7 min read
We rent cars for a living, so here is the answer you might not expect: if you are staying a few days near the Red Line and mostly visiting malls and landmarks, renting a car in Dubai is probably not worth it. A metro trip costs AED 7.50 at most on a Silver card. A car starts to make sense when you are a family or a group, when you plan day trips, or when your days cross the city several times.
What does the Dubai Metro cost, and where does it go?
The metro is the cheapest way to move, and the RTA publishes its fares by zone. These are the figures shown when we checked on 3 November 2026.
| Journey | Silver nol card | Red ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Within 1 zone | AED 3 | AED 4 |
| 2 adjacent zones | AED 5 | AED 6 |
| More than 2 zones | AED 7.50 | AED 8.50 |
Children aged five and under ride free. Gulf News reported in March 2025 that a Silver card costs AED 25, including AED 19 of credit. It also listed hours of 5am to midnight from Monday to Thursday and on Saturday, 5am to 1am on Friday, and 8am to midnight on Sunday. Check the RTA app before a late or early trip, especially around holidays.
The network has two lines and 55 stations, and the Red Line serves Airport Terminals 1 and 3. That covers Downtown, the Marina side of Sheikh Zayed Road and a lot of the places visitors go. It does not reach Hatta or Al Qudra, and you may still need a taxi for the last stretch in the summer heat, or with children and shopping bags.
How much are taxis in Dubai?
The RTA's taxi page lists these starting fares:
- Street pick-up: AED 5 from 6am to 10pm, AED 5.50 from 10pm to 6am.
- Booked through an authorised app: AED 9 to AED 13, depending on the day and time.
- From Dubai's airports: AED 20, or AED 25 for a van.
Salik tolls are billed to the passenger on top. The RTA page does not state the rate per kilometre, and it tells you to ask. Guides such as Bayut put it at around AED 2.19 per km, and they give a minimum fare of about AED 12 on the street.
As a rough sum of our own, not a quote, a 25 km daytime trip hailed on the street comes to about AED 60 plus tolls: AED 5 to start and about AED 55 for the distance. Do that there and back each day, and you have about AED 120 a day for one return trip, before any evening plans. A large group needs a van or two taxis, which changes that sum quickly.
What does a rental car really add to your costs?
The rental rate is only part of the bill. Budget for these as well:
- Salik. Gulf News reported on 1 June 2026, after 5% VAT was added, that gates charge AED 6.30 at peak (6am to 10am and 4pm to 8pm, Monday to Saturday) and AED 4.20 at other times, with no charge from 1am to 6am. Sundays are a flat AED 4.20.
- Parking. The same report lists AED 6.30 an hour for premium spaces at peak and AED 4.20 for standard ones, with lower zones below that. Public parking is free from 10pm to 8am and on Sundays and public holidays.
- Fuel. Economical cars use little, and a V8 or V12 will use a lot more on a long drive.
- Fines. Speed cameras are everywhere, and any fine during your rental is charged to you. Our guide to Salik tolls and traffic fines explains how that works.
- Hotel parking. Ask your hotel, as it varies.
Car, taxi or metro: which one fits your trip?
| Your trip | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Couple, 3 to 4 days near the Red Line | Metro and taxis | Low cost, and no parking to deal with |
| Beach resort, with few trips out | Taxis, or a car for one or two days | A car would sit parked most of the week |
| Family with children, a week or more | Rental car | Door to door, with bags and car seats kept in one place |
| Day trips to Hatta, Abu Dhabi or Jebel Jais | Rental car | Metro does not go there, and a taxi meter runs for hours |
| Several meetings a day across the city | Car or chauffeur | No waiting, and a driver can wait for you |
| A big night out | Taxi or chauffeur | Nobody has to drive home |
| You came to drive a supercar | Rental, for a day or a weekend | Nothing else does this |
You do not have to choose only one. A sensible pattern is the metro for the first days, then a car for two or three days when the plan turns to Hatta, Abu Dhabi or the coast. Our guide to renting as a tourist covers the documents you will need.
Is renting a car in Dubai expensive?
It depends entirely on the car. Dubai's rental market runs from small everyday models to Ferraris, and the gap between them is very large. What moves your rate is the model, the length of the rental, the season and any distance allowance. Compare the total you are quoted, including running costs, with what you would spend on taxis for the same plan. If the taxis come close, the car wins, because you also get the freedom.
Be wary of very low headline prices. Ask what the deposit or card hold is, what insurance is included and how many kilometres you get. At MTN, comprehensive insurance is standard, delivery in Dubai is free, and a second driver costs nothing.
If you decide to rent, which car?
- Getting around, keeping it simple: Kia K5, Kia Seltos or BMW 520i.
- Family and luggage: Volkswagen Touareg, Range Rover Sport or the seven-seat Cadillac Escalade.
- Winter holiday, roof down: Mercedes-Benz CLE 200 Cabriolet or BMW 420i Convertible.
- One unforgettable day: Lamborghini Huracán, Ferrari F8 Tributo or McLaren 750S Spider, with the rest of the trip on the metro.
Those options are all in our fleet catalogue. Send us your dates and rough plan on WhatsApp, and we will confirm the price and tell you if a car does not make sense for your trip.
