Taxi in the UAE is the most attractive and popular form of transport. Moreover, here taxis are considered one of the safest ways to travel, therefore they are very popular.
Public transport here is not yet developed to the extent that one can confidently tell tourists about the possibility of getting to any destination. Nobody here wants to wait for a bus that goes in only one direction, that's why they use a taxi. You won't find bus stops here either, but you can catch a taxi car anywhere you go.
What types of taxis are there
Here, as elsewhere, there are drivers who work for entrepreneurs, and there are those who are engaged in private transport. As a rule, companies are state or municipal, so they are not entirely private entrepreneurs.
There are a lot of taxi companies in the country and each organization owns its own fleet, which differs in the color of the cars and other external features. Every car has a meter, and the drivers are dressed in uniforms. Such companies have a much higher car service than private traders, however, the fare is also higher.
Language problems
The most important thing that you need when ordering a taxi is the correct explanation of the destination. The drivers here do not speak Russian, and if you have doubts that the driver misunderstood the route, it is better to take another car. There is no need to spoil the driver with tea.
If you suddenly decide to hire a private owner, be sure to negotiate a price before the car starts to move. Moreover, here the service may be frankly not pleasing: if the companies monitor the condition of the cars, then at the private cab driver you can see dirt, lack of air conditioning.
The cost of travel
The cost for one kilometer of the way to the UAE is 1.25 dirhams. Additionally, you will need to pay for the landing. If it is a day, then an additional markup is 3 dirhams, and if it is a night, then 3, 5 dirhams. If you look at the average, then a short distance trip will average about 15-25 dirhams. That is, it will amount to 4-7 dollars.
It is worth remembering that the cost for the services of a taxi driver will depend not only on how much distance he will have to cover, but also what traffic jams will be on your way.
The trip from the airport is much more expensive. Here, just boarding costs 20 dirhams. In each area, you can only be served by a company that works here, that is, if a Dubai company brought you to Sharjah, then only a company from Sharjah can take you back.
There is a female taxi for female tourists. It serves only the fair sex, and also works with families with children. There are also luxury cars in the parks. These taxis are driven by drivers who can boast of an impeccable reputation. The price just for landing at such a taxi is 50 dirhams. If there is no cash, you can pay by credit card.