Getting around Al Ain, the fourth largest city in United Arab Emirates, is not something to worry about as there are plenty of available mode of transport to choose from.
1. Private car/ car rental
The best and cheapest way to go around the city, of course, is by car. Especially if you have a driver’s license or a UAE accepted international license, renting a car is your best bet in navigating through the city perimeter. Not only will you save cost, you will also get the convenience of touring the city at your own pace and your own selection of places. If you don't have license, some car rental companies can arrange a driver for you. Prices starts at around $20 per day (excluding driver and fuel) depending on the car model and manufacturer. There are a lot of car rental shops in Al Ain, so don’t worry about not finding a rental service near you. A simple Google search will yield plenty of results.
2. Taxi
There's an abundance of taxis in Al Ain available 24/7. If you can’t find a taxi nearby, you can book through the hotline 600-535353 or online using the Abu Dhabi Taxi app. Flagdown rate is about $1 and cost about half a dollar per kilometer. The minimum fare, though, is Dhs 12 (~$3.50) regardless of the distance traveled. Choose taxi if you have fewer destinations or places to visit.
3. Bus
Taking a bus is an inexpensive way to get to certain destinations. Fare is Dhs 2 or Dhs 3 depending on the route but routes are limited and there is a 20-30 minutes interval. It’s not recommended to take a bus especially during summer, unless your destination is along the route and there’s a bus stop nearby. Otherwise you may need to walk a considerable distance, which is not a good idea to do during summer. But if you really need to take the bus, download Department of Transport’s Darb App. It will show you the locations of bus stops and more importantly the departure times of buses passing through that bus stop in real time. And if you plan to frequently use the bus, you might as well get a Hafilat card for convenient payment.
Things to remember:
- Yield to pedestrians and respect right of way. Cross at designated pedestrian lanes. Familiarize and follow traffic rules and regulations as fines could be steep on some offences.
- Ladies are advised to ride in the back seat of the taxi, or in a public bus, on designated ladies seats which are located on the front rows.
Hope this article helped you. Welcome to Al Ain and hoping you have a wonderful time!
