Expo 2020 Dubai: All the travel apps you need to know

Dubai: Planning a trip to the Expo 2020 all on your own does not have to be daunting. With a quick swipe of your fingers, you can chart out your journey thanks to smartphone apps. Here's a look at some common options available in the UAE and how to use them to get an easy ride to the expo site.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) combines all of its navigation services in an all-you-need smartphone app.

What it includes: Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram, RTA taxis and buses.

S’hail’s main features are journey planning and booking Uber or taxi services.

This will depend on the service you choose.

Find: This feature gets you the location of metro stations, bus stops, trams and water ferries; smart car rentals; cycling track; points of interest like hotels, parks, prayer halls, medical facilities and eateries.

Live traffic: Gives a colour-coded visual of routes affected by traffic across all emirates.

Recharge: Users can top up the balance in their nol Cards and Salik accounts through the app.

Bookings: A listing of all taxi and car bookings the user makes.

Live map: An interactive map of labelled metro trains, buses, trams and ferries with estimated time of arrival for each service in Dubai. Users can monitor the movement of all four in real-time.

Departure board: Users can check for the departure and arrival of metro trains, buses, trams and ferries nearby them or a location of their choice.

Maps and guides: Download the latest bus, metro, tram and ferry route maps.

Newsfeed: Get notified of changes and announcements by the RTA.

QR scanner: Scan RTA QR codes.

Step 1: Create an account on RTA

Before you start planning your route to the Expo site via the S’hail app, you will need an RTA account to access all the features. Here's how you can get an account:

Step 2: Plan your journey using S'hail

Besides the authority’s journey planner, the RTA parent app gives clear-cut instructions on how to get to your destination, Expo 2020, from within Dubai.

The built-in RTA Navigator is especially helpful if your travel options are limited to car and the Dubai Metro train.

RTA Dubai’s dashboard is broadly divided into travel services for road users and public transportation users.

For visitors travelling by their own cars

Salik: Check balance and locate nearby kiosks if you need to top it up. If visitors require further detailed assistance, they can install the ‘Smart Salik’ app for all Salik-related services.

Parking: Automatically detect the nearest parking zone and easily load parking balance using mPay or credit/debit card. You can even bookmark your parking spot and let the app remember it for you.

For visitors travelling by public transportation

Metro: Track the nearest metro stations and get directions to your choice of station.

Taxi: Book a taxi by choosing the type of service whether normal, van or for women. View a table of flat taxi fares for each service in the top-right corner before making your decision.

Visitors can view their route to the Expo site by accessing the RTA Navigator on the dashboard.

1. Download the RTA Dubai app from Apple Store or Google Play Store.

2. Type in to select your preferred Expo gate (Sustainability, Mobility, or Opportunity Gate) in the location search bar at the top.

3. Pick your desired mode of transport: car or the metro train.

If car, the app will present you with alternative routes and the estimated time of arrival for each. To begin your car journey, pick your favoured route and tap ‘start’ at the bottom which will redirect you to the Google Maps app.

If you want to travel by the metro, the app will display a dropdown guide to the Expo site and the estimated time of arrival.

Dubai’s car-hailing service offers visitors a special ‘Expo 2020’ fleet that will take them home from the Expo site. While they can hail a Careem ride from the venue, visitors can also make regular bookings to get there.

There is an array of car selections that the visitor can opt for ranging from affordable economy to first-class luxury services. The RTA Dubai taxi, which goes by Hala on the app, is also available for easy booking for those within the emirate of Dubai.

Careem rides are available for swift pickups from the Expo site. The fleet includes Hala taxis as well Careem’s in-house options like Business, Economy, Max, and Careem Kids. The regular and the dedicated Expo fleets charge the same minimum fares.

The Careem app caters to both visitors wanting to get around on a budget and families with children alike.

This will depend on the service you choose.

Hala Taxi

With Hala, pickups are only available from Dubai. The minimum fare for all Hala taxi types (regular, van, and people of determination taxis) is Dh12.

Careem car

The following are the minimum fares for each type of ride with Careem within Dubai:

Fares from Expo 2020 to other emirates: 

Hala Dubai Taxi types

These taxis offer their services to those travelling within Dubai, and from Dubai to another emirate but not back.

Careem car types

First, visitors will need an account on Careem to book with the app.

Step 1: Sign up on Careem

Step 2: Book your ride with Careem

The Careem app will automatically detect your location on the Expo site. After which, the app will prompt you to confirm your pickup location. Select your ride – either a Hala or a Careem – then enter your drop off destination above. Hit ‘Yalla!’ to confirm your booking from Expo 2020.

Uber is much like Careem as far as ride-hailing services go. As of now, only those in Abu Dhabi and Dubai can book a ride with the app.

Uber Select, Uber Black and Uber XL will help you arrive at Expo. Sustainability, Mobility and Opportunity Districts are where you can find dedicated Uber lanes for pick up and drop off. For safety reasons, Expo passengers get a special pin code once they book their ride that they must use to crosscheck with the Uber driver.

Uber’s fares will fluctuate depending on peak hours and your distance from the Expo site. Keep in mind that poor weather and heavy traffic can prolong the time of your travel to affect your rates.

UberSelect – premium ride for up to two passengers with the option to schedule for later in a sedan.

• Minimum fare Dh15.

UberXL – affordable group ride for up to four passengers in an SUV or a minivan.

• Minimum fare  Dh20.25.

UberBlack – sleek luxury ride for up to two passengers in a BMW or a Mercedes-Benz.

• Minimum fare starts at Dh23.

To use Uber, visitors must first sign up on the app.

Step 1: Sign up on Uber

Step 2: Book your ride with Uber

Along with the option of booking your standard Hala cab from Careem, visitors can also choose from Dubai Taxi’s own extensive range.

The DTC (Dubai Taxi Corporation) fleet is made up of special cars to accommodate families, women, the eco-friendly, and those with a taste for luxury rides. Pickups are only from Dubai with the DTC.

DTC rides are broadly categorised into limousines and taxis.

Limousine options:

If you’re looking for something more modest, your special taxi options are:

Step 1: Sign up on the Dubai Taxi app

Step 2: Book your ride with DTC

Visitors can also book their rides through the DTC hotline: 80088088.

- The writer is an intern with Gulf News