Settling in Dubai — questions

I've only just settled in so buying a car straight away feels like too much, but I have no sense of whether renting or leasing is better. I'm thinking of a short term — curious which way makes more sense

I vaguely heard somewhere that if you take a taxi from the airport into the city there's a separate flat starting charge on top of the meter. I've also heard the fare is different during the day versus at night, and that the minimum fare went up recently, so I'm confused. Curious how first-time arrivals prepare for this.

I'm settling in and want to get a car, but the used car market here is new to me and I have no idea where to start. Every dealer tells me something different, so I'd appreciate advice on what to verify first.

I'm looking into a card for using the Dubai metro and buses, but there are several types and it's confusing. I've heard there are separate tourist and resident versions, but I don't know exactly what the difference is, so I'm asking. I'll be using it daily for commuting.

안녕하세요. 두바이에 거주하는 자녀가 있어서 이번에 차량을 추가로 알아보고 있습니다. 작년에 올라온 글들을 찾아봤는데, 그때와 지금이 상황이 많이 다른 것 같아 정보가 갈려서 혼자 정리가 어렵네요. 근처에 물어볼 곳도 마땅치 않고요.

It'd be convenient to pre-book a taxi for my morning commute, but I've heard booking ahead adds to the fare. I've also heard there are separate peak and off-peak rates, so I'm curious exactly how it differs.

I'm getting my license soon and plan to pick up a used car, but it's my first time and I don't know what to check first. Beyond the model year and mileage, is there anything specific to here that I should pay attention to?

I've just arrived in Dubai and I'm about to use public transport for the first time, but there are several card types and it's confusing. Is it fine to just buy a paper ticket, or is a rechargeable card better? If anyone knows, please tell me.

I came in on a tourist visa and have now switched to a work visa, and I'm wondering whether I can keep driving on my international driving permit. I'd also like to know if there's a point at which I have to convert to a local license.

I bought a car not long ago and I've heard the way the highway tolls are charged varies by time of day. I mostly just commute — does avoiding peak hours actually reduce the cost, or is that just something people say?

영국에서 차를 등록하려는데 예전 글에서 본 절차랑 지금이 같은지 모르겠어요.

Hello, I came to Dubai on a corporate posting and my family and I have been settled here for a while. I have to decide about a car next month, and I still have no basis for choosing between leasing and buying, or used versus new. I hear a lot that getting around without a car is hard because everything is so spread out. For those of you who actually bought a car, I'm curious which route you went a

I land in Dubai this week and the first thing I want to sort out is a transit card, but there are several types and I don't know which one to buy. I'll just be using it as a tourist — which card does everyone use?

I land at Dubai airport next month and I'm torn between just queuing for a taxi or booking a pickup in advance. It's an early morning arrival, which makes me more nervous about it.

I take the metro during rush hour and the fare seems to come out higher than usual. I'm wondering whether the fare actually varies by time of day.

I haven't been in Dubai long and my commute is pretty far, so I can't work out whether I should buy a car or keep taking taxis. I have no sense of how much it'd cost per month, so I'm asking here.

영국에서 기차로 출퇴근이 되는 동네인데 아이가 생기면서 차가 필요할까 싶어요.

두바이에 정착해서 처음으로 중고차를 알아보고 있는데 뭘 봐야 할지 감이 전혀 없어요. 사진처럼 고층 빌딩과 도로가 많은 이 도시에서 차는 필수인데 말이죠.

I was posted to a company over in Marina about 8 months ago. I haven't bought a car yet and I commute using a mix of the metro and taxis, but my monthly transport spend is all over the place. Does one card cover everything, and how often is it reasonable to take taxis? Curious what others do.

The commute is so crowded that I'm thinking about trying the Gold Class carriage. Taking it every day would be a bit of a cost burden, so I'd like to hear from people who've actually used it. And whether the regular carriage is fine too.