Public Transport Dubai

With your Dubai City Pass you get unlimited access to the Hop-on Hop-off buses which allows you to reach the most famous sights free of charge every day in the modern and air-conditioned panorama bus. The hop-on hop-off buses take 2 predetermined routes to the city’s most popular attractions, with recorded commentary available in several languages. You can hop on or off the bus at any of the stops, or enjoy the whole bus ride as a tour of the city. It gives you flexibility when traveling and the buses are easy to navigate. It’s also a cost-effective alternative to taxis and car rentals, plus, you can enjoy the good views of the city on your way to your end destination.

The public network system in Dubai is quite extensive and well connected. Managed by The Government-owned RTA (Roads and Traffic Authority), it joins the major locations of the city and is an affordable and convenient mode of transportation that is hugely relied upon by the residents for commuting on a daily basis.
 
Please note: Public Transport in Dubai is not included with the Dubai Pass.

Dubai has come up with different modes of transport for tourists. This helps them to comfortably commute within the city in a secure and efficient manner. 

The Dubai Metro seamlessly connects many city residential and commercial districts while also stopping near several of Dubai’s top attractions. Dubai Metro stations are also located at the Dubai International Airport Terminals, making it easy for tourists and visitors travelling to Dubai to commute within the city as soon as they arrive. The Dubai Metro network comprises of Red line and Green line routes, both of which, combined, cover the main populated areas of the Emirate. You can find out more about the metro stations, fares, maps and more in the RTA website. 

Dubai Tram is a modern and fully automated rail system, providing a vast number of features and services for the convenience of the users. The tram service links Dubai Metro and the Palm Monorail and runs along Al Sufouh Road and Jumeirah Beach Road. Featuring air conditioning and Wi-Fi connectivity, it allows commuters to easily access the leisure destinations of JBR and Dubai Marina and professional hubs of Dubai Media City and Dubai Internet City. There are currently 11 Dubai Tram stations with Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Lake Towers stations linking to the Dubai Metro. 

Dubai offers a very extensive network of buses that connects most of the urban area of the city. The well-maintained air-conditioned buses are very affordable and are suitable for the areas that are not covered by the Dubai Metro. The buses also connect Dubai to the other emirates of the UAE, a service which no other mode of public transport in Dubai provides. 

One of the popular means of public transport in Dubai is taxis, which you can find in nearly every part of the city. Taxis in Dubai are the quickest and most comfortable ways to get around the city, especially when the intended destination does not have a Metro stop or bus station nearby. You can make payments for your ride through cash, debit, a credit card or even a NOL card. Regardless of the area you’re in, the RTA taxi is easy to book and extremely convenient to travel in. The easiest way to get a taxi in Dubai is to flag one on the street (if their light is yellow, if it’s red it means they are taken or booked), but this only works as long as it’s one of the specified areas for a taxi to stop for pickup. It’s also possible to book an RTA taxi online via several available apps: the RTA Dubai App, S’hail app, The Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) App, or via Uber UAE or CAREEM app. You can find the RTA apps here Alternatively you can also book a taxi via SMS (write a message with the number of the taxi rank you’re at and send it to 4774) or via phone by simply call this number 80088088. 

Like the Oyster cards in London or the “Visite Paris” cards, Nol card is a smart rechargeable card that enables you to pay for the use of various RTA transport modes in Dubai with a single tap. You can use your nol card to travel on Dubai Metro, Buses, Dubai Tram and marine transport modes like Water Buses. You can also use nol card to pay for RTA's Paid Parking.There are many convenient ways to get your nol card. You can purchase your card at ticket offices, ticket vending machines, RTA customer happiness centers, authorized sales agents, or online.There are several ticket options available (check the RTA website), although tourists usually opt for the Silver Nol card that can be preloaded with up to AED1,000 in credit – ideal if you plan on regularly using public transport during your stay in Dubai.