Driving, Dubai

this will be my transportation tips of the dubai desert safari via the H2 Hummer SUV

if you book a Dubai half-day, whole day, or night safari among the tons of tour companies that offer this must thing to do in Dubai. you will be fetched and drop off your hotel either via a 4x4 toyota land cruiser or a H2 Hummer vehicle (it depends on the option you choose as a land cruiser safari costs 110 AED while a Hummer Desert Safari Tour costs 190 AED). this toyota land cruiser or hummer will be both your transit shuttle and main ride to the sand dunes and the land cruiser seats 7 people (including the driver) and a H2 Hummer seats 8 people. they usually assigned drivers to fetch guests located in clusters of hotels nearby to each other

Part two of my Private Car tips with your friend, this time with another close friend of ours hehehe!

This Tip is even cheaper than back packing or taking the RTA Bus!

It pays to be a friendly person and it pays some more if you have close friends living in dubai!

as you can call them months in advance so that they can know you are arriving in Dubai and staying for a few days and they can file a vacation leave for a day or two to help you go around dubai for free and even treat you for lunch or dinner and even the traditonal male bonding via a boisterous night at the bars in dubai!

These will be the cheapest option for a tourist with friends in dubai! but be sure that your friends have their own vehicles and they will offer a personalized tour of the nooks and crannies in dubai for free. You only Must Return The Favor if they visit you in your locality!

This Tip is even cheaper than back packing or taking the RTA Bus!

It pays to be a friendly person and it pays some more if you have close friends living in dubai!

as you can call them months in advance so that they can know you are arriving in Dubai and staying for a few days and they can file a vacation leave for a day or two to help you go around dubai for free and even treat you for lunch or dinner and even the traditonal male bonding via a boisterous night at the bars in dubai!

These will be the cheapest option for a tourist with friends in dubai! but be sure that your friends have their own vehicles and they will offer a personalized tour of the nooks and crannies in dubai for free. You only Must Return The Favor if they visit you in your locality!

everyone knows that I hardly use public transport or taxis to and from any airport that is in my destination and here in dubai is no different as me and my friend pre arranged an airport pick up and drop off service as we were arriving at Dubai at 11:50 pm close to midnight local time. there are many tour and travel companies that offer airport pickup and drop off services to tourists and one of them is on the website below:

www.city-discovery.com/Transfers

these airport drop off and pick up services can use a regular big car, a big SUV like a chevy suburban or ford expedition or a regular passenger van and even a limouse if you wish. prices start at 400 AED for 2 persons for a round trip airport to hotel transfer if you are within a 30 minute drive from the Dubai International Airport.

Though i was going around Dubai by a private car,it was very easier to go around and visit many places within the metropolis and neighbouring cities like Deira city.no traffic nor waste of time in roundabouts.

If you have an international license and a little guts, take on the road via a rented car. Thats if you are planning to stay like a month or so. A month car rental cost about AED 1900. I find it cheaper than taking the cap (comparing a month cost). Furthermore, fuel is quite cheap too.

Driving in Dubai is a real hassle. It's traffic congestion at every corner. Most of the time, it's easier to simply walk (unless the summer heat becomes too unbearable). Driving simply makes you feel tense and it's not the best way to spend a holiday.

Most countries have something rather usual on top of their death cause list. Mostly these are heart and blood circulation diseases, cancer is also always among the main causes and in some countries the HI virus has claimed the most deaths. In Dubai, the main cause of death is a traffic accident. Perhaps you’ll find out why, if you want to cross one of the big roads like Sheikh Zayed road and can’t find a traffic light (on which I wouldn’t encessarily rely on…). People speed around and do not always respect traffic rules. But this is only one side of Dubai’s trafficproblem. On the other side, the city’s streets are not growing with the same speed as Dubai’s population and their cars. So, during rush hours (early from 8:00 am on and in the afternoon from 4:00 pm), it is likely to see the mother of all traffic jams. Try to avoid these hours and check if your point of destination is within walking distance. Everything is better than to sit almost two hours trapped in a bus (or a car).

Safety on the road
Motor vehicle statistics in various parts of the world has indicated what the traffic accidents cause in term of public or privates losses or human causalities. In the UAE, the statistics shows that traffic accidents are considered among the leading fatality causes among the youths.
Causes of the traffic accidents
The statistics of Dubai Police indicated that the most important reasons of traffic accidents in 2000 are the following:
Excessive speed.
Passing red lights.
Poor anticipation by the motorists.

Knowing what should be done during accidents and emergencies helps a lot in avoiding chaos and fear. Knowing the first aid, no doubt, is of utmost importance as it could be the difference between life and death, the difference between temporary and permanent disability, the difference between fast and prolonged treatment.

There are a number of instructions, which should be followed in case of any traffic accident.

Make phone calls and describe the problem and seek help by requesting ambulance or fire fighting, (in Dubai/U.A.E. the number to be called is 999 .
Get the spectators away from the accident scene.
Put warning signs on the road.
Direct the traffic.
Give information about the location of the accident, number of injured people and your phone number.
Do not attempt to move the injured.
If you have any knowledge about first aid, try to help the injured if necessary.
Emergency tools inside the car

Additional inflated tire.
Lift jack to lift the car when changing tires.
Wooden piece to stabilize the lift jack.
Basic tool box.
Light torch.
First aid kit.
Additional fan belt and water hoses.
Electrical wires for recharging the battery.
Maps for the roads.
Enough amount of water.

The best way to travel in Dubai is by road, whether bus, car or taxi. I have never used the first, and only rarely the last but had no problem. Usually my daughter or her husband drives me.
For those with a car 50 dhs will give you half a tank of fuel or more depending on the type of vehicle.
The roads are getting more congested, and a new toll system was introduced on 1 July 2007.Buy a card at a petrol station and whenever you pass a toll sign , your card will automatically have the toll deducted. However, many drivers prefered to use the non-Salik roads which meant roads became even more congested than before.
Driving in Dubai is a nightmare as everyone drives very fast. My daughter said that if you drive at a moderate speed when taking your test, you will be failed. Heavy vehicles are not allowed in the fast lane, but other drivers weave in and out, and frequently fail to signal; so, driving is hazardous.

New roads and flyovers are frequently appearing , which can add to the confusion.And, summer 2007, road works sprung up almost overnight, adding miles to a trip.

Are you breathing? Do you hold a Drivers Licence issued by ANY government on the face of the Earth? Congratulations! You can rent a car in Dubai! They glanced at mine from a distance. When you see how many locals drive (large, expensive) cars, you will understand why they are just not that picky about your Licence. Rent form local companies – not the big international names! I saved 50% and had a great car with Air-conditioning. You must have A/C. It’s the law – of nature.

Have a great time and be careful out there!

The traffic is horrendous in Dubai at rush hour, bumper to bumper, there is no escape (except by motor-bike) or any short cut routes to take... the road system has not grown and can't cope with the rapid growth. It can take a couple of hours to go from one side of the City to the other.... eeek!

The best and perhaps the only way to get around Dubai is by car (taxi or rental). Unfortunately, Dubai's greatest problem is the heavy traffic. The city relies almost entirely on a single wide motorway (six lanes each way) that connects one end with the other. The traffic generally heads west in the morning and back east in the evening and would last from 4pm until 9pm (or later at times). Make sure you allow plenty of travel time.

Well Guys to make it easy for you, I leave you the name and contact detail of some car rental companies in Dubai. All you have to do is to call them and find out about the deals that they offer:

Rent-A-Car companies in Dubai

Name PO Box
(Dubai) Tel
(+ 9714) Fax
(+ 9714)
Abdulla Al Zaabi Rent A Car 4894 2719461 2719904
Access Rent A Car 50378 2289922 2288440

American Rent A Car 7974 344888 3367765

Avis Rent-A-Car 6891 2957121 2956807
Aviation Rent-A-Car 56130 2672212 2673393
Awan Car Rentals 4816 2235588 2225123

Budget Rent-A-Car 8323 2823030 2823574

Delta Rent A Car 4499 2660696 2694731

East Cost Rent A Car 24632 3964666 3965520

Eurodollar Rent A Car 10990 2666923 2695525
Europcar - Dubai Rent A Car 2533 3394433 3394403
Express Rent A Car 50004 3711002 3722439
Fast Rent A Car 32011 3328988 3328742

Formula Rent A Car 14834 2289090 2289928

Hertz Rent A Car 7976 2824422 2824844
Honest Hand Rent A Car 55836 2717199
Ibis Rent A Car 20120 2270864 2232167

Inter Emirates Rent A Car 21629 2729002 2729146
Inter Rent A Car 10990 2662233 2695525

Jumeira Rent A Car 2538 3373000 3365371
Kamali Rent A Car 55275 2625452 2696088

Limousine Rent A Car 1901 2664040 2626640
London Rent A Car 55253 2715696 2715544

Metro Rent A Car 220 2222979 2271605

New Car Rent A Car 280 3331649 3339294
Oscar Rent A Car 32050 2685005 2727060

Ramsis Rent A Car (LLC) 4596 2952336 2954233
Real Rent A Car 7541 2666344 2666367

Turbo Rent A Car 7877 2210333 2235290

United Car Rentals 8138 2666286 2692001

Widyan Rent A Car 26336 2716676 2716768

A local friend once said ..." I can't survive without my 4 wheel drive", so expect to see many of them cruising the roads of dubai...