Dubai is one among the most famous travel destinations around the world. Backed by a majestic desert and located on the blue waters of the southern Arabian Gulf, the place offers five star luxury and year-round sunshine to visitors along with the unique Arabian adventure all rolled into one. Dubai is one of the 7 emirates that comprise the United Arab Emirates which is a blend of timeless desert and modern city, is a destination of fascinating contrasts and also referred to as the “city of merchants”. For generations, Dubai has welcomed traders and seafarers to its shores and people always consider it their dream to travel to Dubai. The place is also famous for its tradition of hospitality and courtesy and is well worth a visit.
The place has something to offer everyone - from the active tourist seeking an exciting experience to the holidaymaker longing a relaxing break away from the congestion of crowded cities. The city also has excellent possibilities for dining, entertainment, adventure and sports not to mention shopping.
By Taxi
The most popular means of transport for visiting and getting around in Dubai is the local taxi services which have many carriers for general and specialized. The cream colored Dubai Transport Corporation taxis are metered ones with a certain fee for pickup and per km rates. The other alternative is the non-metered taxis which are more reasonable as they offer negotiable rates. There are charted airport taxis that help to shift guests from the hotels to airport or the city center. Sometimes, drivers may not have adequate knowledge about the city and might ask travelers for directions. Fixed fares are applicable only for journeys outside the city limits. While visiting Dubai, you can rent a taxi for full day or half a day for sightseeing. Not necessary that you must tip the drivers. While visiting Dubai, tourists can also hire a taxi for a 12-hour period for a fixed fee of Dhs 500. You can also opt for fixed-fare minibus service from Dubai Transport Corporation to and from other Emirates.
The fares of non-metered taxis start at a rate of around Dh5 for small journeys locally and may go up to Dhs 10 to Dhs 15 for crossing the Creek from one side of the city to the other. Services of Dubai Transport taxis can also be made use of while traveling to Dubai from the airport. The pick-up cost is Dhs 16 and then per km rates are added on to the final fare.
By Bus
You can also travel in Dubai by bus. Dubai Municipality operates a decent public bus service on more than fifty routes, daily. Fares must be paid to the driver while boarding and it depends on the destination travelled to. It is advisable that travellers have the exact change to pay for such bus services. For those planning to stay in Dubai for more than a week, ‘Period Passes’ can be availed. This allows cheaper bus travel by means of a smart card use. While visiting Dubai, you can make use of the timetables, passes and bus maps that can be seen at the bus stations in Bur Dubai and Deira. Bus numbers and routes are posted in both English and Arabic. Though there is this fairly reliable bus service within the Dubai City apart from other modes of public transport, on the exterior points of the city, there is only limited modes of transport functioning and travel becomes very difficult without the car hire services.
By Metro
The expensive 300km metro system is proposed to have four lines: the the Green Line stretching between the Dubai Airport Free Zone and Dubai Health Care City, the Red Line running from Rashidiya Station to Jebel Ali Station; the Blue Line that will extend from Emirates Road to the airports and the Purple Line stretching from the existing airport to the new one near Jebel Ali. The metro is expected to open in 2009 or 2010.
By car
Road regulation is slightly different in Dubai when compared to other places in the world. While visiting Dubai through cars may not be very expensive, it can be quite confusing to foreigners. However people traveling to Dubai will find that the city has a well marked and impressive network of roads that is connected to a range of places with world class freeways linking it to the rest of the United Arab Emirates. The Dubai administration also issues temporary local drivers licenses to the passport holders from many countries. While traveling to Dubai you must also be cautious as traffic is on the right hand side. Visitors not having an international driving licence can get a temporary local driving licence if they are in possession of valid national licence from countries such as Austria, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, France, Ireland, Greece, Switzerland, UK, Poland, Turkey, Slovakia, Portugal, Czech Republic, Luxemburg, Cyprus, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Norway, USA, Japan, Canada, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand and Singapore.
By Boat
You can also visit Dubai and see the place using water taxis or local Abras which are similar to Venician Gondolas having small motors. Abras have been a part of the Dubai means of transport for centuries now and many of the heritage sites in Dubai depict them. To the rudder of these boats, ropes are attached from the driver’s seat in the Abras and travelers have to sit on a small bench beneath a large shade canopy. Abra stations can be found while visiting Dubai in several places along the Dubai Creek to take travelers along the areas on its banks.