Public Transport: Public Transport in Dubai includes traveling in buses whether in city or inter-emirates. Bus services are large and expansive as it’s the most cheapest and easiest way to reach any destination. Currently RTA runs 504 buses on peak schedules on 62 bus routes. On weekends, Fridays and public holidays schedules are re-arranged to accommodate increasing passenger traffic.

RTA also organizes night bus services which operate between 23.30 till 6.00 pm in the morning. This bus service is linked with regular bus service maintaining the fluidity in the timetable of buses.

RTA also connects itself with other Emirates in UAE with Inter-Emirates bus service via 11 routes, 12 take off points and 17 drop off points.

Bus timetables can be found on RTA’s official website.

Dubai Taxi: Dubai Taxi has its own official website as Dubai Taxi Corporation. Dubai Taxi is a public transport service availed by many visitors as its convenient and offers more privacy and luxury. Whether you book a pre-paid taxi or negotiate for a more agreeable rate, taxis are generally more preferred way of traveling in Dubai. Various services are offered by Dubai Taxi Corporation to suit each individual visitor. These include direct booking service via a 24-hour phone number where the taxi will arrive in 15 minutes to your preferred destination. Also is available Dubai Airport service for airport shuttle, Special Needs service for physically handicapped passengers, Taxi Parking service where you can hire a taxi from any one of the taxi ranks across Dubai and Ladies Taxi Service especially for ladies and families. Fares for different taxi services can be found on Dubai Taxi Corporations official site.

Dubai Metro: To learn more about Dubai Metro you can visit the post

http://blog.dubai.com/dubai-metro-solving-traffic-snarls/

Water Taxis: Water travel assumes much importance in Dubai as it connects old and new Dubai via Dubai Creek. It is one of the oldest and traditional methods of getting across from Bur Dubai to Deira through ‘Abras’ or waterbus. While the Abras are more conventional, the waterbus is an advanced version of the Abra; a more luxurious and comfortable approach to water transport. Water taxi time tables can be viewed on RTA official website.

Air Travel: Traveling within the Emirates or arriving from an outside country to Dubai, Air Travel proposes services to its customers like no other. Especially the Dubai International Airport is known more for its Duty Free Shopping rather than its main function i.e. as a travel medium. To learn more about Dubai International Airport visit the post http://blog.dubai.com/dubai-international-airport/

and for Duty Free Shopping visit the post http://blog.dubai.com/dubai-duty-free-shopping/

Toting up to being an significant passenger traffic center and the world’s busiest airport, the Dubai International Airport was the world’s 6th busiest airport by international passenger traffic, the world’s 20th busiest airport by passenger traffic and the world’s 11th busiest by cargo traffic. Terminal 2 was improved in January 2009 and the terminal 3 is also expected to be upgraded by Concourse 3 by 2011. The 3rd terminal is the one and only biggest floor spaced building. The airport is expected to handle the arrival of the travelers in near future and will go together with the Al Maktoum International Airport i.e. Dubai World Central International Airport.

The Emirates Airline is the biggest airline working from the terminal 3 with an armada of about 130 Boeing Aircrafts and Airbuses and offering planned services to Australia, New Zealand, North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia and Middle East. Emirates SkyCargo is a secondary of the Emirates and offers programmed all-cargo benefits all over the world. FlyDubai is a low-cost airline operating terminal 2 and offering over 50 scheduled aircrafts and passenger services to South Asia, Africa, Europe, Middle East and Dubai.

Terminals:
There are 4 terminals stretched across an area of 225,020 sq meters and can handle about 62 million passengers annually. Concourse 1 is at Terminal 1 and concourse 2 and 3 are at Terminal 3. Terminal 2 is a bit away from the two main edifices and the general aviation terminal (GAT) is placed nearby. The cargo terminal is able to manage 3 million tones of cargo over a year.

Today, the airport is equipped with 3 passenger terminals out of which Terminals 1 & 3 are linked with a transit region wherein all the international passengers can walk in between the terminals without any immigration or checking. Terminal 2 is around 20 minutes away from Terminal 1 and around 30 minutes away from Terminal 3, at the opposite side of the airport and it caters all the passengers who wish to fly to the Persian Gulf and Sub Continent regions. The Executive Flights Terminal is placed adjacent to Terminal 2 and it has its own check-in, immigration and customs areas for the lavish travelers and premium passengers. Constructed specially for the Dubai Royal Air Wing, the VIP Pavilion endows a Royal Majlis, antenna farm and 8 aircraft hangers. The Cargo Mega Terminal is capable of housing 2.1 million tones of cargo throughout the year and is in process of expanding itself to 3 million. The Flower Centre handles the import and export of flowers and will be offered with an upgraded automated system that will enable the processing of the flowers at a faster rate.

Concourse:
Concourse 1 was the major part of the Dubai International Airport till the construction of Terminal 3 was completed. It endows about 32 air bridges, 28 remote gates, a business centre, health club, 5 star hotel and other restaurants and lounges. The place also offers duty-free shopping along with a medical centre and prayer rooms. Concourse 2 is nestled in Terminal 3 and is completely dedicated to the Emirates Airline. The place houses around 28 jet bridges and 5 aerobridges those are able to operate A380, the new Airbus. Also, there is a hotel and a health club located inside the building. The Concourse 3, when completed, will be a second side of the Concourse 2. It will be equipped with 18 A380 gates and 2 contact gates, a connection to the Terminal 3 with an automated people mover, baggage transfer and a service tunnel. The airport also offers e-gates for quick immigration and fast processing formalities. The Al Majlis offers special check-in, baggage clearance and immigration formalities along with a limousine or bus ushered to the Sheikh Rashid Terminal (Concourse). Passengers wishing to take the advantage of the Al Majlis have to book it before 24 hours.

Eating and Shopping:

Shopping and Eating Outlets are spread between the three Terminals of the airport. The Terminal 3 has the biggest retail space. Banking services are provided at the Terminal 2. Duty free shopping, perfumes, watches, liquor and tobacco products mostly form the first choice of the passengers. Designer wear, Sports equipments, luxury goods, electronics, jewelry, cosmetics and fresh chocolates are also offered at the Duty Free Shopping options of the Airport. There are a lot of cafes, restaurants, lounges and hotels nestled inside. A few of the options include Food Court, McDonalds, Le Martin Francais, Round Table Pizza and many more. The Airport also enjoys business centers, internet, gaming facilities, health clubs, swimming pool, spas, showers, children’s play areas, women’s and mother’s lounge, prayer rooms and 2 open-air gardens. Furthermore, there are Business class, Airline and Quiet lounges for the passengers.

Security:
The Dubai Government provides small and big range rescue and search services along with medical evacuation and police support. The complete security system is managed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Dubai. All the terminals are equipped with pre-screening at the entrance. Also, personal and luggage screening is conducted at the respective departure gates.

Dubai Skyline at Night

1. Official language of Dubai is Arabic and English.
2. Dialling code is +971
3. Local and International Codes:
   Abu Dhabi + 9712 02
   Ajman + 9716 06
   Al Ain + 9713 03
   Dubai +9714 04
   Fujairah + 9719 09
   Khor Fakkan + 9719 09
   Raï al-Khaimah + 9717 07
   Sharjah + 9716 06
   Umm al-Qaiwain + 9716 06
4. Internet code is .ae
5. Currency is AED i.e. Emirati Dirham
6. UAE is 4 hours ahead of GMT
7. Telephone network in Dubai is operated by ETISALAT where Telephone calls within Dubai are free and direct dialing is available to over 150 countries.
8. Happy Hours for international calls is between 9 pm to 7 am
9. Card and coin operated pay phones are available throughout Dubai and cards are available at ETISALAT offices, supermarkets, pharmacies etc. for about Dh.30 to Dh. 45)
10. Fax can be set via ETISALAT offices 24 hours a day
11. ETISALAT head office is located on Baniyas Street, Deira, Opening Hours: Saturday to Wednesday 7 a.m.- 3 p.m
12. Mobile code within Dubai is +50
13. You can post letter in red post boxes and mail is collected regularly in morning and evening. Post can be mailed from the hotel also.
14. Post Office opening hours: Saturday to Wednesday 8 a.m.- 1 p.m and 4 p.m.- 7 p.m, On Public Holidays: 8 a.m. – 12 noon, Closed on Thursday, Friday and first day of Eid.
15. All government offices are closed on Thursday and Friday
16. Shops and supermarkets remain open seven days a week
17. Bank hours: Saturday to Wednesday is from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, and 8:00 am to 12:00 pm on Thursday.
18. Currency Exchange houses are open from 8.30am–1.00pm and 4.30–8.30pm.
19. Mode of transportation: Taxis and cars. Please Visit Road Transports Authority for more details
20. You can obtain a temporary driving license as long as you have a valid driving license from the following countries: Germany, Spain, Belgium, Austria, Italy, Netherlands, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Greece, Turkey, UK, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.
21. Dubai follows right hand side driving
22. You can travel between Dubai and Deira using water taxis or fully air conditioned water buses
23. Minimum fare for taxis: Dh.5 to Dh.10
24. For medicines prohibited in Dubai, Please visit site: Ministry of Health Controlled Medicines
25. Summer clothing is the norm for most parts of the year, but winter clothes may be needed during the winter months, especially in the evenings.
26. Use photo chromatic lenses for those with spectacles
27. As temperature is high, head gear like scarves, hats and sunscreens are a must to avoid sunstroke
28. Due to a relaxed dress code in Dubai, bikinis, short dresses, trunks and swim suits are allowed on beaches.
29. Don’t photograph women without permission and be polite enough to take permission before photographing Arabic men. Don’t drink alcohol in public.
30. Clicking images of government buildings and military institutions is not allowed.
31. Tap water is safe to drink but tourists generally prefer bottled mineral water.
32. Public hospitals offer good treatment free of charge, but treatment at private hospitals can be quite expensive, so it’s necessary that you take out an insurance to cover your medical expenses.
33. US made electrical appliances may need a transformer to work in Dubai.
34. Alcohol is available in hotels but restaurants are not permitted to serve alcoholic beverages.
35. Tipping is not expected in hotels but you can do as an act of gratitude towards the hotel staff. Hotels and restaurant add service charges to their bills. Abu Dhabi 16 %; Sharjah %; Dubai 10 %. If not added , expect to add 10% to your bills. Taxi drivers do not expect to be tipped.

Dubai Metro - GFDL/Producer

With the introduction of Dubai Metro beginning of September 9, Dubai residents and tourists visiting Deira City Centre will surely heave a sigh of relief.  Endless waiting for cabs with poor faces will now be replaced with travelers confidently hopping on to the metro to catch up to their next destination.

The Dubai Metro station; officially named as City Centre Station will not just stop for travelers visiting the very popular shopping center, but will also attend those from surrounding areas in Deira such as Port Saeed, airline and bank offices and hotels.

The Dubai Metro’s Red Line will feature 29 stations of which four will be underground. Running from Rashidiva to Jebel Ali, it will pass American University of Dubai along its way. Approximately it will take an hour to travel and will accommodate 32,000 passengers.

The Dubai Metro’s Green Line will feature18 stations and trains will run from Al Ittihad Square to Rashidiya bus station via Deira City Centre and Dubai Airport Terminals 1 and 3. In future it will be more wide-ranging to serve Deira, Bur Dubai areas, BurJuman and Wafi mall. Interchange stations will be at Al Ittihad Square and Burjuman.

The Dubai Metro was first initialized as an alterative for shoppers to the Deira City Centre as there was too much congestion with people waiting for cabs. Close by there are important leisure and commercial centers like the Dubai shopping center, five star hotels, Offices of the Ministry of Energy, major airline offices and some important banks within a walking distance of 10 minutes, which also will be served by the Metro.

Travelers coming from Sharjah can conveniently access the Metro using the Red Line on their way to destinations along Jebel Ali.

Red Line Phase 1, is planned to be completed and to start generating revenue by 09/09/2009

The Green Line Phase 2, planned to be completed and to start generating revenue prior to the date of 09/03/2010

Taxi Car in Dubai

• Taxis are everywhere in Dubai. In fact, riding a taxi is the most expensive to travel around Dubai. All taxis in Dubai are metered and could cost you much in taxi fare especially when you are caught in traffic. As you know, Dubai has one of the worse traffic congestion in the United Arab Emirates. Finding a taxi is also a problem because there are not enough taxis in Dubai. If by chance you cannot find a taxi to ride, you can send SMS to the toll-free number 4774 mentioning the number of the taxi stand where you are waiting. There are rank numbers in 54 locations or taxi stands in the congested areas in Dubai wherein every stand has its assigned area code. These area codes are mentioned on the boards installed at each taxi stand. You will then receive an acknowledgment message from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and a taxi would you up  from the exact spot within minutes.

There are some private cars that are being used as taxis. Beware of this because private cars used as taxis are illegal in Dubai and are being penalized. Even though passengers are not penalized for riding private cars used as taxis, this poses risks in the passenger’s security and safety.

This is a photo of a Dubai Bus, sitting in the Deira Bus Station in Deira in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 26 December 2007.

• Another transportation which you can enjoy in Dubai and is less expensive than taxis is riding the bus. You can find the bus routes at any major station throughout Dubai where free maps and fliers are written in both English and Arabic. Free route maps and bus schedule are also provided for the passengers. You can also buy an e-Go Card that is very useful and economical if you are a regular commuter. Riding a bus in Dubai is the most economical mode of transportation in Dubai. The only tip you need for riding the bus is that the front section is reserved for women only while men sit at the back in Dubai buses.

Dubai water taxi

• Water taxis are the fastest and the least costly mode of transportation in crossing the Dubai Creek. Locals of Dubai use abras as their daily transport while tourists are fond of riding these water taxis as they enjoy the towering skyline and the bustling city while boating in the midst of the captivating waters of the Arabian Gulf. The ride will take just a minute or two. You must go to the designated stations for abras along either side of the creek and you can pay the driver on the boat. The abras operate from early mornings until midnight. The water taxi leaves as soon as it reaches its capacity of 20 passengers.