. ESTIMATE
What the numbers say. At launch fares the train is not cheaper than driving a car you already own. What it buys you is two hours a day when you are not behind the wheel. If the train lets your household run one car instead of two, it wins clearly. Etihad Rail has not announced season tickets at the time of writing. If it does, this calculation changes.
Tolls, fuel and the speed rules for the drive are covered in the UAE Driving and Vehicle Guide.
Taxis in the UAE are regulated, metered, clean and far cheaper than in most Western cities. For many car-free residents they are a daily tool, not a treat.
All Dubai taxis are licensed by RTA. You can hail one on the street, find one at a rank, or book by app. Booking through the Careem app gets you a regular RTA taxi under the name Hala. RTA's other partner apps include S'hail, Bolt, Zed and the Dubai Taxi Company app. REPORTED
| Item | Street hail | Booked by app | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flagfall | AED 5 by day, AED 5.50 at night | AED 5 by day, AED 5.50 at night | REPORTED |
| Booking fee | None | AED 4 off-peak, rising to AED 7.50 at peak times | REPORTED |
| Minimum fare | AED 12 | AED 13 | REPORTED |
| Per kilometre | About AED 2.14 to AED 2.45. Adjusted with fuel prices | Same | REPORTED |
| From Dubai International Airport | Flagfall AED 25 | — | REPORTED |
Peak hours for app bookings are 8am to 10am and 4pm to 8pm Monday to Thursday, with longer evening peaks on Fridays and weekends. REPORTED Khaleej Times and Gulf News, November 2025. Salik tolls are added to your fare each time the taxi passes a gate.
Private-hire cars. Careem and Uber also offer private cars at higher, demand-based prices. They are useful when taxis are scarce, for larger vehicles, and for airport runs with luggage. MARKET
Other taxi types. RTA runs taxis driven by women for women and families, taxis for people of determination, and larger family vehicles. OFFICIAL
Abu Dhabi's silver taxis are regulated by Abu Dhabi Mobility. Book through the Abu Dhabi Taxi app or by calling 600 53 53 53, or hail one on the street. Careem and Uber also operate. OFFICIAL
| Item | Day, 6am to 10pm | Night, 10pm to 6am |
|---|---|---|
| Flagfall | AED 5 | AED 5.50 |
| Per kilometre | AED 1.82 | AED 1.82 |
| Waiting, per minute | AED 0.50 | AED 0.50 |
| Booking fee | AED 4 | AED 5 |
| Minimum fare | AED 12 | AED 12 |
| From the airport | Flagfall AED 20 | Flagfall AED 20 |
OFFICIAL Abu Dhabi Mobility, Taxi Fares page, accessed 3 October 2026. You can pay by cash, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, PayBy or by card in the app.
A typical 10 km trip across Abu Dhabi island costs about AED 23 by day. ESTIMATE That is why living car-free on the island is realistic.
They are no longer a trial.
Coverage is limited to defined zones. Treat it as an option where it exists, not something to plan a commute around.
Air taxis. Dubai has completed its first vertiport near Dubai International Airport, and RTA has said it aims to begin passenger flights before the end of 2026, subject to regulatory approval. It will launch as a premium service. REPORTED
Outside Dubai and Abu Dhabi, public transport is thinner and most residents drive. If you plan to live in Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain or Fujairah without a car, go in with realistic expectations.
| Emirate | What exists | Fares and cards | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharjah | Mowasalat city buses run by Sharjah RTA. Metered taxis | AED 8 in cash or AED 6 with a Sayer card on most city routes | REPORTED |
| Ajman | City and intercity buses. Metered taxis | Masaar card, AED 25 including AED 20 of credit. Contactless bank cards also accepted | REPORTED |
| Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah | Limited local buses, intercity coaches, taxis | Varies by operator | REPORTED |
| Fujairah and Al Dhaid | Etihad Rail stations now open | See section 7 | REPORTED |
Tens of thousands of people do this for the lower rents. Dubai's RTA runs intercity buses from Al Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah to Union, Al Ghubaiba, Abu Hail and other points on the Dubai Metro, with fares reported at around AED 10 to AED 12 from Dubai and somewhat more from Sharjah. REPORTED
The buses sit in the same traffic as the cars, and the Sharjah to Dubai road is the most congested in the country at peak times. A commute of 15 km can take 90 minutes. If the rent saving is your reason for choosing Sharjah, cost your time honestly before you sign.
Sharjah's University City station on Etihad Rail is announced for 30 March 2027. Whether it will be useful for commuting into Dubai depends on a timetable that has not been published. REPORTED
| Airport | Public transport | Taxi | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai International (DXB), Terminals 1 and 3 | Metro Red Line stations inside both terminals. AED 5 to AED 7.50 to most of the city | Flagfall AED 25 | REPORTED |
| Dubai International, Terminal 2 | No Metro station. Bus or taxi | Flagfall AED 25 | REPORTED |
| Al Maktoum International (DWC) | No Metro link. Bus or taxi | Metered | REPORTED |
| Zayed International (AUH), Abu Dhabi | Buses A1 (Al Zahiyah), A2 (city centre and Central Bus Station) and A10 (MBZ City), about AED 4. Night bus N2. Hafilat cards sold in the terminal | Flagfall AED 20 | REPORTED |
| Zayed International to Dubai | Direct airport shuttle coach to Ibn Battuta in Dubai | — | REPORTED |
| Sharjah International (SHJ) | Mowasalat buses | Metered plus AED 20 airport surcharge | REPORTED |
Two practical points.
Your first journey from the airport, and the rest of your first week, are covered in the UAE First 30 Days Guide.
The school run. Very few families manage it by public transport. The realistic alternatives to a second car are the school's own bus service (an annual fee set by the school) and car-pooling within your community. See Moving to Dubai With a Family and the Dubai International Schools Guide.
From June to September daytime temperatures pass 40 degrees with high humidity.
For the gap between your front door and the station, e-scooters and bikes have become common in Dubai, and the rules are enforced. Dubai Police had impounded 13,657 e-scooters in 2026 by early September. REPORTED The National, 3 September 2026
| Rule | Detail | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | 16 | REPORTED |
| Permit | A free RTA e-scooter permit, obtained after a short online course on rta.ae or in the Dubai Now app. Holders of a valid driving licence are exempt | REPORTED |
| Where | Only on designated cycling and e-scooter tracks in approved districts, including Downtown, Dubai Marina, JLT, Dubai Internet City, Jumeirah, Palm Jumeirah, City Walk, Al Rigga and Karama | REPORTED |
| Speed | Maximum 20 km/h | REPORTED |
| Equipment | Helmet and reflective vest, working brakes and lights | REPORTED |
| Not allowed | Passengers, riding on pavements or jogging tracks, using a phone while riding | REPORTED |
| Fines | AED 200 for riding without a permit or outside designated lanes. Scooters can be impounded | REPORTED |
RTA has previously banned e-scooters from the Metro and tram. Later reports say folded scooters were readmitted. Check current RTA guidance before you rely on carrying one. VERIFY
Careem Bike operates docked pedal-assist bikes in Dubai and on parts of Abu Dhabi, and licensed operators rent e-scooters in the approved districts. Prices vary by operator. MARKET
Abu Dhabi regulates bikes and e-scooters under its own rules through Abu Dhabi Mobility. Check the micromobility page on admobility.gov.ae before you ride. OFFICIAL
The questions new arrivals ask most, with the source tier shown so you know how firm each answer is.