Dubai or Abu Dhabi: Private Car & Driver Flexible Day Hire

4.99

(231 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

“You tell me where, I’ll handle the rest,” said Ahmed, grinning as he opened the car door outside our hotel in Dubai. I’d been worried about getting around—a bit nervous about taxis and the heat, honestly—but from the moment we slid into the air-conditioned back seat, it felt like someone else was looking after all those little things you don’t even realize you’re stressing about. The seats were cool (literally—leather but not sticky), and there was a faint scent of cardamom from his coffee flask up front. Bottled water already waiting for us. I asked if we could swing by an old souk before heading to Abu Dhabi for lunch. “Of course,” he nodded, like it was no big deal.

We drifted through the city traffic without that usual edge of tension—Ahmed knew every shortcut and seemed to know when to talk and when to let us just look out the window. At one point, my friend tried out her Arabic (“shukran!”) and he actually laughed, not unkindly, then taught us how to say thank you properly (“it’s more like ‘shokran’, softer”). We stopped wherever we wanted—quick photos at Jumeirah Mosque, a detour for some dates at a roadside stall, even an unplanned stop at a tiny bakery because I caught a whiff of fresh bread through the open window. The freedom was real; no meter ticking up, no pressure to rush. It’s strange how much lighter you feel when you’re not thinking about logistics every minute.

By afternoon, crossing into Abu Dhabi felt almost dreamlike—the desert light changing outside the windows, everything slowing down just a bit. Ahmed chatted with us about his family back home in Egypt while we sipped cold water (he insisted we stay hydrated). He helped with bags at each stop without making it awkward. When we finally got dropped off at our last spot—a little sunburned and full of new words—I realized I hadn’t checked my phone once for directions or rideshares all day. That’s rare for me.