Thanks to its advanced digital infrastructure, Dubai provides residents and tourists with access to a wide range of municipal, lifestyle and everyday services through smart platforms. Familiarity with the city’s most useful apps can save significant time and help Iranian residents of the UAE and visitors manage their expenses more effectively.

The video above and the list below highlight eight of Dubai’s leading and most widely used services, organised by category:

Urban transport (Careem): Careem is one of Dubai’s most comprehensive and efficient ride-hailing and taxi apps. Its extensive fleet coverage generally means shorter waiting times than many competitors.

Online food delivery (Talabat and Deliveroo): These two platforms cover one of the widest networks of restaurants and cafés in Dubai. Users are advised to install both apps and choose the best option based on their location and available discounts.

Grocery shopping (InstaShop): This platform allows users to order a wide range of products online from supermarkets, pharmacies and local shops, with fast doorstep delivery.

Rapid delivery (Noon Minutes): Noon’s ultra-fast delivery service brings everyday essentials to users in around 10 to 15 minutes.

Home and healthcare services (Justlife): This all-in-one platform can be used to book home cleaning, laundry and dry-cleaning, repairs, beauty treatments and massages. Users can also arrange for a nurse to visit their home to conduct medical tests, such as blood tests.

Interest-free instalment payments (Tabby and Tamara): These two financial services operate on a “buy now, pay later” model, allowing shoppers to split the cost of purchases into four equal instalments with no fees or interest.

Restaurant and leisure discounts (The Entertainer): One of the UAE’s best-known discount apps, The Entertainer offers thousands of “buy one, get one free” deals at restaurants, cafés, water parks and leisure attractions.

Gym and beach club memberships (Privilee): A single Privilee membership provides unlimited access to a selection of beach clubs, five-star hotels, swimming pools and gyms across the UAE, as well as more than 1,000 fitness classes.

If you have recently moved to Dubai or are planning a trip to the UAE, saving this guide and sharing it with your travel companions can provide a useful reference for accessing the city’s services.