Skip to main content
CalculateTaxiFare

Dubai · AE · verified Apr 18, 2026

Taxi Fare in Dubai

Real OpenStreetMap routing meets the official Roads and Transport Authority Dubai (RTA) — Taxi tariff. See the base fare, every surcharge and a min–median–max range so you know what to expect on the meter.

Base fare
AED 5.00
Per km
AED 1.96
Per minute
AED 0.50
Currency
AED

01Definition

What is a taxi fare in Dubai?

A taxi fare in Dubai is the metered price of a regulated for-hire car ride within the city limits. Dubai taxi rates are set by Roads and Transport Authority Dubai (RTA) — Taxi and combine three components: a base fare of AED 5.00 (the amount on the meter when the trip begins), a distance rate of AED 1.96 per km, and a slow-traffic rate of AED 0.50 per minute that applies when the cab is stopped or moving slowly. Surcharges, taxes and tip can shift the final amount by another 10–30%.

02Attributes

Dubai taxi tariff at a glance

Below is the live Dubai taxi tariff exactly as published by Roads and Transport Authority Dubai (RTA) — Taxi. Every figure is dated; the most recent verification was on 2026-04-18. Use the calculator above to apply these numbers to your specific trip.

Dubai taxi tariff attributes
Base fare
AED 5.00
On the meter when the ride begins
Per-km rate
AED 1.96 / km
Charged for distance travelled
Per-minute rate
AED 0.50 / min
Slow-traffic switch speed: 17 km/h
Minimum fare
AED 12.00
Floor that the meter cannot fall below
Currency
AED
Distance unit
km
Timezone
Asia/Dubai
Vehicle classes
1
standard

03Calculator

Calculate your fare in Dubai

Type any pickup and destination inside Dubai. We pull the real OpenStreetMap distance and apply the tariff above.

Calculate a fare in Dubai

Local addresses, the Dubai tariff applied automatically.

05Airport routes

Dubai airport ↔ city centre

Airport ↔ city-centre rides are the most predictable taxi trips in Dubai because their distance is fixed. Where the regulator imposes a flat fare, the meter is bypassed and the price is locked. Otherwise the standard tariff applies and the estimate below reflects realistic departure-hall waiting plus the metered ride.

06Vehicle classes

Dubai vehicle classes and rates

Dubai licenses 1 vehicle class (standard). Larger vehicles command higher base or per-km rates because their fuel and licensing costs are higher. Ride-sharing apps also offer parallel categories (UberXL, Lyft XL) that compete with the licensed taxi minivan tier.

Vehicle classes and rates in Dubai
Vehicle classBasePer kmPer minMin fare
Standard sedan
Dubai RTA Public Transport Agency. AED 5 base (street), AED 1.96/km.
AED 5.00AED 1.96AED 0.50AED 12.00

07Surcharges & taxes

Every extra charge on a Dubai taxi fare

On top of the base meter, Dubai taxi fares can include a night surcharge. Every charge below is reproduced verbatim from Roads and Transport Authority Dubai (RTA) — Taxi, with the trigger condition (time, day, equipment) shown alongside.

Surcharges, taxes and fees on Dubai taxi fares
ChargeWhen it appliesAmountCategory
Night surcharge22:00 → 06:00, every dayAED 0.50Surcharge
Flat fare DXB ↔ DOWNTOWNRegulator-imposed, bypasses the meterAED 80.00Flat fare

08Tipping

Tipping etiquette in Dubai

Tipping is not customary for taxis in Dubai. A small round-up to the nearest convenient amount is appreciated for good service but never obligatory.

09Side by side

Taxi vs Uber vs Lyft in Dubai

Rideshare apps (Uber, Lyft and local equivalents) compete with metered taxis in Dubai on price, but their tariffs swing with surge multipliers. A taxi’s price is fixed by the meter and the regulator — there is no surge. For routine rides our data typically shows rideshare 10–25% cheaper than taxi outside surge windows, and 20–60% more expensive at peak. Airport routes are the exception: many cities (including Dubai where applicable) cap airport ↔ centre as a flat fare that beats both.

Reference ride: a 8 km / 15-minute trip in Dubai. Numbers below combine the live tariff (taxi) and crowdsourced per-city rate sheets (rideshare). Apps surge in real time, so we surface min · median · max.

Taxi vs Uber vs Lyft fare comparison in Dubai
ServiceProductMedianRange
Metered taxiStandard cabAED 23.06AED 21.18AED 29.53
UberUberXAED 28.10AED 26.70AED 44.96
CareemCareem GOAED 28.10AED 26.70AED 44.96

10FAQ

Dubai taxi fare — frequently asked questions

How much is a taxi in Dubai?
Dubai taxis charge a AED 5.00 base fare plus AED 1.96 per km of distance and AED 0.50 per minute of slow-traffic time. A typical 8-km ride costs roughly AED 22.18 excluding surcharges and tip.
What is the base fare for a Dubai taxi?
The drop charge — the amount on the meter when your ride begins — is AED 5.00. This is set by Roads and Transport Authority Dubai (RTA) — Taxi and is identical for every licensed cab in the city.
Are Dubai taxi fares metered or negotiated?
Dubai taxis are metered. The regulator requires drivers to use the meter on every trip; negotiating off-meter is generally illegal and unwise. Flat fares apply only on a small list of pre-approved airport routes (see the airport routes section above).
Do I tip taxi drivers in Dubai?
Tipping is not customary for taxis in Dubai. A small round-up to the nearest convenient amount is appreciated for good service but never obligatory.
How do night and weekend rates work in Dubai?
A night surcharge of AED 0.50 applies between 22:00 and 06:00 every day, including weekends.
Is Uber cheaper than a taxi in Dubai?
In free-flow conditions, Uber and Lyft are usually 10–25% cheaper than Dubai taxis. During peak demand, surge pricing can push rideshare 20–60% above the metered taxi fare. For airport runs, regulated taxi flat fares often beat both. Use the rideshare comparison above to see today's typical numbers.
Can I trust the calculator above?
Yes. We compute distance and duration from real OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM) and apply the published Dubai tariff straight from Roads and Transport Authority Dubai (RTA) — Taxi. We always show a min–median–max range so you see how traffic affects the final price.
How long does a 8-km taxi ride take in Dubai?
In free-flow traffic, a 8-km ride in Dubai takes roughly 13 minutes on average city streets. Heavy traffic can double that, which is why our maximum estimate uses a 60% slow-time assumption.
Are credit cards accepted in Dubai taxis?
Card acceptance varies by operator. Many regulated taxis in Dubai accept major credit and debit cards; always carry cash as a backup, particularly for short journeys. Confirm with your driver before starting the trip, and contact Roads and Transport Authority Dubai (RTA) — Taxi for the current official requirement.
Where do I find the official Dubai taxi rates?
The authoritative rate sheet is published by Roads and Transport Authority Dubai (RTA) — Taxi at https://www.rta.ae/wps/portal/rta/ae/public-transport/taxi (last verified 2026-04-18). Every figure on this page is reproduced from that source.
Is there a flat airport taxi fare in Dubai?
Yes. The route DXB ↔ DOWNTOWN has a regulator-mandated flat fare of AED 80.00 (excluding tip and tolls). Other airport pairs in Dubai default to the metered tariff.

11Sources & verification

Sources, last verified

Every figure on this page is reproduced from Roads and Transport Authority Dubai (RTA) — Taxi, the recognised authority that sets Dubai taxi rates. We re-verify each record at least every 180 days; the timestamp below confirms when this page was last reconciled with the primary source.

Primary source

Roads and Transport Authority Dubai (RTA) — Taxi

Last verified
April 18, 2026
Verification cadence
Every 180 days
Routing data
OpenStreetMap via OSRM

Editorial notes

Pickup-from-DXB minimum fare AED 25. Booked rides AED 6 base (vs AED 5 hailed).

Spotted an inaccuracy? Report it and we will reconcile within 48 hours.