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can I survive living & working in Dubai without a car?

if so what area would you rent an office with your flat being very close by?

thanks in advance for any suggestions!

1) Working wise lots of other people do. Alternative also is to organize "lift services". But you have a family of 5. Its going to get expensive trying to get around without your own car.

2) Why is the sky blue? More specifics please.

There is a public bus system of sorts here, but it is not as good as what you might be used to elsewhere. Many companies provide private bus or van services for their workers as a result. For example, a construction company will bus its workers to and from building sites.

Are you from China? Compared to most of Asia, taxis are expensive in Dubai. At the moment, there is no subway (metro) system in operation although one might open in a few years.

So, Dubai is basically a car town. Gas (petrol), which is sold here in big Imperial gallons rather than small liters, is still fairly cheap compared to much of the world.

If can find a place to live within walking distance of your office and near stores, etc., then you could proably get by without a car. But, of course, it can get very hot here. Recently, it has been 40+.

Do taxis have meters or do you need to haggle with the driver till you reach an agreeable price ?

Also what is the minimum fare and for what distance ??

thanks

Meters.

I think 3.5 AED per km. 50 fils per 5 minutes (or per minute?) if stopped.

Thanks Liban...

thats a bit more reasonable when compared to London Black Cabs

Quite so I would think.

I was a young pup those few times I visited London as a kid. But I remember that even in the 80s the cabs were pricey... Though I remember relishing, along with my family, the novelty of the cabs

London is a nice city, albeight slighlty on the depressing side (weather).

Keith

to show you how cheap it is for £30 you can have a taxi for 1/2 a day.

The price is about 20% of what you would pay for a black cab mate.

When I first arrived in Dubai and for about 6 weeks I took a taxi to and from work at 100 dirhams per day and rented a car on the weekends and still came out ahead.

Where I moved to its a pain in the arse to get a cab so I have my own wheels.. (leased monthly of course)

to rent a car you'll pay about AED 50/day if on a monthly plan, this is way cheaper than a cab in my humble opinion. It does depend on your comfort/ability to drive in this part of the world and the distance you need to go though obviously.