Can I live in Dubai without a car?

Yes, if you live and work near the Metro or tram. A nol card covers Metro, tram, bus and water bus, and taxis fill the gaps.

The Metro, tram and buses

Dubai Metro is driverless and runs on two lines, Red and Green: 74.6 km and 49 stations. Stations and trains are air-conditioned, with Wi-Fi, and every station has bus connections and a taxi stop.

Each train has a Gold Class cabin, with wider leather seats, for Gold card holders only. There are also cabins for women and children. Men who use them can be fined AED 100, the same as eating or drinking on board. Travelling without paying is AED 200. These figures come from an RTA brochure dated May 2022.

The Dubai Tram runs 10.6 km with 11 stations, also air-conditioned and with Wi-Fi. Air-conditioned buses cover most areas.

RTA publishes its timings and changes them for Ramadan, Eid and New Year. Check the RTA website or app before you rely on a late train.

Nol cards: which one to get

Every card except the Red ticket is valid for five years. You need at least AED 7.50 on your card to enter the Metro or get on a bus or water bus. You can buy and top up cards at ticket offices, ticket machines, RTA customer happiness centres and authorised agents, or online. Nol also pays for RTA parking, the Nakheel Monorail and purchases at over 2,000 shops.

Fares by zone

Dubai is split into seven fare zones. You pay by the number of zones you cross. You can make up to three transfers within 30 minutes on one fare.

A 30-day pass gives unlimited travel: AED 140–350 on Silver and AED 280–700 on Gold, depending on zones. Children aged 5 and under travel free. Students get 50% off with a personal card.

Water buses and abras

A traditional abra across the Creek costs AED 1, paid in cash. The air-conditioned abra to Dubai Festival City is AED 2. The Dubai Water Taxi costs AED 7–21, depending on stops.

Taxis and ride-hailing apps

You can hail taxis in the street or book them. RTA’s starting fares:

• Street pickup: AED 5 from 6am to 10pm, AED 5.50 from 10pm to 6am
• App booking: AED 9–13, depending on day and time
• From the airport: AED 20 (AED 25 for a van)

Dubai Taxi Company, the largest operator, lists AED 2.45 a kilometre. Its minimum fare is AED 12 from the street or AED 13 by app, and waiting costs 50 fils a minute. Salik tolls and fees for entering Sharjah are added on top. Dubai Taxi also runs a Families and Ladies service with women drivers.

You can book taxis through Careem, S’hail and Bolt. Uber also operates in Dubai, and since March 2026 you can book driverless taxis on it in Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah.

E-scooters, bikes and walking

You need an RTA permit to ride an e-scooter. Riders must be 16 or over, wear a helmet and reflective jacket, and stay on designated tracks. Those tracks are in Downtown, Dubai Marina, Business Bay and other areas shown on RTA’s map.

In summer, walking more than a few minutes in the middle of the day is hard work. Plan routes between air-conditioned stations, malls and covered walkways, and save longer walks for early morning or evening.

Getting to other emirates

Buses link Dubai with Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and other emirates. Each emirate runs its own buses and uses its own payment card, so check which card works before you travel.

When you’d still want a car

Public transport works best if both home and work are near a station. It is harder if you live in a villa community away from the Metro, do school runs, or travel often between emirates. Taxi costs add up fast. See Where should we live in Dubai? and Can I drive on my UK licence?

The new Metro Blue Line, 30 km with 14 stations, is set to open on 9 September 2029, according to RTA.

The moving fund calculator uses an estimate of AED 400 a month per adult for Metro and taxis. Your own cost depends on how far you travel and how often you use taxis.