For travelers and expatriates visiting Dubai, choosing transportation methods is an important element of budget management. Particularly in recent years, ride-hailing apps like Uber and Careem have become widespread globally, and the perception that “ordering rides through smartphone apps is cheaper and more convenient than street taxis” has become widely established.
However, this conventional wisdom doesn’t necessarily hold true in the United Arab Emirates, centered around Dubai. So this time, we decided to actually compare and verify the fares of various apps versus street taxis.
Various Taxis in the United Arab Emirates
In the United Arab Emirates, there are options including general street taxis like RTA taxis, ride-hailing apps such as Careem and Uber, and hotel taxis.
RTA taxis are managed by the Roads and Transport Authority and are strictly fare-regulated metered city taxis. Careem is a ride-hailing app established in the Middle East in 2012, reigning as the leading ride-hailing app in the Gulf states including the UAE.
Many tourists and temporary visitors tend to believe “using apps is definitely the cheapest option” based on experiences in other countries. You often see people with smartphones in hand, avoiding traditional taxis and always ordering through apps. However, we’ve discovered that this perception isn’t necessarily correct.
Test 1: Non-Peak Hours Transportation
We decided to actually ride taxis and compare fares. First, we conducted an experiment during relatively quiet hours, traveling from Sharjah city center to the airport.
This is Careem’s estimated fare
Uber’s estimated fare
Opening the Careem app and checking fares for the same departure and destination points, the estimated fare was 47-57 AED. Similarly checking Uber app fares, the estimated fare was 44-57 AED. This shows there’s no significant price difference between Careem and Uber.
Then, actually hailing a street RTA taxi and traveling the same route, the actual fare was only 34.5 AED.
Street taxis resulted in overwhelmingly cheaper fares
Comparing app estimates with actual fares, street taxis were surprisingly about 20%-40% cheaper than ride-hailing apps. Moreover, this comparison is between actual paid fares and estimated prices, and actual app rides could potentially cost more than estimates.
Test 2: Peak Hours Transportation
However, this was only the result during non-peak hours (daytime). We thought that during rush hours, street taxis with continuously running meters during wait times would be disadvantageous, so we conducted parallel testing during peak hours.
Careem’s estimated fare
Uber’s estimated fare
During evening peak hours, we conducted similar tests traveling from Dubai International Airport to Sharjah Corniche. Checking Careem app fares showed estimates of 110-122 AED, while Uber app estimates were 97-109 AED, with both apps showing similar pricing.
Actually taking an RTA taxi from the airport taxi stand, the meter fare was 89.5 AED.
In this test too, street taxis were cheaper!
Even during peak hours for long-distance travel, RTA taxis proved to be the cheapest option. According to the driver, “In smoother traffic conditions, it would have been another 5-10 AED cheaper.”
Results: Why Street Taxis Are the Cheapest
Testing under two different conditions revealed that regardless of short/long distance or peak/non-peak hours, RTA taxis (street taxis) were the most economical choice. While this contradicts general assumptions, there are several possible reasons.
First, ride-hailing apps have fluctuating prices based on supply and demand, while RTA taxis maintain fixed meter rates. Particularly during times and locations with many tourists, app fares have been surging in recent years. Additionally, ride-hailing apps charge fees for convenience, but using taxis directly eliminates this intermediary margin.
UAE’s RTA taxis are strictly regulated by government agencies compared to developing countries with unlicensed taxi proliferation, preventing unfair fare charging. Furthermore, local taxi drivers often know shortcuts and optimal routes to avoid traffic, potentially resulting in more efficient travel.
When discussing recent taxi conditions with a local RTA taxi driver, he impressively stated: “Ride-hailing apps have reduced our business, but smart locals still use our services. They know we’re much cheaper, especially for long-distance travel.”
Facts and Trends: Situational Choices
However, street taxis aren’t optimal in all situations. From international traveler forum comments and personal experience, several situational trends have emerged.
At popular tourist spots like Dubai Mall or Burj Khalifa, taxi queues can become extremely long. One forum participant advised: “Dubai Mall taxi lines are terrifyingly long, so it’s best to walk to a nearby hotel and catch a taxi there, or use Uber.”
In general residential areas, street taxis can be hard to find. According to a local expatriate: “I live in a residential area where RTA taxis don’t pass frequently, so Uber’s door-to-door service is convenient.” Also, late at night, street taxi numbers particularly decrease, making ride-hailing apps convenient.
Regarding comfort and service, Uber and similar services often have newer vehicles and English-proficient drivers, leading to opinions like “preferring comfortable travel even if slightly more expensive.” One review noted: “RTA taxis sometimes drive roughly, but Uber drivers are calmer and more polite.”
Summarizing these points: while street taxis win decisively on price, apps become useful when considering service quality and taxi availability.
Note that luxury hotels often recommend private taxis, but these tend to be quite expensive. Therefore, avoid using hotel private taxis without confirming prices beforehand. Instead, having concierge staff call RTA taxis seems to be a better option according to some opinions.
Conclusion: Smart Taxi Choices for More Affordable Dubai Travel
Actual testing and research revealed that many travelers are paying high fares based on assumptions.
Many travel guides and review sites introduce “ride-hailing apps as convenient and cheap for Dubai transportation,” but actual verification shows this isn’t necessarily true. Even in our technology-advanced era, traditional street taxis often remain the most cost-effective choice.
For Dubai travel or business trips, before automatically opening smartphone apps, remember these verification results. Particularly for long-distance travel or airport transfers, choosing street taxis might allow more effective use of travel budgets. Travel smart and enjoy your wonderful Dubai stay!
