What are your options if you don’t want to use public transport while in Dubai? Does Dubai have uber, or do you need to consider other alternatives?
That’s a great question, especially if it wouldn’t be quite convenient for you to use public transport. Besides, the convenience of using taxis is also indisputable.
One of the most known transport services in many parts of the world is Uber. What remains a mystery to many people is whether it is available in Dubai.
So, let’s solve this mystery once and for all.
Is There Uber in Dubai?
For so long, the only options besides public transport were renting a car or using a taxi. Over time, that has changed thanks to the emergence of taxi alternatives.
One of them is Uber which answers our main question. Yes, Dubai has uber hence possible to use it as a method of moving from one place to another as you explore this great UAE city.
It is a convenient way of moving from one tourist attraction to another. If you need to visit a particular office, it is also a reliable method of getting there.
Many tourists also use it to visit resorts, beaches, and restaurants. Uber also happens to help with traveling to the airport.
The bottom line is that it is available and versatile hence worth considering. However, how affordable is it, and are there alternatives?
What’s the Cost of Uber in Dubai
First, the amount of money you spend on Uber in Dubai depends on a few factors. One of them is the ride option you choose.
Regarding Uber, one has 3 options. There’s Select, equivalent to the popular Economy; Black, similar to Business; and UberXL, equal to Max.
The distance to your destination also makes a huge difference. There’s also the issue of time which explains why people going to and from the same place could spend different amounts of money regardless.
If you use Uber Select or Uber VIP, the cost per kilometer is AED 2.38. The rate is AED 0.2 per minute.
On the other hand, one pays AED 1.68 per kilometer when using Uber X. However, the rate per minute is similar to its other counterparts and thus stands at AED 0.2.
Are There Cheaper Uber Alternatives?
There are two great alternatives to Uber in Dubai. They include taxis and Careem, and we will deduce their prices to see whether they are cheaper or more expensive than Uber.
What’s the Cost of Taxis in Dubai?
Like in the case of Uber, the taxi option also has several ride choices. They include family taxis, limousines, and regular taxis.
The limousine category avails luxurious vehicles, including Lexus. The costs are as follows, depending on the type of your ride;
A regular taxi costs you a bus fare of 5.5. The minimum fare is AED 5, which applies from 6 am to 10 pm, whereas every additional kilometer costs you AED 1.97.
On the other hand, a limousine costs you a bus fare of 7.5. The minimum fare is AED 25, whereas every additional kilometer costs you AED 3.42
Lastly, a family taxi costs you a bus fare of 5.5 and applies from 6 am to 10 pm. The minimum fare is AED 25, whereas every additional kilometer costs you AED 1.97.
What’s the Cost of Careem in Dubai?
Having looked at the costs of taxis and uber, let’s focus on Uber now. If you use this option, expect the following costs.
The economy class charges a fee of AED 5.4, and the minimum fare is AED 15. The rate per kilometer is AED 2.72, and each minute costs you AED 0.65.
The business class charges a starting fee of AED 6, and the minimum fare is AED 18. The rate per kilometer is AED 2.9, and each minute costs you AED 0.9.
The max class charges a starting fee of AED 8, and the minimum fare is AED 20. The rate per kilometer is AED 3.67, and each minute costs you AED 0.9.
How Uber Compares to Taxi and Careem in Dubai
It turns out that Uber is the most expensive ride compared to its taxi and Careem counterparts. Let’s use a distance of up to 15 minutes from Bur Juman Mall, from Bur Dubai to Downtown Dubai at The Dubai Mall.
If you were to use the three methods and the three ride options, here are the average costs for each option.
As for the economy option, the taxi rates are around AED 25.9. Careem rates are between 32 to 39, whereas its uber counterpart charges from AED 42 to 43.
Regarding the business option, the taxi rates are around AED 53. Careem rates are between 34 to 42, whereas its uber counterpart charges AED.46.19
Lastly, there’s the max or family, and the taxi rates are around AED 42. Careem rates are between 42 to 43, whereas its uber counterpart charges from AED 54 to 55.
Factors Affecting the Cost of Uber and its Alternatives in Dubai
We have highlighted some reasons why uber cost differs from passenger to passenger. Here’s a detailed discussion of the factors responsible for the difference;
- Booking fee:If you book an uber ride in advance, you will incur this cost. Doing so may require you to use the uber app or call its help center
- Waiting charges:If you keep your uber driver waiting for minutes, expect the delay to cost you some bucks. However, it only applies if the waiting period exceeds 5 minutes
- Distance:Uber has a rate per kilometer which means that the longer the distance traveled, the more the cost, and vice versa
- Stops:Its rate is calculated per minute, and you will incur it if there is a stop. Whereas some stops are voluntary, others, such as those associated with traffic jams and lights, aren’t, but the cost applies regardless.
- Minimum Fare:Uber has also set a lower limit on the amount you can pay for a journey regardless of the distance covered and the time spent. So, you must pay that amount despite not exceeding it.
- Base fare or starting fee:Interestingly, the cost you pay for a uber doesn’t start at 0. The point at which it starts mostly depends on the time of the day.
Equally important, one can’t overlook the roles that various surcharges such as peak rates, charges, and Value Added Tax (VAT) play in determining uber cost.
