As of 1 October 2026: flagging down a Dubai Taxi on the street starts at AED 5, but booking the same taxi through an app like Bolt, S’hail, or Careem starts at AED 9 to AED 13 depending on the time of day, read directly from Dubai Taxi Company’s own service page. The per-kilometre rate stays identical either way, it is only the starting fare that changes based on how the trip is booked.
Why do Dubai Taxi fares cost more when booked through an app?
Street Hail fares start at AED 5 between 6am and 10pm, or AED 5.5 overnight from 10pm to 6am, with a per-kilometre rate of AED 2.45. Booking the same regular taxi through a mobile app instead starts considerably higher: AED 9 during most of the day, rising to AED 13 during the two peak windows, roughly 8am to 10am and 4pm to 8pm on weekdays. The per-kilometre rate stays the same AED 2.45 in both cases, so the entire difference comes down to the base fare alone.
Do weekends and Fridays follow the same pricing?
Friday pricing runs its own schedule: AED 9 from 6am to 8am, AED 13 from 8am to 10am, back to AED 9 until 4pm, then AED 13 from 4pm through midnight, and AED 10 overnight. Weekend pricing simplifies slightly: AED 9 from 6am to 4pm, AED 13 from 4pm to midnight, and AED 10 overnight. In every case, the per-kilometre rate holds steady at AED 2.45 regardless of the day or time slot.
What is the minimum fare, and what extra charges should I expect?
Dubai Taxi lists a minimum fare of AED 12 for a Street Hail trip and AED 13 for an app-booked trip. On top of the base and distance fares, Salik toll gates add their own charge whenever a trip passes through one, and crossing into Sharjah adds a flat AED 20 surcharge. Waiting time, whether in traffic or while a passenger runs an errand, costs 50 fils a minute across every vehicle type. Dubai Taxi also notes that fares can shift during peak hours and at event locations, so a short trip near a major venue on a busy night may cost more than the standard table alone would suggest, even before tolls or waiting time are added.
What is an Exclusive Location fare, and when does it apply?
Exclusive Location pricing carries a noticeably higher base fare of AED 25, with the same AED 2.45 per-kilometre rate as every other fare type. This tier typically applies at specific high-demand pickup points, airports, major hotels, or event venues, where Dubai Taxi designates a different starting structure rather than the standard street-hail or app-booking rates.
Does this cover every type of Dubai Taxi vehicle?
This fare structure specifically covers the Regular Taxi Service, the red-roofed, clearly marked taxis available across Dubai and recognizable by the advertisements on their doors. Dubai Taxi Company runs several other distinct services at their own pricing, including a Limousine tier, an Ameera Limousine service exclusively for women, a People of Determination taxi, and a Families and Ladies taxi with female drivers, none of which necessarily follow this same regular-taxi fare table. The company also runs an Airport Taxi service and a DTC My Driver option that turns a personal car into a chauffeured trip, both again priced separately from the regular street or app fares covered here.
How does this compare with the rest of getting around Dubai?
Our Dubai Metro and Nol card guide and Dubai Bus on Demand guide both cover cheaper fixed-route alternatives, while our Dubai parking fees guide covers the other side of the equation for anyone driving themselves instead. A taxi remains the most flexible option of the three, but knowing the street-hail-versus-app price gap in advance is the simplest way to avoid an unexpectedly high fare.
What is the short version?
Dubai Taxi’s Street Hail fare starts at AED 5 to AED 5.5, while the same taxi booked through an app starts at AED 9 to AED 13 depending on the time slot, with an identical AED 2.45 per-kilometre rate either way. Minimum fares run AED 12 to AED 13, Salik and a AED 20 Sharjah crossing surcharge apply on top, and waiting time costs 50 fils a minute.
Last updated: 1 October 2026. Primary source: Dubai Taxi Company, Taxi Service Fees.
