Wondering if I need cash for taxis in UAE or if I can just pay with card or app like in other countries?
Dubai RTA taxis are generally well-equipped with working card machines now, and you can also use Careem or Uber, both of which accept international cards. Abu Dhabi’s fleet is a bit slower on tech adoption, but even there I’ve had no problem paying by card. The only time you really need cash is for intercity travel or very remote areas. For daily rides in urban areas, card or app payments work fine - just confirm when you hop in.
I tried to avoid taxis because of cost, but used one from Deira to the airport. The driver had a POS machine and let me pay with my Revolut card - no issue. But a guy I met said his driver refused card late at night and made him go to an ATM. It’s mostly card-friendly, but there are occasional surprises. If you’re wondering “do UAE taxis accept cards?” - yes, but always good to ask before the ride starts.
I almost exclusively used Careem while in Abu Dhabi - works just like Uber and takes foreign cards no problem. For regular street taxis, I paid by Visa most of the time, but twice the driver said “card machine not working” and insisted on cash. So yes, card is accepted, but not 100% reliable. I always kept around AED 100 on me just in case. And heads up - airport taxis always take cards without hassle.
Most Dubai taxis now accept card payments - I used both Apple Pay and a UK Visa card without issues in city cabs. You’ll see a small POS machine near the meter. That said, a few drivers still ask for cash “because the machine’s down” - not often, but it happens. If you're taking a taxi from the street, it’s good to have some cash as backup, but you can usually pay with card or app without trouble.