The UAE has positioned itself as a rustic of the longer term , so it goes without saying that there are many technology-based tools available to form our lives here that much easier. From apps to assist you get around to some that provide fantastic deals and discounts on food and fitness, and even one which will deliver you petrol – here are the smartphone apps which will prevent time and money, whether you have been here for five years or five minutes.
Check out our gallery above for a snapshot of the UAE's best apps, and find more information about each below:
1. Zomato
You'll never got to prepare a meal again. While there are a couple of meal delivery apps to settle on from within the UAE (Deliveroo, Talabat, CareemNow are all popular) Zomato is our tried-and-tested favourite. One bonus is that it uses GPS instead of posing for location whenever , and offers instant confirmation that the restaurant has received the order and may deliver it. Once accepted, you get a reasonably accurate estimate of the delivery time, and real-time updates on the status of your order. If there are any issues with processing or delivery, a Zomato operator is on standby to quickly intervene on your behalf and can call to allow you to know what's happening. Careful though, Zomato addiction may be a real McCoy here.
2. Helpling ME
Sometimes things escape from you, and every one of a sudden you realise you would like a cleaner immediately . Helpling ME promises to “book a cleaner in Dubai in just 60 seconds”.
The service is obtainable for Dh35 per hour, with a three-hour minimum, and charges for extras like ironing or cleaning out the stove or refrigerator. you'll even buy the staff extra to bring their own cleaning materials, and it's easy to order cleaners on a one-time or recurring basis, either weekly or every other week.
The app was once only available in Dubai, but luckily for residents within the capital, it's since come to Abu Dhabi .
3. Entertainer
This two-for-one app just keeps recuperating and better. In your first few weeks within the UAE, you're probably wish to hear the phrase, "Is it on the Entertainer?" an honest few times, and since its sole purpose is many |to avoid wasting"> to save lots of lots of you money, it's an honest one to acquaint yourself with fairly quickly.
There are dining deals, also as ones for fitness and activities (the amusement park ones are great), and there are even ways to send unused offers to people , too. Prices start from Dh495 for the essential package.
4. Careem (Abu Dhabi and Dubai) / Uber (Dubai)
While grabbing a taxi is arguably easier within the UAE than it's in many other places within the world, many prefer sticking with these ride-hailing apps. However, there are a couple of ins and outs to understand before you are trying . Firstly, Uber isn't available in Abu Dhabi anymore – but confusingly, UberEATS is. In Abu Dhabi , you will need to use Careem, while in Dubai, you've got your pick between the 2 .
But within Uber, you've a choice of several different options – use UberX for a less costly service, UberONE for "premium" electric cars, or Uber Chopper if you're really keen to spare some cash and make an entrance on your weekly supermarket shop.
Both Uber and Careem are good choices for getting from A to B without having to wade out into oncoming traffic to flag a taxi down or having to stress about what proportion cash you're carrying (or having the right change).
5. Privelee
Fancy taking advantage of the plethora of luxurious pools and beach clubs, or maybe gyms, housed within the city's best hotels? Well, not does one need to buy a staycation, just use Privelee.
After paying the membership fee, this app offers unlimited access to over 49 pools and beach clubs across the UAE, over 56 five-star gyms and discounts at many affiliated restaurants. It now includes over 1000 free fitness classes, and access to sporting activities like tennis and squash, and large discounts on watersports and golf. Membership packages start at Dh529 per month.
6. Duolingo
Been here for 2 years but the sole Arabic you recognize is "khalas" or "falafel"? Here's the way to change that. Arabic has just become available on Duolingo, and to several , that news was well received.
A slow-and-steady approach to learning, the app promises to show you Arabic during a little as five minutes each day , teaching scholars to recognise letters and sounds, then build words and sentences. The app isn't scared to send you a notification to urge you to practice daily, if you fail to log certain a couple of days, you'll expect them to urge quite passive-aggressive. the simplest part? It's free.
7. Washmen
Washmen may be a really cool app for people, like us, too bone idle to try to to their own laundry. a couple of simple taps will bring the friendly Washman driver to your home to gather your laundry (in one among their own bags). you furthermore may specify once you want your laundry returned. When it's , it's beautifully pressed and cleaned and packaged.
Washmen also encourage social-media participation – and you get rewarded for recommending their service to friends and family.
8. Insta Shop
We know, we all know – something of a topic is emerging here: whereby we are supplying you with the tools to basically never leave your sofa again. But, providing you are a functioning human and can use this gained time to your advantage, there are many pros to getting somebody else to try to to your supermarket buying you. Shop for the things you would like on Insta Shop and it'll be delivered to your door in around an hour – it's particularly handy if you're within the middle of a banquet and can't leave the house, or you're mid-way through cooking and have forgotten a key ingredient. There are options to use credit card, or pay cash on delivery.
9. Smart Drive (Dubai)
There are three great things about the Smart Drive app by Dubai’s Road Transport Authority (RTA).
First, it's intuitive and straightforward to use, and there's far more detail than Google Maps. You look for your location, it maps a choice of routes, you choose the one you wish and a voice – a lady with impeccable and un-annoying English – tells you exactly where to travel (even which lane to be in). If you miss a turning, you're automatically rerouted
Second, as long as you set your location while you've got a Wi-Fi connection, you don’t need Wi-Fi to use it during the journey – it uses your phone’s GPS to guide you your end point.
Third, it's regularly updated so it's better than a Sat Nav and, if you would like , it also can take you to “Facebook places nearby” or “Foursquare venues nearby”.
10. Fetchr
Whether you're the sender or the recipient, Fetchr may be a speedy and convenient courier service for deliveries within the UAE. Drivers will devour a document or package and deliver it, using your phone’s GPS to work out your location.
You can select the time-slot for the pickup and delivery, and track the journey of your package. It is a useful delivery tool for start-up brands and businesses – and for up-and-coming companies who sell goods through social media, Sellr by Fetchr allows for cash-on-delivery payment methods.
And if you're really during a hurry, Fetchr Now (currently only available in Dubai) promises to send a driver to gather and immediately deliver a package within 45 minutes of booking the service.
11. Muslim Pro
While in some neighbourhoods, there are mosques on every corner that broadcast the decision to prayer loud and clear, some areas, especially within high-rise offices, are oblivious to the sound.
For those that attempt to pray five times each day , Muslim Pro may be a useful app that lists the prayer times and sounds the prayer calls on your smartphone, wherever you're . It is especially useful as an alarm for the first sunrise prayer, which some people struggle to awaken for. If you would prefer a more discreet reminder, you can opt for a silent notification.
The app is additionally helpful while travelling, since additionally to the Quran, it features a compass to offer you the prayer direction and timings regardless of where you're in the world.
12. Deliveroo
Deliveroo is another meal-ordering app that gives a huge selection of restaurants to order food deliveries from, which may be filtered by things like cuisine type or promotion.
Some restaurants on the app even have a “top rated” category which may be helpful when trying out a replacement place or whenever you're unsure of what to eat. The app also has the choice to pay with cash or credit.
Once an order has been placed, you will be notified to mention the order it had been received from the restaurant, when the order has left the restaurant, and when your meal is close to arriving. There's also an option to schedule an order for later.
13. Ministry of Interior (Abu Dhabi)
None of us are proud of getting speeding tickets but inevitably, despite our best efforts, it can still happen. Keep your mind at ease by checking in here every couple of months or so (you can search by licence-plate number) just to make sure you have not accrued any and missed a text message.
The apps also have a wealth of other information – find updates on your criminal status, long and short-term visas and information about other road-related services.
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14. Dubai Now
Dubai now's invaluable for anyone who lives in Dubai. It enables users to pay just about everything which will , in theory, be annoying with the minimum of fuss: including Salik and Nol top-ups, police fines, utility payments, charitable contributions and on-street parking. Eleven topic headings cover everything important in life, like conveyance , education, security and justice, health, driving, business, residency, Islam and housing.
15. Darb
Trans AD’s Darb app is most helpful to seek out bus information, from which lines are closest to your current location, to timings and routes. Simply click on the app and hit the side tab for the bus icon. There you'll find all the bus markers within 1.5 kilometres of your location.
The bus timings are pretty accurate, counting on the recognition of the road , but what's specialized about the app is that you simply can check the map while on the bus and see upcoming stops for potential transfers.
But it's not just for bus lines, Darb can also help you get from A to B by foot too, with accurate pedestrian maps. There is also a feature that permits people to order taxis, but its simple use is questionable.
16. Waze
Waze may be a must-have for anyone who drives within the UAE. The community-based traffic and navigation app offers real-time road and traffic information, and may be a lifesaver if you are a driver.
Aside from showing drivers where to travel , the interactivity of this app allows other drivers to log incidents which will affect other people’s road journeys. Users can log congestion and alert other motorists to accidents which will hold them up.
All you've got to try to to is launch it, clock in your destination – an address or landmark – and it'll calculate the space and therefore the time it'll take, offering a number of routes. If you would like a petroleum station or parking lot , you'll look for those too.
It’s reliable and accurate and therefore the maps are updated regularly.
17. Cinema UAE
There are several cinema chains within the UAE and not all of their websites are as user-friendly as they might be. Cinema UAE may be a simple but effective little app that displays an inventory of all films showing that day in every emirate (except Umm Al Quwain), where and when. You can also see what’s showing for the next two days to help you plan ahead, and follow links to trailers and additional info about the films.
For some cinema chains, you'll click on a showtime and be taken straight to the cinema’s online-booking site. For the others, you'll still got to attend the chain’s own website to book.
18. CityGuard (Abu Dhabi)
This app allows you to report almost any public problem you would possibly encounter within the capital, from potholes or lights which may be call at the park, to rubbish pile ups, broken benches, hedges along walkways that require trimming, ongoing night noise, and far more.
Use the app to submit a photograph of the matter , map its location and supply a brief explanation. From experience, problems are solved in anywhere from at some point to 2 months.
19. Meetup
Consider this the 21st century method of making friends. Meetup describes itself as a global platform for "finding and building local communities", but it's also simply just a great way to meet people. Particularly in the UAE where you might find it harder to find like-minded people to socialise with, Meetup is a fantastic and efficient way to connect with people you might not otherwise cross paths with.
If you're not exactly in the market for a wealth of new people to hang out with, it's great for hobby groups (hiking, crafts and outdoors groups) and networking (career groups and professional mentoring help) too.
20. MarkaVIP
It's not solely available within the UAE, but this Jordanian e-commerce company is starting to make its mark here. Use this app to seek out discount luxury goods available within the region – from Gucci to Louis Vuitton to Tag Heuer. It pays to be vigilant on here though, as there are many flash sales which last only about three hours.
21. Abu Dhabi Taxi (Abu Dhabi) / Smart Taxi (Dubai)
Unwilling to stand on the side of the road, not knowing if you will be there for 25 seconds or 25 minutes, before the flapping of your outstretched arm catches the attention of a taxi driver? These apps are here to help. The idea is simple: they are ride-hailing apps for taxis.
While the 2 aren't quite as extensive as Uber or Careem, they are doing allow you to book a taxi to your location, allow passengers to rate drivers and log your last 10 bookings. There is a small booking fee, which makes it slightly more expensive than flagging down a cab in the street, but there is also the security of knowing there is definitely one on its way if you are in an obscure part of town.
22. TuneIn Radio
If you've got data to burn, then TuneIn Radio can provide a slice of home for expatriates on the morning commute. If you miss getting your fill of Britain's BBC Radio 5 Live, India's Radio City, Manila's WinRadio or Radio New Zealand, this might lessen the looking for home-grown radio from whichever corner of the planet you originally belong to.
Search the app for the international station you would like back in your life and tune – a bit like that. You can save multiple stations, too, which can allow you to flick between Monaco and Montreal within seconds. It even features a library of podcasts that you simply won't find on UAE app stores.
23. Groupon
A similar idea to the Entertainer app, but completely free, Groupon offers a changing array of discounts and two-for-one deals at an enormous range of shops , restaurants and more. From pool days to spa treatments to cleaning deals, you'll never got to pay full price (if you're flexible on retailers) again.
24. Noon / Namshi / Asos / Nisnass / Cult Beauty
Solid favourites of the UAE's online shopping crowd – these are the tried and tested apps that tend to return in most useful day-to-day. Noon offers everyday items at good prices, and sometimes a decent delivery turnaround. Use it for everything from homewares to tech goods, to beauty products. Asos, Namshi and Nisnass all focus totally on clothes, footwear and a few beauty products, and therefore the latter two can sometimes get your order to you that day, or subsequent day. Cult Beauty may be a worldwide phenomenon, sure, but you'll get an additional 20 per cent off if you reside within the UAE thanks to UK taxes. The only thing to be wary of is delivery times – these can vary wildly.
25. Cafu (Dubai)
Forget the age-old debacle within the UAE of waiting in lines to refuel your tank as you sit idle at a petroleum station, taking precious outing of your day – why not have someone come to your house to do it for you? Cafu's on-demand fuel delivery service will come to you to fill up your car with fuel, whether you're at home, work or basically anywhere. Right now, it's only available in Dubai, but they've promised to increase their reach to the opposite emirates soon.
26. Overcast
A lot of podcasts aren't on the UAE iTunes / Podcast list, so this is often the simplest thanks to find them. Use this app to seek out podcasts from round the world.
27. Ekar / Udrive
Newly arrived and haven't gotten around to purchasing , or renting a car, yet? Only need a car for an hour? What about 15 minutes? Ekar and Udrive bridge the gap between somebody else taking the wheel for you and driving yourself.
The basic equation is pretty simple: choose your app, download it, register, then find a car to rent via a GPS-enabled in-app map, where the cars you can use are simply parked on the side of the road. Once you have instantly reserved your vehicle, on arrival you unlock it using the app, then punch in a pre-designated PIN to a keypad in the glovebox, which releases the ignition key. Ekar is available only in Dubai and costs 50 fils per minute, including VAT, while there are also daily rates for various specified cars; Udrive, which is available in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, is 50 fils per minute, excluding VAT. Udrive also has daily rates, which vary per city, as do certain excess mileage charges.
28. Kibson's
You won't be within the UAE long before you hear of an individual who "swears by Kibson's", and there is good reason for that. This delivery service may be a rare find – where we will vouch for its nutritional integrity alongside its ability to form us all a touch lazier. Kibson's may be a fresh foods and produce delivery service (they also now stock meat!), offering good quality fruit and vegetables, also as other edible goods, for fair prices.
29. Beam
It calls itself the "future of retail", and who's to argue with them? Beam was ApplePay before ApplePay, offering an in-phone payment system that will really come in handy if you realise you've forgotten your wallet at the cash register. Accepted at around 3,000 venues in the UAE, the Beam wallet deems cash and credit cards irrelevant, and even offers reward points on your spending.
30. The National
We know, we know – this is a shameless plug in an otherwise completely unbiased article, but our app is a pretty great place to stay up-to-date with the latest happenings in the UAE and further afield. Download it on iPhone and Android, and be the primary to understand as news breaks relevant to the center East.
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