UAE public transport is most developed in Dubai; Abu Dhabi leans on buses and taxis. Distances and summer heat push high private-car usage, making driver's license conversion a near-essential step.
Nol card
The unified payment card for Dubai public transit (metro, tram, bus, water bus), plus some taxis. Issued by RTA.
- Silver (common), Gold (premium cabin), Red (short-term), Blue (personalised)
- Top up at station kiosks, the RTA app, or select Carrefour branches
Dubai Metro
Red Line and Green Line. All stations air-conditioned. RTA app for live arrivals.
Abu Dhabi transit
No metro. Core is the Darb toll system, bus network, and ride-hailing: Abu Dhabi Taxi / Careem / Uber.
Taxis · ride-hailing
- Dubai Taxi (RTA) — official taxis, app dispatch available
- Careem — regional ride-hailing giant
- Uber — same infrastructure
Driver's license conversion
After residency is established, licenses from countries on UAE's reciprocal list (50+ countries, including Korea, the UK, most of the EU, the US, and Canada) are eligible for direct conversion — no road test. Done at RTA service centres or licensed typing centres. If your country isn't on the list, you'll need driving school + a road test.
- Bring: passport, Emirates ID, home license (translated + notarised if not in English/Arabic), eye test, fees
- Time: hours to a day if paperwork is complete
Owning a car
Most longer-term residents end up driving — distances and summer heat make it close to essential outside central Dubai. Buying, then the annual cycle (insurance → inspection from year 3 → registration renewal) and tolls (Salik / Darb) are covered in car-ownership.
Things to watch
- Black Points: traffic violations add points; accumulate too many and your license is suspended. Check via the RTA / Abu Dhabi Police apps.
- Fines are automated and steep: speed and lane cameras are everywhere; fines attach to the plate and must be cleared to renew registration.
- Summer heat (Jun–Sep): walking / cycling is impractical most of the day — factor A/C transport into your routine and budget.
- Drive on the right, give way to the left on roundabouts, and never respond to road-rage gestures — they can be treated as an offence here.