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GETTING AROUND
General information
Transport
Finding your way around
Guided tours

TRANSPORT

CAR HIRE

Most of the large car hire firms are represented at airports and hotels. Some local firms also operate car hire services. Rates can vary so it is best to shop around. The services of the larger reputable firms can be very useful in case of emergency, but the smaller local firms also give good deals. Telephone numbers for local agencies can be found in the Yellow Pages.

Abu Dhabi
Avis (02 6218400) The main office is on the corner of Al Nasr St. and Khalid bin Al Waleed St. (near the British Embassy). Avis have branch offices at the airport (02 5757180) and the major hotels.
Budget (02 6334200, fax 6331498) Al Nasr St and the airport.
Thrifty ( 02 6345 663, fax 6340234) Al Nasr St., the airport and the Radisson SAS.

Dubai
Avis Dubai International Airport (04 2245219, fax 2244150) 24-hour service; main office (04 2957121) Clock Tower Roundabout, Al Maktoum Rd., Deira.

Europcar (04 3394433) Inter-Continental, Hilton, Hyatt Regency and Al Bustan Rotana hotels

Hertz (04 2824422) Al Maktoum Rd.

Sharjah
Avis King Faisal Rd. (06 5595925). Avis at Sharjah International Airport (06 5581075)

Ra’s al-Khaimah
Major hotels have rental car services. Local agencies can be found on Oman St.. in Al-Nakheel.
Al-Nakheel (07 2288183)

Ajman
Avis can be contacted at Ajman Kempinski Hotel (06 7448616)

Fujairah
Dubai Renat-A-Car/Europcar (09 2221318) opposite the Hilton Hotel
Diamond Rent-A-Car (09 2241321) adjacent to Ritz Plaza Hotel
Autobahn (09 2232226) adjacent to Ritz Plaza Hotel
Avis is situated at Fujairah Hilton (09 2222021)

DRIVING

There is an extensive high quality road network throughout the Emirates and unleaded petrol is cheap. Driving is on the right.
The rules relating to driving licences differ from emirate to emirate. However, once you have been issued with a temporary driving permit from one emirate you can drive throughout the UAE.

If you wish to hire a car in the UAE you will be issued with a UAE temporary driving permit by car hire companies on presentation of valid national or international driving licences (the latter is required in Abu Dhabi), two photographs and a passport.

Traffic regulations are strictly enforced. It is illegal to leave the scene of an accident without police permission. Under no circumstances can you drink and drive. Even a small amount of alcohol will put you over the legal limit. Seat belts are compulsory. Children under 12 are prohibited from travelling in front seats of vehicles.

>Contact The Arabian Automobile Association (800 4900; 04 2669989) www.cyberwebz.com/aaa for additional information.

Traffic regulations are strict, with radar and cameras in use by the police. In any case, you need to drive carefully. The speed limit in urban areas is 60– 80 kph and 100–120 kph for cars on the open road. Hired cars are equipped with an insistent alarm that is set off when the speed limit is exceeded. It is illegal to leave the scene of an accident without police permission, except in Dubai where it is not necessary to call the police if you have the correct forms and no one has been injured in the accident. Check with your hired car company for the requiredt procedure. Use of mobile phones while driving is prohibited. Under no circumstances can you drink and drive. Even a small amount of alchohol will put you over the legal limit. Seat belts are compulsory. Children under 12 are prohibited from travelling in front seats of vehicles.

Try to avoid traffic congestion in Dubai and Abu Dhabi between 7 a.m.–9 a.m., 1 p.m.–2 p.m. and from 6 p.m.–8 p.m.

The Arabian Automobile Association (04 2669989 www.cyberwebz.com/aaa) will provide more information.

Emergency breakdown service
Your best bet is to contact your car hire company. Arabian Automobile Association (800 4900 free phone no.) can also assist.

Parking
As in most major cities, parking in the city centres is restricted but it is generally possible to find parking in bays or in multi-storey car parks. All the new shopping malls have extensive multi-storey parking lots.
Dubai operates paid parking costing approximately Dh2 per hour. Tickets can be purchased from a machine in the car parks and must be displayed on windscreens. There is a four-hour limit. There are two centrally located covered car parks near the Spice Souq and Bani Yas Square in Deira.

Off-road
There are many kilometres of perfect road surfaces in the UAE, but it is always tempting to venture beyond the tarred surfaces. Most of the local tour companies organize off-road trips – probably the best way to explore if you are not familiar with off-road driving in desert conditions. Some tour operators also run courses in desert driving, a must if you are a novice.

In any case you will need to hire a 4wheel drive if you intend to travel independently off the beaten track. Please keep to the tracks to avoid damaging the desert. Make sure that you have a tow rope and shovel, as well as plenty of water. If you get stuck, let some air out of your tyres, clear the sand from in front of the wheels and replace with mats, cardboard or dead branches. Rev the car slowly and get your passengers to push. It is advisable to travel with at least one other vehicle and a GPS and or mobile phone is always handy.

UAE Off-Road Explorer published by Explorer Publishing has satellite maps, GPS waypoints, safety hints etc which should make your trip a safe one.

Distances from Abu Dhabi

ACCIDENT REPORTING

TAXIS

Taxis are readily available, offer an efficient, relatively inexpensive service and are really the best way to get around. They can be flagged down on the street, pre-booked by telephone or picked up outside your hotel. Taxi drivers are usually familiar with the main souqs, shopping centres, hotels and major landmarks. Most are metered in the major cities. The metered rate in Abu Dhabi is Dh2 plus 50 fils per km. Expect to pay Dh5 for average city-centre taxi journey. Prices in Al Ain are roughly the same. The more upmarket Al Ghazal taxis must be pre-booked or picked-up outside one of the five-star hotels.

In Dubai the metred day rate is Dh3 plus Dh1.17 per km. The night rate is Dh3.50 plus 1.70 per km. However, most of Dubai’s taxis do not have meters. In this case the minimum fare is Dh3. City-centre trips that do not cross the Creek generally cost Dh4–Dh5. If you cross the creek expect to pay Dh7 (Dh10–15). If your hotel is located outside the city, or you wish to take a taxi from your hotel to a destination outside the city, the concierge or doorman will give you an idea of average fares. But be aware of the expensive fixed-price taxis that operate from some of the larger hotels.

Taxis in Sharjah are not metered. Journeys in the city centre should cost Dh5–Dh10.

Taxis are plentiful in Ajman, a trip to Sharjah will cost you Dh10– Dh15 or you can travel to Dubai for Dh25.
Delta Taxi 06 5598598

In Ra’s al-Khaimah meters start running at Dh2. 50 for each kilometre for the first 10 kilometres, 75 fils for each kilometre for the next 10 kilometres, and Dh1 for each kilometre after that, 50 fils for each six minutes of waiting time.

(Taxis in Ra’s al-Khaimah are not metered. Fares within old Ra’s al-Khaimah or within Al-Nakheel are about Dh5.

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Long-distance taxis

Long-distance taxis can also be picked up near the main bus station in Abu Dhabi, close to where the minibuses are located. A taxi in which you are the sole occupant will cost approximately Dh150 to Al Ain, Dubai or Sharjah, whereas a shared taxi (5–7 people) will cost approximately Dh30 per person – luggage extra. The taxi leaves when it has sufficient passengers.

The taxi station in Al Ain is next to the bus station – prices are similar to Abu Dhabi.

There are two taxi stands in Sharjah. Taxis travelling to Umm al-Qaiwain and Ra’s al-Khaimah congregate on Al Arouba Rd. Taxis for Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain commence their journey next to the Plant Souq.

The long-distance taxi stand in Ra’s al-Khaimah is on King Faisal St. Shared taxis to Dubai and Sharjah will cost approximately Dh70, to Ajman or Umm al-Qaiwain Dh40 to Dh50.

BUSES

Intercity buses are available only within Abu Dhabi emirate. The main bus station is on East Rd. Buses to Oman depart from Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre (East Road on the corner of Zayed the Second St)

Although most tourists travel long-distance by taxi, buses are air-conditioned, clean and efficient. Minibuses (located beside the main bus station) with a seating capacity of 14 also travel to the same places as the large buses.

Buses travel from Al Ain to Abu Dhabi approximately once every hour from the bus station behind Al Ain souq. Tickets cost about Dh10.

Dubai Municipality (04 2859401) operates a reasonable public bus service, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Adult fares are Dh1–3.50 depending on destination and these are paid to the driver on boarding. Three types of bus pass are available. Smart Cards costing Dh20 cover Dh22 worth of transport and monthly passes (taufee) are available at a cost of Dh75 for journeys on one side of the creek, or Dh120 for unlimited travel within the whole city. Routes and bus numbers are posted in both Arabic and English. Passes, timetables and bus maps are available from the main bus stations at Bur Dubai on Al Ghubaiba Rd and in Deira near the Gold Souq.

Intercity buses only operate within Dubai emirate. Air-conditioned buses depart every hour for Hatta and twice a day for Muscat, Oman (5-6 hours). Interemirate travel is run by Dubai Transport minibuses, however you can only pick these up in Dubai. Telephone 04 2273840, for services to the Northern Emirates, or 04 3937014, for Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

There are no bus services in the other emirates.

WATER TAXIS

One of the nicest things to do in Dubai is to take a motorized water taxi or abra across the Creek. The main abra dock on the Deira side of the Creek is at the intersection of Al Sabkha and Bani Yas Roads. Bur Dubai dock is located at the end of the souq, near the waterfront houses. Abras depart when full, which doesn’t take long. Just hop on and the driver will take the fare of Dh1 as you cross.

You can also hire a private abra for a cruise along the creek. This will cost you approximately Dh35–Dh50 for 30 minutes.

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