Dubai Food and Transport: What You Need to Know Before You Go

When you think of Dubai food, the diverse, high-quality dining scene shaped by global influences and local traditions, you might picture luxury brunches or Michelin-starred restaurants. But the real story is simpler: you can eat well for under $10 at a local café, or splurge on seafood by the beach. Dubai transport, a mix of modern metro lines, affordable taxis, and strict rules for ride-hailing apps makes getting around easy—if you know the basics. It’s not just about convenience; it’s about avoiding fines, confusion, or awkward situations that come from misunderstanding local norms.

What most travelers don’t realize is that Dubai dining, ranges from halal-certified street food to international chains, with clear cultural boundaries around alcohol and mixed-gender seating. You won’t find pork on menus, but you’ll find excellent shawarma, grilled fish, and Emirati dates everywhere. And while you can grab a coffee at Starbucks or a burger at McDonald’s, the best meals often come from small shops tucked into alleyways. As for Dubai public transit, the metro is clean, air-conditioned, and runs every few minutes—but women have separate cars during rush hour, and eating or drinking on board is banned. Taxis are cheap, but drivers may ask for your ID if you’re an unmarried couple. Ride-hailing apps like Careem work fine, but don’t try to use dating apps like Grindr to meet someone in a car—those are blocked, and the penalties are serious.

You’ll find plenty of guides online that say Dubai is expensive. But the truth? You can eat like a local for $5 a meal, ride the metro for $1.50, and still have cash left for a sunset view at the Dubai Fountain. The real cost comes from misunderstanding the rules: chewing gum on the metro, holding hands in public, or ordering alcohol without a license. That’s why the posts below aren’t just tips—they’re survival guides. From how to order food without offending anyone, to which metro station gets you closest to the Palm, to whether you can bring your own snacks on a taxi—this collection cuts through the noise. You won’t find fluff here. Just what actually matters when you’re on the ground, hungry, and trying to get somewhere without breaking a law you didn’t know existed.