Getting around by cab and VTC United Arab Emirates

Cream with red roof for the normal cabs, cream with pink roof for the Ladies Taxis, they are everywhere, at any time, with a meter. The drivers all speak English. Before boarding, make sure the driver knows your destination, or be prepared to give clear directions otherwise it's not always easy, as they don't have on-board GPS. To make a reservation, you can call or download the Shail DTC Smart App, which also allows you to book and know in advance the price of the trip and the travel time.

The Al Ghazal mini-bus connects Dubai and Al-Aïn station twice an hour. 

National Taxi L.L.C. was founded in 2000 in the emirate of Dubai with an initial fleet of 50 taxis. They are part of the transport department of the United Arab Emirates. Since 2017, there are nearly 3,000 cars. Hybrid cars currently account for 50% of the fleet. All cars are equipped with a meter and you won't be ripped off. You can pay both in cash and by credit card. However, they don't have onboard GPS so you have to know your route or be able to guide them.

Proudly stamped ISO9001 Veritas, the company has several hundred vehicles criss-crossing Abu Dhabi and Al Ain all day and night. Taxis can be picked up at the corner of the avenues or booked for an additional fee. The drivers are very discreet and sometimes not very familiar with the city map. So do not venture to give an "official" address like Sheikh Rashid Bin Saaed Street, he will not know it. As soon as he crosses the speed limit, the horn sounds. In other words, it goes straight!

Everywhere and non-stop, the 1,300 Sharjian taxis are picked up on street corners, in hotels, near parks. As in other emirates, they operate on a meter. They are all equipped with on-board cameras. 100 vehicles are found in the eastern regions of the emirate, 200 are assigned to Sharjah airport. About 20 vehicles are driven by and for women, while nearly 100 are large enough to accommodate families. Some of them can transport people with reduced mobility.

Taxis run freely day and night in the micro-capital of Fujairi. In the evening, the improbable and cadaverous green-yellow colour of the cars is not appreciated. As in other emirates, they are metered and you can trust them, driving the customer is not part of their habits. If you want to go to another emirate, negotiate the fare and agree before boarding, and don't hesitate to get the hotel staff to talk to them and negotiate for you.

This company was founded in 2011 and operates over 230 taxis. As in the rest of the Emirates, taxis are metered and honest. You will find them roaming the streets, and of course in front of hotels. However, beware of the limousine syndrome, vehicles operated by private agencies and some hotels at much higher flat rates. In taxis, plan to carry small bills, as they rarely have change for large bills. The vehicles are well maintained and the company is directly answerable to the emirate authorities.

Careem is a local company that has been absorbed by Uber, but operates on a separate platform. It is widely used in Dubai, and indeed is the name we use to refer to VTCs. It lets you book chauffeur-driven cars, as well as cabs and 2-wheelers to transport a package. As most cabs don't have GPS, the app makes sure you get where you're going without getting lost. Both companies have a fleet of drivers who are very friendly and keep their cars very clean.