Once you could walk out of your door and bag a taxi anywhere in the city in under five minutes. Times have changed; but you’ve really got to catch a cab, here are a few places to try.

1: The malls Though you may have to wait in a queue (sometimes a long one), most taxi drivers make the rounds of the area's shopping malls.

2: The major hotels Even better than the shopping malls, the major hotels around town are an excellent spot to catch a taxi. Best of all, if you really can’t wait, the hotel concierge will often be able to call a cab for you (even if it’s one of the more expensive Al Ghazal or City taxis).

3: The airport If you need a taxi to get into town, you can always find one at the Abu Dhabi airport. Day or night, an endless stream of cabs enters and leaves the airport, so even if you have to stand in line, you can get something. They tend to charge a premium, though.

4: The Pink Shops in Khalifa City A Another surprisingly consistent spot for taxis off the island is at the row of pink shops on Street 16 in Khalifa City A near the SEHA Medical Clinic. A fortunate number of residents live close enough to walk; and if you don’t want to drive into town you can always drive down to the shops, secure a taxi, and have it follow you home to drop off your own vehicle. Excellent if you’re looking to go into town for the evening and don’t want to risk driving home at the end of the night.

5: The “T” Zone—Airport Road and the Corniche As the main artery through the city from the mainland to the coast, Airport Road is often thronging with taxis. The same goes double for the Corniche, arguably the fastest way to make the lateral trip across the island. Sometimes the intersection of smaller roads leading up to Airport Road and the Corniche are good, too, as the taxis make their way back to the main road.

Disagreements? Comments? Other suggestions? Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it