Planning a trip to UAE? 30 apps to install for an easy peasy exploration

The UAE is one of the most happening places today. Tourists adore the country for the right reasons. The UAE is safe, clean and a melting pot of cultures. It has some of the most luxurious hotels and restaurants. But the affordable spectrum is also expanding fast.

Shopping in Dubai is an experience. To be honest, Dubai and shopping go hand-in-hand. This city hosts some of the largest and busiest shopping malls globally, such as the Dubai Mall. The culinary scene is also top-notch, featuring great choices for all foodies.

The UAE has also established itself as a popular seaside destination. The skyscrapers in the Gulf state remain a special memory for all tourists. There are almost no language barriers and the nightlife is also completely unmissable.

30 apps to install for that epic trip to UAE

The UAE continues to announce record-breaking international tourist numbers. Tens of thousands of people flock to the nation annually for different reasons. There is a particular list of UAE apps that all tourists should keep for an easy peasy exploration.

1. Visit Dubai

Tourists in Dubai should install the ‘Visit Dubai’ app to explore the emirate confidently and stay updated on the latest happenings. This platform features top attractions, hotels and dining spots – and is also accessible in six languages.

Visit Dubai is the official mobile application from Dubai Economy and Tourism. One of the most important features of this app is offline access. Search through hundreds of things to do in Dubai, create itineraries on the go and personalise for that perfect trip to the UAE.

2. Careem

Tourists landing in the UAE are most probably going to look for a taxi first thing. No? There is the Careem app to rescue. You can find both luxurious and affordable rides from one point to another. This platform truly lets you take control.

But in addition to taxis, there is so much more to do on Careem. You can order food, groceries, arrange car rentals and also book cleaning options. Furthermore, there are options to pay using cash or digitally. Do note, there is a Careem BIKE app, too.

3. Dubai Travel Guide

This is the ultimate Dubai trip planner. The Dubai Travel Guide app is 100% free, supports more than 14 languages, and features the best activities and tours to book instantly. Start planning that perfect trip to Dubai right on this app.

Dubai Travel Guide is perfect for tourists looking for daily Dubai itineraries, city sightseeing and hop-on and hop-off tours, and much more. There are street and public transportation maps, too, for an easy peasy exploration of the emirate.

4. Dubai Metro Interactive Map

The Dubai Metro Interactive Map is ideal for both tourists and residents. It is one of the best apps for public transport globally – I’m not kidding. The best part? Maps and journey planning does not stop if one goes offline.

Step-by-step guide means a person does not get lost. From taking the stress out of commuting to offering personal shortcuts, exploring Dubai has seldom been this simple. The VIP version of the app offers an ad-free experience.

5. Dubai Calendar

Dubai Calendar is the official app from the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing. This is the perfect platform to keep track of upcoming events in the emirate. You can customise and experience the city in the best possible manner.

From live entertainment and art exhibitions to sports contests and family-friendly events, Dubai Calendar has something for all tourists. Essentially, if you are looking for the best time to visit the UAE, this is certainly the compulsory app to install.

6. Talabat

Be it food, groceries, pet supplies or pharmacies, Talabat has it all. There is almost no need to go out for essentials. This app ensures products reach the right address on time and safely. Planning a trip to UAE? Install Talabat and make things simpler.

Interestingly, Talabat is not just an IT app in the UAE. It is also accessible in Oman, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt and many more countries in the region. Talabat has fine-tuned the experience across eight countries, ensuring a smoother, faster and more personalised experience.

7. noon

Let’s hear noon, one of the best shopping apps in Dubai. From mobiles to home appliances, fashion, grocery essentials, fast food and more, noon is the best online shopping app for both tourists and residents in Dubai.

Shop laptops and accessories from top brands. The same is for mobile phones, home appliances, apparel and beauty products. No time to go to the restaurant? Order food online on noon. There are multiple deals and coupons to use daily.

8. RTA Dubai

RTA Dubai is the ultimate app to keep for all public transport-related queries in Dubai. This application is perfect for planning routes, reading schedules, checking traffic and validating parking. But there is one more important thing.

The RTA app also lets its users top up nol cards (used in buses and Dubai Metro). This is the perfect platform to easily keep enough money on the card to go around Dubai stress-free. But nol cards are not just for transportation. For the complete guide, click here.

9. Dubai Mall

Essentially, let’s understand Dubai apps to keep for retail therapy at a click. Dubai’s reputation as a shopping paradise precedes itself. There are malls offering shops and boutiques, in addition to indoor theme parks, thrilling attractions, restaurants and cinemas.

The Dubai Mall is the biggest shopping mall in Dubai and one of the most visited places on Earth. Seriously! There is the Dubai Mall app for step-by-step navigation around its 1,200 stores and more than 200 restaurants. You can also keep an eye on offers and promotions.

10. Dubai Health

Dubai Health is an all-in-one portal to all health-related options. This mobile application is fit to keep a track of appointments, lab results and prescriptions. You can also check medical fitness status and sign up for blood donation.

Essentially, Dubai Health significantly simplifies healthcare experience in Dubai. This user-friendly app offers real-time updates on medical fitness application status, attested sick leave certificates, map to locate hospitals and health centres, and many more things.

11. RTA Smart Drive

RTA Smart Drive is an on-board route planning, exploration and navigation app that does not require a mobile internet connection. It offers voice and visual instructions, speed limit alerts, automatic rerouting and displays POIs along the route.

Some of the salient features of the app include, parking zones, voice navigation in multiple languages, 3D landmarks, regular map updates, locations of metro, tram, marine and bus stations, and real-time traffic information.

12. DTC

DTC calls itself Dubai’s smartest transport mobile application. This is the perfect app to install to travel around Dubai quickly and in a much simpler manner, through its broad range of affordable taxi, limousine and other transport options.

DTC has been built keeping ‘You’ in mind. That’s true. This app is about comfort and happiness. Some of the main reasons to install it are: user-friendly, range of transport options, instant booking, real-time fare calculation, safe cars, secure payment and free internet.

13. S’hail

Try out S’hail for a simpler travelling experience. S’hail represents the best public transport routes to take using different modes of transportation, such as buses, metro, tram, taxis, marine, e-hailing and cycling.

Bring transportation at your fingertips. You can use S’hail as a guest user. But it is recommended to login or create a RTA account to benefit from all of the cool features offered by this user-friendly app. Happy exploration!

14. Big Bus Tours

Experience the best of the city using Big Bus Tours. It is one of the best global travel buddies, featuring a number of indispensable features to help tourists make the most of their sightseeing experience in more than 20 cities, including Dubai.

From real-time bus tracking, bus stop details, timely alerts and secure booking, Big Bus Tours has it all. The attractions menu features the location of all the best local landmarks, attractions, shopping, dining and things to do – in addition to special offers for selected places.

15. nol Pay

nol Pay has made commuting in the UAE simpler. This official RTA app is designed to make commuting easier for Dubai residents, commuters and tourists. Probably the most important feature of the app is helping users manage their nol cards using just smartphones.

Using nol Pay, tourists can register anonymous nol cards, apply for personal nol cards, report lost/damaged for personal or registered nol cards, top up or add travel passes to nol cards using mobile through NFC function anytime.

16. Uber

Yes. Uber is one of the top UAE apps to install. This is the perfect platform to use to get around the city anytime, day or night time. There is a broad range of ride options to suit different needs and budgets.

You can see estimated prices for different ride options by inputting the destination. Uber takes rider safety seriously and offers in-app features such as an emergency assistance button. It can also be used for airport pickups and dropoffs.

17. Experience Abu Dhabi Official

Had enough of bulky maps and guidebooks? This free Experience Abu Dhabi app is the easiest and most friendly method to explore the emirate. Get details of all that the UAE capital has to offer – from attractions and experiences to heritage and culture.

This official app also makes it simple to get details on hotel bookings, restaurants, shopping malls, spas and nail salons. Experience Abu Dhabi supports 7 languages and features up-to-date information on all there is to see and do in the city.

18. The Official Abu Dhabi Pass

This is the ultimate digital companion to the top attractions, tours and experiences in Abu Dhabi. Looking to be intrigued by the city’s cultural heritage, embrace its natural beauty, try out thrilling theme parks or explore modern landmarks? This app has it all prepared.

One of the main features of this app is its tailored pass options, letting users choose from a long list of pass options that support their budget and itinerary. You can unlock special discounts and since the pass is valid for 14 days, flexibility is all around.

19. Darbi

Darbi Mobile brings its users closer to real-time information on traffic conditions, traffic incidents and road conditions in the UAE capital. Users can also plan journeys around the city and get updated data on bus schedules and facilitate topping up the Hafilat Card.

Darbi also enables users to book a taxi and obtain ferry schedule information. But the application requires at least 3G internet. For many of the system functions, access to GPS location on the smartphone is also necessary.

20. Abu Dhabi Taxi

Imagine getting a taxi in less than 10 minutes. It is that simple! Abu Dhabi Taxi is a user-friendly mobile application that offers the ease of booking a taxi in the emirate immediately from the current location determined by the phone’s GPS.

Users can register in the app, request a taxi, track the location of booked taxi, cancel booking, search for places in the city and book a ride from that location and bookmark addresses to experience an accelerated access for future taxi bookings.

21. Deliveroo

Seeking something delicious? Deliveroo makes it incredibly easy to order from the best local restaurants. From some of the UAE’s best restaurant chains to local legends, this app brings home food and groceries on time.

One of the main reasons to install Deliveroo is the BIG discounts the app offers quite frequently. Interestingly, this app is also really useful in ordering from the FIX Dessert Chocolatier – the name behind the incredible Dubai chocolate sensation.

22. Emirates

It makes all sense to keep the Emirates app. You can search for flights to more than 150 destinations and complete the entire booking process on the app itself. Scores of flights depart from the Dubai International airport daily.

The Emirates app makes it easy to manage the trip on the go. You can print the boarding pass, choose meal and seat preference, and also track bags from check-in through to the baggage belt at the final destination, offering peace of mind.

23. Klook

The No.1 app for all things travel, hotels and leisure. There are nearly half a million travel activities on the Klook app – from sightseeing trips to cultural experiences and hotel bookings. There are multiple reasons to install the application.

Klook features handpicked experiences and local insights from hundreds of destinations. The app also makes e-booking fast through instant confirmation and skip-the-line tickets on selected attractions. Book things that make you happy.

24. UAEICP

The UAEICP app enables locals, residents and tourists to get benefits in relation to visas, residencies, payment of fines, and printing the family book. You can apply for a visit visa for relatives or generate the travel status report and the list of people you sponsor.

The UAEICP mobile application makes it incredibly easy to apply for a residence entry permit for family members. You can also request an UAE passport, print the family book for locals, extend on-arrival visa and pay fines of visas and residencies.

25. 2GIS

Hello to offline maps! 2GIS offers real-time traffic information, transit schedules and a full city directory. You can use the app both online and offline. 2GIS makes its users feel at home in an unfamiliar place. You can find addresses, phone numbers and company names.

2GIS offers accurate maps, detailing districts, buildings, streets, bus stops, gas stations, sports grounds and other objects. You can find real-time traffic jams, reports of accidents, blocked streets, and speed cameras. There is also the time table of public transport.

26. Duolingo

The UAE is a melting pot of cultures. It is true. But if someone really seeks to learn a different language on the go, Duolingo is the right app. Duolingo is the fun and free app to learn more than 40 languages through quick, bite-sized lessons.

Designed by language experts and adored by millions of learners from across the globe, Duolingo uses game-like lessons and fun characters to help users build solid speaking, reading and other skills. Plus, the mascot is so cute!

27. Botim

Planning a trip to UAE? Install the Botim app for free, secure and reliable messages and calls. This app can turn the trip into a seamless experience by helping you connect to your family and friends in different countries easily.

Some of the main features of Botim include, fast and secure chats/group chats, unlimited HD voice/video calls, hassle-free transactions, and luring offers. Make the best use of this app during the next trip to the UAE.

28. The ENTERTAINER

The ENTERTAINER app is perfect for tourists looking for affordability. You no longer need to pay in full. This application helps unlock Buy 1 Get 1 offers at some of the best restaurants, bars, attractions, spas, salons, hotels and more.

The ENTERTAINER has a range of location-specific products that bring you access to these offers for an entire year in the UAE, Qatar, and many more GCC countries. The offers on the table shall constantly be Buy 1 Get 1 free.

29. e& UAE

Formerly branded as Etisalat, e& is one of the most prominent telecommunications companies globally. The e& app is the one-stop destination to manage multiple accounts, recharge, pay bills, subscribe to add-ons and get online offers and much more.

The e& app also offers 24/7 online chat support. You can select the best postpaid plans and enjoy instant activation of eSIM. Get a free prepaid SIM and create personal plans at ease. You can get bonus cashbacks on each recharge.

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