How much does a taxi from Dubai Airport to Mall of the Emirates cost?

Safety rule: if the driver of a beige taxi doesn't turn on the meter, the ride is considered free — a useful way to protect against overcharging.

Official Dubai taxi drivers never get out of the car or approach tourists, and you shouldn't negotiate a ride with anyone beforehand — just get in the car first, then tell the driver your destination.

Getting a taxi in Dubai is usually hassle-free, except on New Year's Eve night when demand spikes significantly.

Besides Careem, you can also use the Yango app to book a taxi — or simply hail one from the street.

If you hail a taxi right outside the terminal, you can pay by card via the in-car terminal at the end of the ride — but make sure to check that the meter is actually running.

Standard city taxis in Dubai are beige/pale yellow sedans with different colored roofs, running on the meter. Avoid getting into a Lexus — it's also a taxi, but business class, and will cost more.

Tip: exchange money at the currency exchange inside the airport before taking a taxi, so you can pay the metered fare right away.

At DXB, follow the 'TAXI' sign and turn left with other passengers to reach the standard-rate taxi queue. Going straight ahead after baggage claim leads to a VIP taxi zone with higher prices.

Airport taxi base rates (sedan): 20 AED flag fall, 1.8 AED per km, toll road ~4 AED. For reference, a ride to Dubai Marina comes to around 200 AED.

Mall of the Emirates is farther from the airport than Business Bay. A ride to Business Bay already costs around 75 AED, so expect to pay noticeably more to Mall of the Emirates. The airport pickup surcharge is a fixed 25 AED on top of the meter.

The cheapest option is to hail a Hala Taxi directly from the street outside the airport. Booking via the Careem app will cost more due to an extra booking fee.