The modern age will have you believing that you can’t survive living in any city or town without having a car as a mode of transportation. And although this is true for many parts of the world, there are still places around the globe where you can happily go without a car and still get around the city comfortably, safely and efficiently.
New York, London, Tokyo, Madrid, Hamburg and Seoul are just a few cities where living without a car is the norm and the preferred way of travelling is walking or using public transportation. And, of course, so is Dubai.
Now, some of you might be sceptical about this as the famous UAE city has one of the highest vehicle densities in the world, with approximately 2.5 million active driver licenses and 1.83 million registered vehicles on the road. But no matter what anyone might say, it is entirely possible to live in the emirate without ever purchasing or renting a car.
This is because Dubai has an extensive public transport network that makes it easy to navigate the city. From the metro to the tram, buses, taxis and even a monorail, getting around the city is easy and efficient when using public transport.
So, whether you plan on only being here for a long-term stay of 30 days or more, or are planning to relocate to the city for an indefinite amount of time, and would prefer not to spend your well-earned money on a car, here is a how-to guide on living in Dubai without a car.
Cars might be the most common and popular way to get around Dubai, but it’s not the only way. The emirate has no shortage of efficient, convenient, comfortable and safe alternative transport options that can be used to navigate the city.
Dubai has over 1,500 buses circulating the city daily, which makes catching one to your next destination an absolute breeze. The emirate’s bus network has expanded considerably over the years, offering a reliable commute to work for many, and connecting all the major landmarks and tourist spots of the city. And the best part is, you won’t have to wait out in the heat. Waiting sheds are well ventilated with air-conditioning to keep you cool and fresh.
The Dubai Metro is the city’s cheapest mode of transport, aside from the bus, and has been operating since 2009. It’s a state-of-the-art, driverless, fully automated rail system that is clean, fast and efficient and is perhaps the most popular mode of public transport in the emirate.
Currently, the Red and Green Line are operational on the rapid transit rail network and service 49 stations together, connecting many of the city’s residential and commercial districts, as well as stopping near several of Dubai’s top attractions and at Dubai International Airport Terminals 1 and 3.
Another popular mode of public transport here in Dubai, taxis are the quickest and most comfortable way to get around and are easily located in nearly every part of the city. Not only are there dedicated taxis for the airport, but there are also special taxis solely for women and families, which come with a female driver. The only downside is that taxis are more expensive than other forms of public transport in Dubai.
A relatively new addition to Dubai’s public transportation services, the water taxis navigate the waters of the Arabian Gulf to get you to your destination.
They are a fleet of sleek, modern water-based taxis that are equipped with all modern facilities, conform to the safety requirements of the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) – the government authority in charge of the roads and transportation in Dubai – and can travel across the waters of the Arabian Gulf at speeds of up to 25 knots.
If you want to avoid the daily congestions of Dubai’s most travelled roads, then water taxis are a great alternative.
Hailed as Dubai’s original mode of transportation, abras offer a traditional form of travel around the city via Dubai Creek. While this option is mainly used as a tourist attraction, many residents use it along the Old Dubai area and in Souk Madinat Jumeirah.
Being a simple, wooden boat, abras can easily navigate the 10-meter Creek quickly and are a great way to avoid the traffic build-up on the roads.
Another major tourist attraction, the Dubai Ferry is used just as much by residents as a means of public transport. The ferry offers comfortable seating and will only run if there is a minimum of 10 people on board.
The Palm Monorail is a privately-owned transport system designed to take both tourists and residents from one end of the Palm to the other. Connecting from the gateway station at the entrance to the Palm to the Atlantis Hotel at the far end, the monorail provides a great view of the Palm and is linked to the Dubai Tram system.
A newer mode of local transport in Dubai, the tram is a world-class tramway serving notable areas in New Dubai, including Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach Residence and Al Sufouh.
The Dubai Tram links to the Dubai Metro and Palm Monorail, which eases traffic congestion on the road and enables commuters to easily access the leisure destinations of JBR and Dubai Marina, as well as the professional hubs of Dubai Media City and Dubai Internet City.
Currently, there are 11 Dubai Tram stations, with the Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Lake Towers stations linking to the Dubai Metro.
As with everywhere else in the world, Dubai is also seeing the rise of e-hailing services, such as Careem – a popular car-hailing app where you can book a ride to your chosen destination via your mobile phone. All you need to do is download the app and book a private vehicle to pick you up and take you to your selected endpoint.
Other popular ride-hailing apps and car-sharing services include Uber, UDrive and Ekar.
Depending on the area of Dubai you’re in and the time of day, you’ll find that it’s difficult to find parking when out and about. Using public transport helps you avoid this altogether, as well as saves you a couple of bucks that you might have to spend on parking on certain days.
All Dubai residents have heard Salik – the name given to the congestion charge or road user fee system that has been operating in the emirate since July 2007. Made up of several checkpoints around the city, road users are required to pay a road toll or fee of AED 4 on Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Maktoum Bridge, Al Garhoud Bridge, Al Ittihad Road and Airport Road.
What’s more annoying than having to pay tolls while driving? The process of setting up your prepaid Salik account – which requires users to register, receive a Salik sticker tag, attach it to their windshield and always make sure that their prepaid account has enough money in it to cover the charges.
This is because Salik toll gates are not the usual standard found in other parts of the world. Here in Dubai, you don’t need to stop or slow down when passing through a Salik checkpoint, as there are sensors that pick up the Salik sticker tag that’s stuck to your windshield.
Public transport users, however, don’t have to worry about paying a Salik toll – which can quickly add up to a huge amount of travelling through a checkpoint every day.
If you’re new to Dubai, the city can be difficult to navigate and can easily take months to figure out. Finding your way around is made even worse when adding the need to use GPS and concentrating on driving – especially as Dubai drivers are notorious for being hellish on the road.
Save yourself the time and frustration by using public transport to travel around the city, as we can guarantee that local drivers and operators know where they’re going.
Buying or renting a car will never be a once-off expense. Services, maintenance, repairs, fuel and insurance are just a few of the extra costs that come with having a car.
Yes, purchasing or renting a car might be a lot cheaper in Dubai than it is in other countries, but is it really worth it in the long run when you could be saving copious amounts of money by using public transport instead? This is especially true if you’re only staying in the emirate temporarily.
Many foreigners describe Dubai’s traffic cameras as a nightmare, as there are so many of them set in places that are less than ideal – like at the bottom of hills or just as the speed limit changes. This results in many individuals racking up fines – which can be a costly expense.
Why risk paying speeding fines when you can use public transport instead?
Now that you’re aware that you don’t need to buy or rent a car to get around Dubai during your long stay, it frees up more cash that can be used elsewhere – like on your accommodation.
Thirty Sleeps offers a wide range of premium serviced accommodation and hotels that are ideally placed near public transport networks that make travelling around Dubai easy, convenient and comfortable.
Thirty Sleeps Sleeper Partners offer affordable and commitment-free short-term stays when you book for 30 days or more. There are no rental contracts, no additional expenses and no hidden fees. All you need to do is pay one all-inclusive fee and enjoy all the perks of a fully serviced and equipped luxury accommodation.
Visit Thirty Sleeps today and find the perfect long-stay rental accommodation for you.