A few weeks ago we looked at the InstaShop grocery delivery app - an app that lets you get your groceries delivered right to your door within the hour.
Before that, we looked at SpoonFed too – an app that delivers the best food from ‘Old Dubai’ to ‘New Dubai’.
Following on from those two apps, here are a few more that will make your life in Dubai a little bit easier (or lazier – depending on how cranky you currently are as you read this).
Wojhati
This is a life-saver for the daily public-transport commuters in Dubai. Even if you don’t use the city’s public transport system – it’s a good application to have on your phone in case of emergencies. The app is developed by the RTA and it helps you plan your journey using real-time maps and GPS services.
You can bookmark your favourite locations and the app lets you know in real-time if busses are running late. It’s rarely wrong and in the few weeks of using it I found that there’s a 1-3 minute buffer on the predicted bus timings. Which is still amazing.
Download here for iOS or Android.
Udrive
You have definitely seen these little green cars parked all over the city, by now. Udrive lets you rent those cars by the minute and is an extremely affordable way to travel around the city. You would need a valid UAE driving license and an Emirates ID card to use the service.
Registration is done on the app and it would take you less than 5 minutes. You can even ring them for a quick activation and you’re good to go. Registration took me less than 10 minutes.
To put its pricing into perspective, a trip from Business Bay to the Ibn Battuta mall would cost you approx. Dh60 in an Uber X, a little less in a taxi and Dh10 by metro. A Udrive will cost you Dh25 including the Dh4 Salik charge.
Download here for iOS or Android.
Keno
There’s an app for absolutely everything these days and it was a pleasant surprise when I stumbled across this one. This is a Dubai-based Car Wash app. The application's user-interface is remarkable. Once you download it, you register, fill in your details and add your cars. The app was initially a bit buggy when I used it, but after a few tries, I managed to book a car cleaning.
You get a car wash for Dh35 and interior cleaning for Dh15. My car was parked in a multi-storey lot and the Keno staff managed to get to it on their motorcycle with a mini water tank and cleaning supplies in the box on the back. While booking your car wash, mention your apartment of office number for your building's security guards - just in case, together with the parking level and spot number.
Download here for iOS or Android.
The Entertainer
For the socialites reading this, you probably have this app already. This is the ever-famous Buy-One-Get-One app that is hell-bent on helping you save money. On average users save an estimated Dh6,300 a year from over 4,500 offers at 1,400 venues.
Six months in and I have, together with a few friends, managed to save Dh4,110. For those who don’t know of this app yet, pricing starts at Dh245 for the ‘Dubai 2017’ package with another package free. If you’ve missed the boat, set a reminder for January 2018.
New users can avail of one offer for free if you download the app now and register. Try it out.
Download here for iOS or Android.
Spoonfed
This is a Dubai-based delivery app called Spoonfed with the strapline, “Order food from Karama Restaurants, delivered to New Dubai.”
The app helps quiet Karama restaurants with their deliveries to Business Bay, Discovery Gardens, Barsha and IMPZ, and almost every other town in between.
Download here for iOS or Android
Instashop
InstaShop is an app that delivers groceries right to your door within the hour. Their main aim is to “bring the supermarket right at home”.
The app is brilliantly designed and broken down into over 20 categories ranging from Dairy and eggs, and fruits and vegetables to coffee and tea, and baby care.
The start-up process is incredibly simple; you register, add your address and you’re good to go. You then add in your grocery wish list similar to how you would use any shopping app, place your order and sit back.
Download here for iOS or Android
Have we missed anything? Got an app to recommend that makes your life easier in the UAE? Get in touch with us!
