Reference Guide

UAE Taxi Fare Guide

Reference guide to taxi fares across the UAE. Metered rates for city travel, typical intercity fares, how tolls and night rates work, and when a private chauffeur makes more financial sense.

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How UAE Taxi Fares Work

Taxis in the UAE are metered and regulated by the transport authority of each emirate. Each emirate has its own fare structure. Dubai RTA, Abu Dhabi Mobility, Sharjah SRTA, and others each set their own flag-fall rates and per-km charges; the Abu Dhabi taxi fare tariff, for example, has stayed at AED 1.82 per km since 2017. Vehicles from different emirates can cross into other emirates but cannot pick up passengers in the destination emirate for the return trip.

For intercity routes - particularly long-distance journeys over 80 to 100 km - most drivers will not use the meter and will instead negotiate a flat rate. These negotiated rates can vary significantly. The reference fares in the table below are approximate midpoints based on market pricing in 2026.

UAE Intercity Fare Reference Table

Route Distance Typical Metered / Negotiated Journey Time
Dubai to Abu Dhabi ~140 km AED 200 to AED 350 1h 15m to 1h 45m
Dubai to Sharjah 25 to 40 km AED 60 to AED 120 25 to 90 min (peak)
Sharjah to Dubai 25 to 40 km AED 70 to AED 150 25 to 90 min (peak)
Dubai to Fujairah ~130 km AED 200 to AED 300 1h 30m to 2h
Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah ~115 km AED 150 to AED 250 1h to 1h 30m
Sharjah to Abu Dhabi ~150 km AED 180 to AED 280 1h 30m to 2h
Ajman to Dubai 30 to 50 km AED 70 to AED 130 35 to 90 min (peak)
Abu Dhabi to DXB Airport ~150 km AED 200 to AED 350 1h 15m to 2h
Dubai to Al Ain ~130 km AED 200 to AED 300 1h 30m to 2h
Fares above are approximate reference figures based on typical market pricing as of 2026. Actual metered fares will vary with traffic and route. Negotiated intercity fares depend on individual drivers. Verify current official rates with RTA Dubai (rta.ae), Abu Dhabi Mobility (admobility.gov.ae), or the relevant transport authority.

Metered vs Fixed-Price: When Each Makes Sense

Use a metered taxi when:

  • Your journey is short (within the same city, under 30 km)
  • You are travelling off-peak and traffic is light
  • You do not have a specific time constraint
  • You are travelling alone with minimal luggage

Use a fixed-price private transfer when:

  • You are travelling intercity (Dubai to Abu Dhabi, Dubai to Sharjah, etc.)
  • You have a flight, meeting, or appointment with a hard deadline
  • You have luggage or are travelling with a group
  • You need the driver to wait at the destination and return you later
  • You are travelling during peak hours and cannot risk a metered fare escalating
  • You are making a day trip to another emirate and need both legs covered

Detailed Fare Guides

Sources

  1. Taxi fares - Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)
  2. Dubai Taxi service - Dubai Taxi Company
  3. Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority - SRTA
  4. Contact us - Abu Dhabi Mobility (Integrated Transport Centre)
  5. Taxi fares - Abu Dhabi Mobility (Integrated Transport Centre)

Fares, numbers and rules change. Check the official source before you rely on a figure.

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Common Questions

UAE Taxi Fares FAQ

How are taxi fares calculated in the UAE?

UAE taxis use a metered rate structure set by each emirate's transport authority. Dubai RTA taxis have a flag-fall rate (the starting charge when the meter begins) plus a per-km rate. Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and other emirates each have their own rate structures. For intercity trips exceeding 50 to 80 km, drivers often negotiate a flat rate rather than run the meter.

What is the flag-fall rate for Dubai taxis?

Dubai RTA taxis have a flag-fall rate of AED 5 during the day (6am to 10pm) and AED 5.50 at night (10pm to 6am). The per-km rate is fuel-indexed and sits at roughly AED 2.19, having moved between about AED 1.96 and AED 2.26 as fuel prices change. The street-hail minimum fare is AED 12 and the app-booked minimum is AED 13. There is also a booking surcharge if you order through an app or by phone. These rates are set by the RTA and are revised periodically - verify current figures at rta.ae.

Do taxi fares change at night in the UAE?

Yes. Most UAE taxi operators charge a higher flag-fall rate and/or higher per-km rate at night. In Dubai, nighttime rates apply from 10pm to 6am. This means late-night and early-morning trips cost more on a metered taxi than the same journey during the day.

How much is Salik per crossing?

Salik is Dubai's electronic road toll system. Each Salik gate crossing costs AED 4 and is deducted automatically. There are multiple Salik gates in Dubai, particularly around the Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Garhoud Bridge. When a taxi crosses a Salik gate, the AED 4 is typically shown separately on the meter or added to the total by the driver.

Are there fixed-price taxis in the UAE?

Not among metered taxis. Dubai RTA airport taxis run on the meter from an airport starting fare of AED 20 (AED 25 for a van), with distance charged on top. For intercity routes (Dubai to Abu Dhabi, Dubai to Sharjah, etc.) the only true fixed-price options are pre-booked private chauffeur services or negotiated flat rates with individual drivers. App-based rides show an upfront price but this can change with surge pricing.

How much is a 30 km taxi in Abu Dhabi?

A 30 km Abu Dhabi taxi ride costs roughly AED 60 by day on a clear run. The arithmetic uses the Abu Dhabi tariff: AED 5.00 day flag fall plus 30 km at AED 1.82 per km (AED 54.60), giving about AED 59.60. At night (10pm to 6am) the flag fall rises to AED 5.50, so the same trip lands near AED 60. Waiting time in traffic is charged at AED 0.50 per minute and adds to that figure, and a phone or app booking adds roughly AED 4 to AED 5. Abu Dhabi taxis are exempt from Darb road tolls, so no toll is added. This is an estimate - confirm current rates with the Abu Dhabi transport authority.

What is the Dubai taxi price per km?

Dubai RTA taxis charge approximately AED 2.19 per km. The rate is indexed to fuel prices and reviewed periodically, so it has moved between roughly AED 1.96 and AED 2.26 over recent revisions. On top of the per-km charge you pay a flag fall of AED 5.00 by day or AED 5.50 at night, AED 4 for each Salik toll gate crossed, and AED 0.50 per minute of waiting time. The street-hail minimum fare is AED 12. Verify the current per-km rate at rta.ae.

What is the Abu Dhabi taxi fare per km?

Abu Dhabi taxis charge AED 1.82 per km, the same rate day and night. The flag fall is AED 5.00 during the day and AED 5.50 from 10pm to 6am, the minimum fare is AED 12, and waiting time is AED 0.50 per minute. Trips starting at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) start at AED 20 instead of the flag fall, for a saloon or a Vito van alike. Abu Dhabi has no Salik-style toll charge for taxis, since licensed taxis are exempt from Darb gates.

How much is a taxi from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah?

A taxi from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah typically costs AED 400 to AED 550. The route runs roughly 260 km and takes about three hours. At this distance almost no driver will run the meter - the fare is agreed as a flat rate before departure, and the price you are quoted depends on the driver, the time of day, and whether they expect a return passenger. Because a Fujairah-bound Abu Dhabi taxi cannot pick up a fare for the return leg, drivers price the empty return into the quote. A pre-booked fixed-price transfer is usually the more predictable option on this route.

How much is a taxi from Abu Dhabi to Ras Al Khaimah?

A taxi from Abu Dhabi to Ras Al Khaimah typically costs AED 400 to AED 550 as a negotiated flat rate. The journey covers around 250 km via the E11 and takes roughly two and a half to three hours. Metered pricing is rare at this distance. As with other long cross-emirate trips, the driver factors in the empty return leg because a taxi cannot collect passengers outside its own emirate.

How much is a taxi from Ras Al Khaimah to Dubai?

A taxi from Ras Al Khaimah to Dubai typically costs AED 150 to AED 250. The route is around 115 km and takes one hour to one hour thirty minutes depending on where in Dubai you are heading and on traffic near the Sharjah corridor. Some drivers will run the meter for this distance, others will quote a flat rate. Agree the basis before you set off. See our Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah fare guide for the route in detail.

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