Cab Booking Dubai 2026: Apps, Numbers & Ladies Taxis

Ali • October 27, 2026 • 8 min read

DriveX · Dubai Travel Guide

How to Book a Taxi in Dubai: Apps, Numbers & Ladies Taxis

Last checked:
27 October 2026

You can book a taxi in Dubai through an app, call Dubai Taxi Company, hail a cab on the street, or use a hotel or mall taxi queue.
For app booking, select Hala in Careem; Bolt and RTA’s S’hail are other official taxi-booking channels.
For telephone reservations, call
800 880 88
and press 2.

The booking method affects the starting fare—not just convenience.
Check the comparison below, then see our
Dubai taxi fares
guide for detailed journey costs.

Cab Booking Dubai: Methods and Starting Costs

Dubai taxi booking methods and starting fares

On mobile, scroll horizontally to view the complete table.

Booking method	How to use it	Published starting fare or price guidance
Careem Hala	Open Careem and select Hala Taxi	Standard app-taxi starting fares: AED 9, 10 or 13, depending on time
Bolt or S’hail	Select the taxi option and confirm your pickup	Standard app-taxi starting fares: AED 9, 10 or 13, depending on time
Telephone	Call 800 880 88; press 2	Confirm the applicable tariff when booking
Street hail or regular taxi rank	Use an available taxi at a safe stopping point	AED 5 during the day; AED 5.50 at night
Hotel-arranged pickup	Ask specifically for a regular metered taxi	Depends on whether staff hail or reserve it
Uber	Enter your route and select a vehicle category	Check the price and conditions displayed
Ladies and Families Taxi	Ask DTC about a female-driver booking	Confirm availability and applicable fare

How to Book a Taxi Using an App

Careem: select Hala for a regular taxi

Hala operates through the Careem app.
Choosing Hala matters: another vehicle category within the same app may have different pricing.

Open Careem and select Hala Taxi.
Enter your destination.
Check the pickup pin and building entrance.
Review the estimate, payment method and available options.
Confirm your request and follow the driver’s arrival.
Match the vehicle and driver details before boarding.

At a large hotel or shopping centre, select the actual vehicle entrance rather than the middle of the building.
A correct address with the wrong entrance can still delay collection.

Keep your phone available so the driver can contact you.

Bolt and S’hail: other taxi-booking options

DTC lists Bolt, S’hail and Careem as booking channels for its regular taxi service.
S’hail is RTA’s journey-planning app.

Check the selected service before confirming.
An app’s name alone does not tell you whether you are booking a metered taxi or another vehicle category.
Use the displayed arrival estimate rather than assuming immediate availability.

Bolt, S’hail and Uber booking options in Dubai

Uber: check the selected category

Uber is another way to request a ride in Dubai, but do not assume its selected category follows the regular taxi meter tariff.

Enter the same pickup and destination when comparing options, then check the vehicle category and displayed price.
For the wider pricing differences, read our
Careem vs Uber
comparison.

Dubai Taxi Number: How to Book by Phone

Call
800 880 88,
then press 2 for DTC reservations.

DTC phone booking checklist and reservation number

Have these details ready:

Pickup address, building name and entrance.
Destination.
Requested pickup time.
Passenger count and luggage.
Any female-driver or accessibility requirement.

Ask the operator to confirm availability, the collection point and the applicable fare.
Do not assume an app’s estimate applies to a telephone reservation.

If the toll-free number does not connect from your roaming phone, ask hotel reception to call or use an available booking app.

For a time-sensitive journey, allow a buffer.
A booking request is not a reason to plan around a last-minute pickup.

Pink Taxi Dubai: How to Request a Ladies Taxi

Dubai’s Ladies and Families Taxi service provides female drivers and is commonly associated with pink-roof taxis.

Dubai Ladies and Families Taxi booking guide

For a female-driver request, contact DTC and explicitly ask for the Ladies and Families Taxi service.
Confirm passenger eligibility, availability, pickup arrangements and the fare before relying on the booking.

Do not assume a standard Hala request guarantees a female driver.
If your app does not show a suitable option, ask DTC which booking channel to use.

Travelling with children? Mention their ages and any child-seat requirement.
A family-oriented service name does not by itself confirm that the required seat is available.

Getting a Taxi from a Hotel or Mall

At a hotel, ask reception for a regular metered taxi if that is what you want.
A hotel car or chauffeur service can have a different pricing structure.

At a mall, follow the taxi signs or staff directions.
If using an app, go to its specified pickup location rather than assuming the main taxi queue is the collection point.

Avoid making an app booking while simultaneously joining a taxi queue unless you are prepared to cancel one request under its applicable policy.

For street hailing, wait somewhere taxis can stop safely.
Do not stand in a live traffic lane.

Booking Charges, Cancellations and Pickup Problems

Is there a separate booking fee?

Be careful with that phrase.
The published AED 9, 10 and 13 app figures are starting fares,
not amounts to automatically add on top of the street-hail starting fare.

The applicable starting fare varies by time and day.
Check the booking screen, especially around events or busy periods.

What if the driver asks you to cancel?

Use the app’s support channel rather than assuming cancellation will be free.

Careem’s published policy for NOW bookings allows free cancellation within five minutes.
After that, a minimum-fare charge may apply; after arrival, waiting charges may also apply.
Other booking types can have different rules.

If the driver is not moving or asks you to cancel, Careem directs customers to “Need our help.”

Planning several journeys?

A rental car may suit an itinerary with frequent stops, but compare the complete cost—including parking, fuel and tolls—with your expected taxi journeys.
For occasional trips, booking individual taxis may be simpler.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best taxi app in Dubai?

For a regular taxi through Careem, select Hala.
DTC also lists Bolt and S’hail as booking channels.
There is no single best option for every journey: compare the available taxi category, pickup estimate, payment options and displayed fare before confirming your request.

Can I book a taxi in Dubai without an app?

Yes. Call DTC on
800 880 88
and press 2, use an official taxi rank, hail a taxi where it can stop safely, or ask your hotel for assistance.
Tell hotel staff whether you want a regular metered taxi rather than a chauffeur car.

Is booking through an app cheaper than street hailing?

Not necessarily.
Published standard starting fares are lower for street-hail taxis than app-booked taxis, but the complete fare also depends on distance, waiting, tolls and applicable conditions.
Compare the convenience of an arranged pickup rather than assuming either method always produces the lowest total.

Can I book a Dubai taxi through WhatsApp?

Hala’s official WhatsApp booking page states that the service is temporarily unavailable and directs passengers to Careem.
Do not rely on older tutorials showing WhatsApp reservations as a working method.
Use Careem Hala or another currently supported channel, and check for service changes before travelling.

Can I pay for a Dubai taxi by card?

DTC lists cash, credit and debit cards, NOL and supported digital payment methods.
For an app booking, check which payment method is selected before confirming.
If you need a particular payment option, confirm it before departure rather than assuming every booking channel works identically.

Can I request a female taxi driver in Dubai?

Yes—ask DTC about its Ladies and Families Taxi service.
Confirm availability and your pickup arrangements rather than expecting a standard taxi request to provide a female driver.
Mention your passenger group, luggage and any child-seat requirements when discussing the booking.

Author

Ali

Ali is a senior car rental specialist and automotive consultant in Dubai with over 5 years of hands-on experience in the UAE rental market. Specializing in Dubai traffic regulations, Salik systems, deposit policies, and seamless rental procedures (from economy to luxury fleets), he provides actionable insights and expert guides to help tourists and residents navigate car hire with total transparency and zero hidden fees.