It's one of the first things you notice after you arrive in the UAE. After the sweltering heat and the impressive skylines, a cab ride through the city — depending on where you've come from — usually yields a remark from a newbie about how reasonable the cab fares are.
It might surprise you then, that the UAE is not one of the cheapest countries in the world to take a taxi. It doesn't even make the top 25.
If you're about to hop in a cab in Cairo though, you're in luck. The Egyptian capital has taken out the top spot in the 2017 Taxi Price Index, which ranks the cost of taking a cab in 80 of the world's most well-known cities.
Compiled by online car dealership Carspring, the European company acknowledges its methods aren't watertight — having gathered much of its data from official online websites for each city — but the results nonetheless tell a story many might have predicted.
A number of factors were taken into consideration in the listing — the cost of hailing a taxi, the cost per kilometre, the cost of waiting time, a typical fare for a taxi from the airport to the city centre, and even what car model is most popular with cab drivers — to assign a score to, and rank each city.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, major western European centres cluster around the bottom of the rankings with London, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Tokyo, Geneva and Zurich reiterating why you should be utilising the public transport networks in each of these cities.
However, if you're about to take a trip to Cairo — hail away. A trip to the airport will cost you, on average, Dh15.28, and the average cost per kilometre is just Dh4 - which is Dh15 cheaper per kilometre than in Zurich.
Mumbai, Jakarta, Bucharest, and Mexico City round out the top five places where taking a taxi won't set you back much more than a public transport ticket elsewhere in the world.
Coming in at number 26, Dubai is the only emirate to be included in the index.
Wedged in between Tallinn, in Estonia, and Budapest, in Hungary, Dubai earned it's spot on a variety of factors the index, most notably for its cheap airport to city centre fares and it's relatively competitive prices per kilometre.
At cost per kilometre, Dubai came in at number 20 on the list, with each kilometre costing passengers Dh2.05. However, it fared much worse in the initial hiring flag fall, with a steep average of Dh10.72 earning Dubai a fairly run-of-the-mill number 45.
Where the UAE does succeed, however, is apparently in the price of a trip from the airport to the city centre. In this category, Dubai comes in at an overall number 5 in the world, with a trip from Dubai International to the city centre costing an average of Dh30.2. However, the survey does not say exactly where in the city this bargain taxi fare will get you to, and it is assumed the Dh25 airport opening fare was not included.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, London is well on its way to taking out the top spot as the world's most expensive places to take a cab. With an airport to city centre price tag of Dh263, and a charge per kilometre of Dh4.80, the English capital is in good company at number 75 on the list — beaten only by Helsinki, Copenhagen, Tokyo, Geneva and Zurich.
Coming in at a hefty Dh18.90 per kilometre, a whopping Dh255.10 from the airport to the city centre, and an eye-watering Dh301.8 wait time per hour - the Swiss moneymaking mecca of Zurich is more than worthy to hold the 'most expensive' title.
Unless you're in Tokyo that is, and only ever travelling between the airport and city centre, in which case avoid cabs at all costs — unless you can afford the Dh690.8 price tag.
At Eternity’s Gate
Director: Julian Schnabel
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Oscar Isaacs, Mads Mikkelsen
Three stars
SERIES INFO
Cricket World Cup League Two
Nepal, Oman, United States tri-series
Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu
Fixtures
Wednesday February 5, Oman v Nepal
Thursday, February 6, Oman v United States
Saturday, February 8, United States v Nepal
Sunday, February 9, Oman v Nepal
Tuesday, February 11, Oman v United States
Wednesday, February 12, United States v Nepal
Table
The top three sides advance to the 2022 World Cup Qualifier.
The bottom four sides are relegated to the 2022 World Cup playoff
1 United States 8 6 2 0 0 12 0.412
2 Scotland 8 4 3 0 1 9 0.139
3 Namibia 7 4 3 0 0 8 0.008
4 Oman 6 4 2 0 0 8 -0.139
5 UAE 7 3 3 0 1 7 -0.004
6 Nepal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 PNG 8 0 8 0 0 0 -0.458
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
The%20specs
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Bugatti Chiron Super Sport - the specs:
Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16
Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto
Power: 1,600hp
Torque: 1,600Nm
0-100kph in 2.4seconds
0-200kph in 5.8 seconds
0-300kph in 12.1 seconds
Top speed: 440kph
Price: Dh13,200,000
Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport - the specs:
Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16
Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto
Power: 1,500hp
Torque: 1,600Nm
0-100kph in 2.3 seconds
0-200kph in 5.5 seconds
0-300kph in 11.8 seconds
Top speed: 350kph
Price: Dh13,600,000
Overview
Cricket World Cup League Two: Nepal, Oman, United States tri-series, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu
Fixtures
Wednesday February 5, Oman v Nepal
Thursday, February 6, Oman v United States
Saturday, February 8, United States v Nepal
Sunday, February 9, Oman v Nepal
Tuesday, February 11, Oman v United States
Wednesday, February 12, United States v Nepal
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
'Ashkal'
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
Third Test
Result: India won by 203 runs
Series: England lead five-match series 2-1
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Company%20Profile
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Tree of Hell
Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla
Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5
Indika
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
The%20Genius%20of%20Their%20Age
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: SimpliFi
Started: August 2021
Founder: Ali Sattar
Based: UAE
Industry: Finance, technology
Investors: 4DX, Rally Cap, Raed, Global Founders, Sukna and individuals
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
If%20you%20go
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC