Transportation to neighbouring Emirates
Dubai is one of seven Emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, the capital of the UAE being Abu Dhabi. Travelling distances to the other Emirates from Dubai International Airport are as follows:
Sharjah - 15 kilometres
Ajman - 30 kilometres
Umm Al Quwain - 55 kilometres
Ras Al Khaimah - 100 kilometres
Fujairah - 130 kilometres
Abu Dhabi - 170 kilometres
There is a Dhs 20 standard charge for hiring a taxi from the airport. Standard minimum charge when hiring a taxi elsewhere is Dhs 3. Dubai Transport provides a taxi service which is available on a 24-hour basis by telephoning 04-2080808.
There are SALIK automatic road tolls operational on Sheikh Zayed Road, and on Garhoud and Maktoum bridges. However taxis are exempt from the toll.
The Dubai Metro
Travelling around the city has become much easier with the Dubai Metro system which opened on 9th September 2009. The driverless system will eventually be 70 kilometres long, boasting 47 stations and will link Jebel Ali, Bur Dubai, Deira and also Dubai Airport with the new Al Maktoum International airport at Jebel Ali which is opened.
The Metro runs from 6am until 11pm from Saturday to Thursday and from 2pm until midnight on Friday. Train times during Ramadan are from 6am until midnight from Saturday to Thursday and 2pm until midnight on Friday. Each train has five carriages and is designed to convey a total of 643 passengers. An average of 140,000 customers a day use the Dubai Metro and trains operate every 6 minutes during peak hours and every 8 minutes at other times of day. The automatic doors remain open for 15 to 20 seconds to allow passengers to board or alight.
There are 29 stations on the Red Line with 26 now open and the remaining 3 stations will be opened upon completion of real estate and investment projects around them which are still underway.
The stations currently open are, Ibn Battuta, Nakheel Harbour and Tower, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai Marina, Nakheel, Dubai Internet City, Sharaf DG, Mall of the Emirates, First Gulf Bank, Noor Islamic Bank (Al Quoz), Business Bay, Burj Khalifa, Dubai International Finance Centre, Emirates Towers, World Trade Centre, Al Jaffilia, Al Karama, Khalid bin Al Whaleed (BurJuman shopping centre), Union Square, Al Rigga, Deira City Centre, GGICO (Al Garhoud), Dubai International Airport (Terminal 1), Dubai International Airport (Terminal 3), Emirates HQ and Rashidiya.
Other stations on the Red Line, which are due to open in the future, are Jebel Ali Free Zone, Jebel Ali Industrial Estate, Energy Station, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Nakheel (Emirates Golf Club), Sharaf DG, First Gulf Bank Station and Business Bay.
Each station is served by dedicated transfer buses to convey passengers to destinations in the immediate vicinity. Tickets are available from vending machines or the ticket office within each Metro station and the most applicable ticket for tourists is the Red Nol ticket priced between Dhs 2 and Dhs 6.50 depending on the length of journey. If you wish to travel in style a Gold Class ticket ranges between Dhs 4 and Dhs 13. Children under 5 years travel free of charge. A single day Nol ticket covering all zones is priced at Dhs 14.
Incidentally, there are some Dubai Metro by-laws which are worth bearing in mind:
- There is a non-smoking policy anywhere within the public transport system including the station platforms.Animals or pets are not allowed on the Metro system, the only exemption being guide dogs for the visually impaired.
- Eating and drinking are not allowed in the trains.
- Running on the platforms is not allowed so don’t run to catch your train, there will always be another one.