A Dubai taxi fare starts at AED 5 when you hail a cab on the street between 6am and 10pm, and AED 5.50 at night. Every trip then adds a per-kilometre charge, and the total can never be less than the AED 12 minimum fare. Booking through an app costs more to start (AED 9 to AED 13) and has an AED 13 minimum, while taxis from Dubai airports start at AED 20.
Quick answer: Street hail AED 5 (day) or AED 5.50 (night) + the per-km rate + 50 fils per waiting minute + any Salik gates. Minimum fare AED 12 on the street and AED 13 by app. Airport taxis start at AED 20 (AED 25 for a van). Leaving Dubai for Sharjah adds AED 20.
These figures come from the Dubai Taxi Company (DTC) fare tables, checked in October 2026. The per-km rate moves every month with UAE fuel prices, so treat it as the one number most likely to have changed when you ride.
Dubai taxi fare table for 2026
Charge | Street hail | App booking (Bolt, S’hail, Careem) | From an airport |
Starting fare (flag fall) | AED 5 (6am to 10pm), AED 5.50 (10pm to 6am) | AED 9 to AED 13, by time slot | AED 20 regular, AED 25 van |
Per kilometre | AED 2.45 listed | AED 2.45 listed | AED 2.62 listed |
Minimum fare | AED 12 | AED 13 | Covered by the AED 20 start |
Waiting time | 50 fils a minute | 50 fils a minute | 50 fils a minute |
Salik toll gate | Added per gate | Added per gate | Added per gate |
Trip into Sharjah | + AED 20 | + AED 20 | + AED 20 |
A note on the per-km figure. DTC’s regular taxi page listed AED 2.45 when we checked, but its Families and Ladies Taxi page still showed AED 2.19 for the same meter. RTA links this rate to the monthly fuel price, so both pages cannot be current at once. The meter always charges the live rate.
What is the minimum taxi fare in Dubai?
The minimum taxi fare in Dubai is AED 12 for a cab you stop on the road and AED 13 for one booked through an app. If the meter shows AED 8 at the end of a short hop, you still pay the minimum.
This matters more than people expect. A 2 km ride from a metro station to a residential tower costs about AED 10 on the meter (AED 5 + 2 × AED 2.45), so the driver charges AED 12. For trips under 3 km, walking to the next metro station or using a feeder bus is often the cheaper move.
How Dubai taxi fares are calculated
Every metered fare is built from the same parts:
- Starting fare, which depends on how and where you got the taxi.
- Distance, charged at the per-km rate.
- Waiting time at 50 fils a minute when the car is stopped or crawling in traffic.
- Extras: Salik gates, the AED 20 Sharjah fee, the Port Rashid fee and Abu Dhabi’s Darb gates if your route crosses them.
If you want to work out a taxi fare calculator Dubai style by hand, the formula is:
Fare = starting fare + (km × per-km rate) + (waiting minutes × AED 0.50) + tolls and fees
Then compare the result with the minimum fare and pay whichever is higher.
App booking fees by time of day
Booking through Bolt, S’hail or Careem (the Hala taxi option) replaces the AED 5 street start with a time-based starting fare. DTC publishes these slots:
Day | AED 9 | AED 13 (peak) | AED 10 (night) |
Monday to Thursday | 6am–8am, 10am–4pm, 8pm–10pm | 8am–10am, 4pm–8pm | 10pm–6am |
Friday | 6am–8am, 10am–4pm | 8am–10am, 4pm–midnight | Midnight–6am |
Saturday and Sunday | 6am–4pm | 4pm–midnight | Midnight–6am |
So an app booking costs AED 4 to AED 8 more than flagging the same taxi on the street. Our view: if you are standing on a main road with taxis passing, hail one. Book through an app when you are inside a residential community, in a mall basement, late at night or with luggage, because the extra AED 4 to AED 8 buys a pickup at your door.
Airport taxi Dubai price
Taxis waiting at Dubai International (Terminals 1, 2 and 3) and Al Maktoum International (DWC) are airport taxis with their own tariff. The airport taxi Dubai price starts at AED 20 for a regular car and AED 25 for a van, with a higher per-km rate of AED 2.62 listed by DTC. Port Rashid, the cruise terminal, starts at AED 25.
Older guides still quote AED 25 for every airport taxi. That was the earlier rate. DTC now lists AED 20 for a normal car.
For door-to-door costs from DXB to Downtown, Marina and other areas, plus when the metro is the better deal, see our Dubai airport to city guide.
Night, peak and event charges
Night pricing is mild in Dubai. The street-hail start rises by just 50 fils after 10pm. The bigger jump comes with app bookings during peak slots (AED 13 start) and at events.
DTC warns that fares can change during peak hours, at event locations and on New Year’s Eve. In past years RTA has raised the starting fare to AED 20 around fireworks sites and big venues. If you are leaving a concert or Global Village at closing time, expect the first AED 20 to go before the car moves.
Real trip costs worked out
We worked these out from DTC’s listed rates, in light traffic, with no Salik gate. Real fares will be a few dirhams higher once waiting time and tolls are added.
Trip | Distance | How you got the taxi | Estimated fare |
Short hop | 2 km | Street, daytime | AED 12 (minimum applies) |
Across a neighbourhood | 5 km | Street, daytime | about AED 17 |
Medium trip | 10 km | Street, daytime | about AED 30 |
Same trip, peak booking | 10 km | App, 5pm weekday | about AED 38 |
Long cross-city trip | 20 km | Street, night | about AED 55 |
DXB to Downtown | about 15 km | Airport rank | about AED 60 |
The peak-booking row shows the real cost of convenience: the same 10 km ride is about AED 8 dearer by app at 5pm than by hail at noon.
What commonly goes wrong with Dubai taxi fares
- Getting into an unlicensed car. RTA has warned residents not to use illegal taxis, with fines that can reach AED 5,000. Licensed taxis are beige with a coloured roof; app rides show the plate and driver name.
- Forgetting the Sharjah fee. The AED 20 charge applies when your trip passes into Sharjah, and drivers add it at the end. Many riders think it is a scam. It is not.
- Expecting a fixed price on long trips. Taxis to Abu Dhabi run the meter, and the total climbs quickly. Our Dubai to Abu Dhabi travel options guide compares the bus and train.
- Not keeping the receipt. Lost items and fare complaints need the trip date, time, taxi number and fare. Ask for a printed or app receipt every time.
Drivers cannot restart the meter for extra stops. DTC’s rules say friends or family can share one taxi to several drop-offs on one fare.
Payment, booking and complaints
You can pay by cash, bank card, nol card, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay or an app wallet. To book, use the Bolt app (DTC’s red-roof fleet), RTA’s S’hail app or Careem, or call DTC on 800 88088. Complaints and lost items go to the RTA call centre on 800 9090.
Comparing taxis with ride-hailing? Our Careem vs Uber vs Dubai Taxi guide shows when each one is cheaper. Women and families can also book the pink-roof service, covered in our pink taxi Dubai guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a taxi per km in Dubai?
DTC listed AED 2.45 per kilometre for regular taxis in October 2026 and AED 2.62 for airport taxis. RTA changes the per-km rate each month in line with UAE fuel prices, so the figure can move a few fils up or down. The meter always applies the rate in force on the day you ride.
Are Dubai taxis more expensive at night?
Only slightly. A street-hail taxi starts at AED 5.50 between 10pm and 6am instead of AED 5, and the per-km rate stays the same. App bookings between 10pm and 6am start at AED 10. Event nights such as New Year’s Eve can carry much higher starting fares near busy venues.
Do Dubai taxis take card payment?
Yes. Dubai taxis accept cash, credit and debit cards, nol cards, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and QR payments, according to DTC. If you booked through an app, you can also pay from the app wallet. Carry some cash for the minimum fare anyway, in case a card reader is not working.
How much is a taxi from Dubai to Sharjah?
You pay the meter fare plus a fixed AED 20 fee for entering Sharjah, and any Salik gates. A 15 km daytime street-hail trip works out near AED 62 on DTC’s listed rates. Border-road traffic at rush hour adds waiting time on top, so the bus or ferry is much cheaper.
Can I negotiate a taxi fare in Dubai?
No. RTA taxis are metered and drivers must charge what the meter shows, plus listed extras like Salik and the Sharjah fee. If a driver quotes a flat price for a city trip, ask for the meter. For long intercity trips, private transfers sell fixed prices, but those are not RTA taxis.
What is the cheapest way to take a taxi in Dubai?
Hail a taxi on the street outside peak hours. You pay the AED 5 start instead of AED 9 to AED 13 by app, and the AED 12 minimum instead of AED 13. Sharing one taxi with friends to several drop-offs on a single fare also cuts the cost per person.
Planning your next Dubai taxi fare
Use the street-hail start of AED 5, add about AED 2.50 per kilometre, then check you are above the AED 12 minimum. Add AED 20 for Sharjah, a few dirhams for Salik and AED 4 to AED 8 if you book by app at peak time. Rates move monthly, so confirm on the Dubai Taxi Company fare page before a long or expensive ride, and check RTA’s taxi services for any official changes.
Taxis are only one part of getting around. Our Dubai public transport guide brings the metro, buses, abras and taxis together, and you can browse more Dubai travel guides or go back to the Live In Gulf homepage.
Fares checked against Dubai Taxi Company tables on 14 October 2026. RTA can change fares without notice; the taxi meter is final.
