In an emergency
- Emergency999
- Police999
- Ambulance998
- Complaints+971 600 545555Ahlan Dubai, consumer complaints
UAE-wide numbers: 999 police, 998 ambulance, 997 fire (Civil Defence), 996 coastguard. Dubai Police's Al Ameen line for security tips: 800 4444 (+971 800 4444 from abroad). The DCAS SOS app calls a Dubai ambulance with your location. Emergency treatment to stabilise a patient is free; other treatment must be paid or insured. RTA customer service (lost nol card, transport): 800 90 90. A dedicated Dubai tourist-police number was not verified, so it is left out.
Fair prices
What locals pay. If you are asked for much more, you are probably being overcharged.
| Metro/bus ride, Silver nol cardAED 3 within 1 zone, 5 for 2 zones, 7.50 for more; Red ticket AED 4 / 6 / 8.50; Gold class double. | 3-7.50 AED |
|---|---|
| nol Silver cardIncludes AED 19 credit; paper Red ticket costs AED 2. | 25 AED |
| 7-day unlimited pass (Silver, all zones)AED 50 one zone, AED 80 two zones. | 110 AED |
| Dubai Tram rideFlat fare; AED 4 on a Red ticket (Wikipedia, date not stated). | 3 AED |
| Traditional abra across the CreekCash; heritage petrol abras on CR3-CR6 cost AED 2. | 1 AED |
| Water taxi hop in Dubai MarinaPer stop; AED 7-21 for the full BM1 route. | 7 AED |
| Taxi minimum fareAED 13 when booked by app; waiting 50 fils/min; +AED 20 if the route passes through Sharjah. | 12 AED |
| Intercity bus Dubai - Abu DhabiE100/E101 or the Al Quoz - MBZ City non-stop bus. | 25 AED |
| Etihad Rail Dubai - Abu DhabiComfort from AED 39, Premium from AED 109 (from 30 Sep 2026). | 39+ AED |
| Hatta Express bus (H02)From The Dubai Mall bus station; H04 loop in Hatta AED 2 per stop. | 25 AED |
Tickets
Official prices and the only places to buy. Anyone else selling on the street is a reseller.
- Jumeirah Mosque
AED 35 per person (Feb 2026)
Buy at: On site; register before the tour (jumeirahmosque.ae)
not verified
- Museum of the Future
From AED 149 (Aug 2025)
Buy at: museumofthefuture.ae
not verified
- Dubai Frame
From AED 50 (Aug 2025)
Buy at: dubaiframe.ae
not verified
Traps
- TipTake airport taxis from the queue
At DXB follow the taxi sign to the official queue in arrivals and pay by meter, or book through an app (Careem, Uber, Bolt).
Source: rta.ae, whatson.ae - TipHaggle in the old souks, and bring cash
In the Gold Souk and the Old Souk prices are negotiable and vendors are eager; cards work in most of Dubai, but carry cash for the souks.
Source: whatson.ae, whatson.ae - Watch outWrong cabin, real fine
Silver-card holders who drift into the Gold Class cabin, or men in the women-and-children cabin, can be fined AED 100.
Source: whatson.ae, rta.ae
Money
- TipThe dirham is pegged to the US dollar
AED (Dh, Dhs) = 100 fils; USD 1 = AED 3.6725 at a fixed rate. Coins: AED 1, 50 and 25 fils; notes AED 5-1,000. Cards are widely accepted.
Source: u.ae, en.wikipedia.org, visitabudhabi.ae - TipTipping in Dubai: not verified
No Dubai-specific source on tipping could be opened. For reference, Abu Dhabi's tourism board says tipping is not expected but common, and some restaurants add a service charge (about 10%) and a tourism levy; check the bill.
Source: visitabudhabi.ae - RuleTransport is cashless
RTA says cash is not accepted on its public transport: buy a nol card. Abra stations are the exception (cash, nol or card).
Source: rta.ae, rta.ae
Transport
- TipBuy a nol card first
Silver card AED 25 with AED 19 credit, or a paper Red ticket for AED 2. Tap in and out on metro, tram and bus; keep at least AED 7.50 on the card.
Source: rta.ae, rta.ae - RuleKnow the cabins
Each metro train has a Gold Class cabin (Gold card, double fare), women-and-children cabins and general cabins.
Source: rta.ae, whatson.ae - Watch outNo food, drink or gum on the metro
Eating or drinking is an AED 100 fine, carrying alcohol AED 500.
Source: rta.ae, whatson.ae - TipCross the Creek by abra
Traditional abras still shuttle between Bur Dubai and the Deira souks for AED 1.
Source: rta.ae, whatson.ae - TipNew: the train to Abu Dhabi
From 30 Sep 2026 Etihad Rail runs Al Yalayis (Jumeirah Golf Estates) - Abu Dhabi in 1 h 4 min, from AED 39.
Source: whatson.ae - TipStation names change
Stations sell naming rights: Onpassive is becoming Garmin (Sep-Nov 2026); in 2025 Jebel Ali became National Paints and UAE Exchange became Life Pharmacy.
Source: whatson.ae
Etiquette
- RuleDress modestly in public
Abu Dhabi's tourism board says short or tight clothing is legal but draws unwelcome attention, malls and resorts are relaxed, and shoulders and legs should be covered in government offices; dress more conservatively during Ramadan. Take a layer: air conditioning is strong.
Source: visitabudhabi.ae, whatson.ae - RuleMosque dress code
To visit Jumeirah Mosque, adults wear modest clothing and women cover their hair; non-Muslims enter only on the guided tour.
Source: en.wikipedia.org, whatson.ae - RuleNo public displays of affection
Overt displays of affection in public, especially in malls, restaurants and on public transport, break UAE decency rules and can bring a heavy fine or even jail (What's On, 2025). Guides repeat the point for Ramadan.
Source: whatson.ae, whatson.ae - RuleAsk before photographing people
Filming or photographing people without consent can be prosecuted under UAE privacy law, with fines reported at AED 150,000-500,000 (What's On, May 2026). Photographing government buildings, military sites, palaces, ports and airports is also off limits, and cameras may be banned in women-and-children-only areas.
Source: whatson.ae, whatson.ae, visitabudhabi.ae - RuleRamadan: don't eat, drink or smoke in public by day
Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. Non-Muslims do not fast, but must not eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight; What's On (Feb 2026) says this includes malls and public transport. Restaurants and mall food courts provide designated dining areas, though some close or shorten hours by day (u.ae, 2026); older Visit Abu Dhabi guidance says many outlets offer only takeaway until sunset. Cities come alive after sunset. Dress more modestly, keep music low, and expect later opening hours.
Source: u.ae, whatson.ae, whatson.ae - TipWeekend is Saturday-Sunday; Friday is prayer day
Since 1 January 2022 the UAE's official weekend is Saturday and Sunday; federal offices work only until 12:00 on Friday. Friday is the Islamic holy day, so mosque visits and some opening hours change around the midday prayer.
Source: u.ae, en.wikipedia.org, visitabudhabi.ae
Food
- RuleAlcohol: licensed venues, 21+
You must be 21 or over and non-Muslim to drink. Since Nov 2020 drinking without a licence is no longer a crime, but you need a licence to buy from liquor shops: tourists get a free 30-day licence at an African + Eastern or MMI store with their passport and entry stamp (What's On, Jan 2023). No alcohol on public transport.
Source: whatson.ae, rta.ae - TipIftar after sunset
In Ramadan the fast is broken at sunset (iftar), traditionally with dates; free iftar meals are served in tents near mosques. Book restaurants for iftar early.
Source: u.ae, whatson.ae - TipShawarma and karak
Roadside shawarma and a cup of karak tea are a Dubai rite of passage in Old Dubai.
Source: whatson.ae
Safety
- TipEmergency numbers
999 police, 998 ambulance, 997 fire; Dubai Police Al Ameen 800 4444.
Source: u.ae - Watch outDon't share photos of accidents
Posting images of traffic or aviation accidents is illegal in the UAE; so is photographing planes and restricted sites.
Source: whatson.ae - Watch outWatch what you type
Swearing or insulting someone in messages or on social media is a crime under UAE cyber-crime law (What's On, 2017).
Source: whatson.ae - Watch outJaywalking fines
Crossing roads with 80 km/h or higher speed limits away from crossings can bring an AED 10,000 fine (2025 law).
Source: whatson.ae
Free
- TipAED 1 abra ride
The cheapest boat trip in town: a five-minute Creek crossing on a traditional abra.
Source: rta.ae, whatson.ae - TipMetro sightseeing for AED 7.50
A Silver-card metro ride of more than two zones costs AED 7.50: ride the Red Line along Sheikh Zayed Road to Downtown and the Marina.
Source: rta.ae - TipUnder-5s ride free
Children five and under travel free on RTA transport.
Source: rta.ae
Fun
- FunOpened at 9:09 on 9/9/09
The Dubai Metro's Red Line opened at 9:09pm on 9 September 2009; the Blue Line is due on 9 September 2029 and the Gold Line on 9 September 2032.
Source: whatson.ae - FunHeritage stations
Al Ras and Al Ghubaiba, the two old-town stations on either side of the Creek, have designs inspired by traditional Middle Eastern architecture.
Source: en.wikipedia.org - FunAbra means 'to cross'
The name comes from the Arabic verb 'abara', to cross.
Source: rta.ae - FunThe Ramadan cannon
A cannon (Midfa Al Iftar) is fired at sunset to mark the end of each day's fast and can be heard 8-10 km away.
Source: u.ae
When to go
- TipBest season: November to April
Dubai's winter runs roughly from late October to mid-April, with January highs around 22-24 C; summer runs from late April to early October.
Source: en.wikipedia.org, visitabudhabi.ae - Watch outSummer heat is extreme
July and August are the hottest months; in July 2026 forecasts reached 49 C inland and 40-46 C on the coast, with high humidity in August.
Source: whatson.ae, en.wikipedia.org - TipCooling from mid-October
Average highs fall from about 39 C in late September to about 31 C in early November and about 25 C by late December (Emirates Astronomy Society, Sep 2026).
Source: whatson.ae - TipRamadan 2027
Expected to begin around 8 February 2027, Eid Al Fitr around 10 March (moon sighting decides). Metro keeps its normal hours; live music pauses.
Source: whatson.ae, whatson.ae - TipNational Day
Eid Al Etihad (UAE National Day) is a public holiday on 2 and 3 December.
Source: u.ae, whatson.ae - TipUAE time is UTC+4 all year
No daylight saving time; at noon in the UAE it is 08:00 in London (winter).
Source: u.ae, en.wikipedia.org, visitabudhabi.ae
Words
- TipRamadan Kareem
'Blessed Ramadan', the Ramadan greeting (also Ramadan Mubarak).
Source: u.ae, whatson.ae - TipEid Mubarak
'Blessed Eid', used at the end of Ramadan.
Source: whatson.ae - TipIftar / Suhoor
Iftar is the sunset meal breaking the fast; suhoor the meal before dawn.
Source: u.ae, whatson.ae - TipAbra
The Creek's water taxi, from 'abara', to cross.
Source: rta.ae
Checked September 2026. Every item links to where it came from.