Where an app is strong, we explain why
Where an app is limited, we say that too. The goal is for you to match the tool to your own driving, not to adopt our preference.
About Sakilis and how we keep this useful
An independent English-language navigation resource for the UAE — built for people driving and travelling here who want practical answers instead of marketing.
What we do
Practical UAE road map guidance, written for the day you drive
We publish guides about navigating UAE roads and transport. That includes comparisons of the navigation apps people actually use here, setup walkthroughs, and explainers on things like Makani numbers and Salik tolls.
The focus is Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with coverage of inter-emirate travel and the practical details that matter on the ground. We don't run a live traffic service and we don't claim to.
Who this is for
Drivers, residents and visitors working out their options
The audience is anyone driving or travelling in the UAE who wants to understand their options: new arrivals learning the road signs, residents choosing between navigation apps, and visitors planning a trip that mixes driving with the Metro or Tram.
If you've ever had a map pin land on the wrong side of a service road, you're the reader we have in mind.
The audience is on the road, not reading a spec sheet.
How we choose what to cover
A small, deliberate set of tools
We cover the navigation options that are widely used in the UAE. We don't try to list everything. We focus on the tools and systems most people will actually encounter, and we go into enough detail on each to be useful.
Tool or system
Type
Where we go deep
RTA Smart Drive
Official RTA app
Setup, settings, Makani search
Google Maps
Consumer app
Offline maps, Salik warnings
Apple Maps
Consumer app
Transit guidance, CarPlay
Waze
Community app
Roadworks reports, reroutes
Yango Maps
Consumer app
Local routing, taxi pairing
Metro, Tram, Marine Transport
Public network
Connections to driving trips
Depth per tool is chosen by how many people actually meet it, not by how much we could write about it.
How we write about apps
Strengths and limits, described from documented features
We describe what each app does based on its documented features and how it behaves in UAE conditions. We don't rank apps by invented performance scores, and we don't claim one is universally better.
Independent of app makers and the RTA
No invented scores, no rankings
We don't rank apps by invented performance scores, and we don't claim one is universally better than another. What we describe comes from documented features and how each tool behaves on UAE roads.
Match the tool to your trip
A daily commuter, a weekend visitor and a family moving across emirates need different things from the same app.
Keeping content current
Updated when the facts underneath shift
Navigation features change. Apps add capabilities, road networks get updated, and signage conventions evolve as new interchanges open. We review our pages periodically and update them when the underlying facts shift.
If you spot something that's out of date or wrong, the contact page is the place to say so. Corrections from people driving the roads are the most useful input we get.
What we don't do
No live traffic feed, no turn-by-turn guidance
We don't publish live traffic data, and we don't provide real-time route guidance. Your navigation app does that better than any article could.
We also don't make guarantees about app accuracy or road conditions. Roads change, apps update, and any guide is a snapshot. Treat what you read here as a starting point, and trust the signs and your app on the day.
How to use the site
Pick your starting point
The public transport and live traffic pages handle trips that aren't purely point-to-point driving. Read them in whatever order suits your trip.
Navigation apps compared
Choosing between Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, Yango Maps and RTA Smart Drive for your own commute.
RTA Smart Drive guide
Setting up the official RTA app, understanding its settings, and getting Makani search to behave.
Offline maps guide
Downloading map areas before a trip so a weak signal doesn't leave you guessing in an unfamiliar district.
Makani address guide
How Makani numbers work for buildings and how to use them when a street address isn't enough.
Salik, signs and inter-emirate driving
Toll gates, road sign conventions, and what changes when you drive between emirates.
Public transport navigation
Combining the Metro, Tram and Marine Transport with the driving part of a trip.
Live traffic and roadworks
Where to look when a route is disrupted, and why an app's live layer is the right place to check.
Questions we get
Straight answers
If your question isn't here, the contact page is the fastest way to reach the people who maintain the site.
Does Sakilis provide live traffic data?
No. We write guides and explainers. Live traffic and turn-by-turn directions come from your navigation app.
Are you affiliated with the RTA or any app maker?
No. We write about these tools independently based on their documented features and how they behave in UAE conditions.
How do I report something that's out of date?
Use the contact page. Corrections from people driving the roads are the most useful input we get.
Where to reach us
Send a note, or start with the comparison
Sakilis is maintained from an office on Sheikh Zayed Road. If a page has drifted out of date, or you want to suggest a route or tool we should cover, write to us — corrections from people driving the roads are the most useful input we get.
Office details
- Address
- Office 1403, Al Shatha Tower, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Phone
- +971 4 518 1085
- [email protected]
- Working hours
- Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM