Getting around
Careem is the local rideshare and does more than cars: bikes, deliveries and payments sit in the same app.
Uber works too and is worth having as a price check.
Google Maps handles driving and Metro routing well. Traffic estimates here are accurate and worth trusting.
Food and deliveries
Talabat is the dominant delivery app and has the widest coverage by a distance.
Deliveroo operates here as well with a smaller and more curated list.
Both deliver to hotel lobbies without fuss.
Everything else
Noon is the regional Amazon. If you forgot a charger it arrives the same day in most of the city.
The RTA app handles Nol card top-ups and Metro times if you are using public transport seriously.
A VPN is not needed for the web, but some voice and video calling apps are restricted on UAE networks. Check before you rely on one for a call.
What you can skip
You do not need a translation app. English is spoken everywhere and most signage is bilingual.
You do not need a currency app. The dirham is pegged, so the rate you looked up before you flew is the rate.
Every app here needs data the moment you land, which is exactly when airport Wi-Fi is at its worst during a conference week.
