meonline

Is is just me or is Dubai really hard to move about in? I find that the signs can be hit and miss at the best of times. When I went to collect my rented car from the rental office I got lost on the way back home. It took me 2 hours to find my way back. I ended up in Al Wasl so I had to ask a friend from work to come and get me. Very embarassing, yes, but I had no choice.

Is there a better way of getting to know the different routes? Are there any good road maps? At the moment, I just drive to and from work and to the local mall. I currently stay in Al Barsha. Any tips and advice would be welcome. Thanks.

Roadking

SatNav? As long as you don't rely on it 100%...

Broken_Heart

its not your mistake
its probably RTA
because each morning you wake up
you are going to find

MacScot

When I plan trips to places in Dubai that I have not been...I find Google Earth to be very useful. They updated the Dubai satellite photo last year..so most areas are up-to-date. You can capture all or part of your computer screen and print off your own little maps.

There is also a few interactive Dubai maps on the web...just do a search.

TGFKASE

Hear hear... My SatNav doesnt know Business Bay Bridge exists. Really confuses the lassie when I take to the air and jump the creek.....

Inselaffen

you being in a red yank tank it probably thinks you're the Dukes of hazzard!

TGFKASE

Ah, you're just still pissed about having to sell your yank capri....

Inselaffen

i much prefer using the bus! really I do!

TGFKASE

At least the bus can corner better than your Mustang did.....

Roadking

A one legged 96 year old with a zimmer frame can corner better than a Mustang...

shiva

whatever happend to the sense of direction or maps?

and dont say they are useless here, its not that sodding big and the diversions are a pain but not impossible to negotiate. (traffic jams excluded)

Debowing

I know dubai roads extremely well but i still get confused inside the back streets of deira and also the infamous al-quoz ind and the jebel ali ind. The best way is to keep a mental map in your head and learn to know that there are various localities in dubai such as karama, mirdif, deira, qusais, barsha etc. Also be aware that a wrong turning can lead to lots of backtracking and time waste. Be sure to know from the start where you plan to go, as you make mistakes you will learn. There are also times where you cannot jump lanes to get to the turning you want. Additionally, roads are designed in dubai to enable traffic to move in certain circular orbits so a straight line is not always the answer. Many times you will find that an access or a turn that is so easy on the way it is deliberately blocked or missing on the way back and forces you to do an orbit to return. Buy a GPS but that too is not as good as your own memory of wrong turns to avoid. There is no end to the learning of dubai driving because as you drive around you will find new routes to avoid those 15 min traffic lights or congested areas. Also when you are really good at this you can even develop salik avoidance strategies. Remember always that there is no common sense in the way certain roads operate. I drive from barsha to jebel ali to garhoud to al quoz daily, i find it is better to plan your journey in an orbital (circular) manner. Also don't be too optimistic to be able to visit all the places in one go.

TGFKASE

God, one thing I hate is the chaos caused by numpties who are so f**kin' cheap they won't spring for 4dhs to use SZR, but will quite happily jam it up by diving off at the last possible exit before the toll, jam up the feeder roads around the toll and then cause more chaos back on SZR by diving back on at the first available entry point.... Either that, or they jam up the residential roads around SZR 'bypassing' the tolls and heading onto SZR at the last possible moment..

Debowing

Yes and the best thing is that salik is paid for by my company!!! but our company advised us to avoid salik if possible....Before I was clogging 8 or 12 dhs a day on this, it's unfair to our company (*-*)

TGFKASE

I can't quite determine if this is an attempt at sarcasm.......