Because cutting down on life admin is always a good thing, right?
From laundry day to getting a fresh blowout to figuring out your commute, help is at hand. We’ve collected the best apps to make life in the UAE that little bit more convenient.
Life admin
01. Fetchr
Fetchr is like your own personal concierge – simply download the app and use it to send and receive parcels across the UAE, and track their whereabouts too. It’s easy to use and the customer service is excellent. fetchr.us
02. El Grocer
Can’t face another Carrefour crush or Spinneys stampede? Skip the supermarket stress and order your groceries online using the El Grocer app, and your goods will be with you within the hour. elgrocer.com
03. mSecure
From bank details to log-in credentials, keep all your passwords secure and in one handy place with the mSecure app. Much better than just using a Post-it. msecure.com
04. Washmen
We don’t know where we’d be without the Washmen, who’ll pick up a bag of laundry (for a flat rate of Dhs79 per special Washmen bag) and deliver it all cleaned and pressed within a couple of days washmen.com
05. Green Steam
It might be a bit pricier than your standard car wash (rates start at Dhs150) but the eco-friendly steam cleaning from Green Steam will give your vehicle a new lease of life. Plus, they’ll come to your home to do it, saving you countless hours queuing up at the petrol station. greensteamgcc.com
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06. Flipboard
Keep up to date with current events using Flipboard, an easy to use and visually pleasing app that collates the world’s biggest headlines and organises them based on your interests and your preferences. flipboard.com
07. Justmop
Nothing beats coming home to a spotless apartment and, with Justmop, you can book a cleaner quickly and easily for just Dhs35 an hour. You can even pay using your card directly through the app, so you don’t even need to worry about having cash on hand. justmop.com
08. Cam Scanner
Keep all your important documents handy – passport, insurance forms, and the like – using this app instead of a scanner. It stores your documents as PDFs and syncs across all your devices to keep your records up to date and your essential paperwork close to hand. camscanner.com
09. Babysteps Dubai
A must-have for new parents (especially ones who are feeling a bit frazzled), Babysteps will take the hassle out of the paperwork side of things, collecting and processing the documents needed to get your little one’s birth certificate and residency visa. The family-run business offers pick-up and delivery too. babystepsdubai.com
10. Pocket
Download Pocket onto your toolbar, use it to save articles and videos you want to view but don’t have time to, and it’ll add them to the app for when you do. It keeps your ‘to read’ list in one place, syncs across all your devices, and you can even add tags and categories to make it easier to search through your collection. getpocket.com
Health and fitness
11. Styck
Need an incentive to look after your health? Styck measures your steps, along with other health-related data, and lets you trade your stats in for rewards such as discounts on healthy restaurants. styckapp.com
12. Nike
It’s not UAE-specific, but the Nike Running Club app and the Nike Training Club app should be on any gym lover’s phone. From training for a race to following workouts led by world-class athletes, it’s incredible that both are free to download. nike.com
13. Strava
With thousands of members across the world, including a huge following in the UAE, this must-have app for fitness fanatics helps you keep track of runs and rides, and even find new routes in your neighbourhood (not to mention measure your speed against your neighbours, meaning things can get a bit competitive). strava.com
14. Classport
Get access to Dubai’s growing fitness scene with Classport. Monthly membership gets you three classes per studio, and there are loads to choose from. We love the community function, which lets you see what your friends have signed up for too. The app itself is free but membership starts at Dhs499 per month. classport.fit
15. GuavaPass
Sign up for a monthly membership to GuavaPass and get access to fitness studios around the city. Use the app to book up to three classes per studio per month, and enjoy GuavaPerks too – discounts at different shops, cafes and restaurants around the city. The app itself is free but membership starts at Dhs499 per month. guavapass.com
16. Stop, Breathe, Think
We’ve all heard that meditation is good for us, but where do you start? Stop, Breathe, Think is a beautiful, easy to use app that’s perfect for mindfulness newbies. Answer a few questions and it will generate the perfect guided meditation to suit your needs. stopbreathethink.com
17. Aaptiv
Need a gym buddy but can’t afford the personal trainer fees? Aaptiv has a range of workouts to choose from, with audio and video instructions from qualified trainers. aaptiv.com
Finance
18. Toshl Finance
The quirky characters that populate this app make getting your finances sorted just a bit more fun. Track your spending, set a budget and even programme reminders to make sure you pay your bills on time. toshl.com
19. Wally
This simple, cleanly-designed local application lets you log your shopping, set a budget and make sense of your expenses. wally.me
20. Liv
Emirates NBD’s lifestyle app helps you keep track of your spending, pay bills, shop online and more, plus it gives you access to local deals tailored to your own preferences. Just make sure you enable the location function. liv.me
21. Beam
Cards and cash are so passé – the Beam wallet app helps you pay for things using just your phone at more than 3,000 UAE venues, including supermarkets, cafes and restaurants. Your details are kept secure and you can earn rewards points on your spending too. beamwallet.com
Out and about
22. Wepul
This homegrown app connects people who want to learn new skills with others in their neighbourhood who can teach them. Make new friends, get to know your neighbours and even make a few extra dirhams sharing your skills. wepul.com
23. Guzzle
Dining out several nights a week is par for the course in this city, but you can make it a bit easier on your wallet using Guzzle, which gives you discounts at venues across Dubai. getguzzle.com
24. Deliveroo
This handy little app has saved us from many an afternoon of rumbling stomachs in the office. Once you’ve ordered your food from one of the hundreds of restaurants, you can use the app to track exactly how far away your meal is. deliveroo.ae
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25. The Entertainer
If you download only one app on this list, make it this Dubai classic, which will save you dirhams on everything from luxury hotel stays to spa treatments and brunches. Two-for-one voucher bundles start from Dhs445 per year. theentertainerme.com
26. Hoodi
Whether you’re a Dubai Marina devotee or love the peace and quiet of the Greens, Hoodi will let you tap into the social network of your neighbourhood, alerting you to events and helping you connect with your neighbours. hoodi.com
Travel and transport
27. Careem
The UAE’s answer to Uber, not only is Careem a brilliant taxi service, it also offers regular discounts on rides, as well as other services in Dubai, such as Deliveroo. careem.com
28. Dubai Airports
Take the stress out of travel with Dubai Airports’ app to help you navigate the maze of DXB and keep you updated on flight departures and arrivals. dubaiairports.ae
29. Carpool Arabia
Fancy sharing your commute? Carpool Arabia connects drivers with spare seats and passengers needing a ride for an eco-friendly option that’s cheaper than a cab. carpoolarabia.com
30. Waze
Offering real time updates to help you navigate traffic delays, this is our driving go to. Covering cities across the world, it’s also great if you’re planning to hire a car while overseas – though you’ll need a data package to avoid racking up a big bill. waze.com
31. RTA Smart Parking
Never scrabble for change for the parking meter again. The RTA’s parking app will pick up on the parking code relevant to your location and let you pay for parking, without the usual SMS fees. rta.ae
32. Detour travel app
Make the most of your city break with this handy travel app, which functions as an audio guide in your pocket. From neighbourhood walks to museum talks in London, New York and more, it’s like travelling with a wise, worldly friend. detour.com
33. Safer driver
Let’s say that you’ve met some friends for dinner, and you’re not feeling quite up to driving afterwards. Book a driver and they’ll make sure both you and your car get home in one piece. saferdriver.ae
34. Wojhati
A must-have for anyone who uses Dubai’s public transport system regularly, Wojhati will help you plan your route at any time of the day, and work out the cost too. wojhati.rta.ae
35. TripIt
Keep track of your holiday itinerary with TripIt, which organises all your tickets, reservation codes and booking references in one place, and in chronological order. Sorted. tripit.com
Fashion and beauty
36. 800 Tailor
Suit a bit saggy? Dress not draping well? Rather than schlepping all the way to Satwa for some quality alterations, call 800 Tailor and one of the team will come to your home or office to measure you up and fix your outfit, before delivering it back to your door. 800tailor.com
37. Shedd
Give gently used clothes to a new home or bag a second-hand bargain for yourself with Shedd, which functions a bit like a Dubai eBay store in your pocket. sheddapp.com
38. Namshi
An online shopping platform offering a mix of local and international brands (think Mango, Finery and Topshop), the Namshi app makes it all too easy to expand your wardrobe. Keep in mind though, Namshi doesn’t offer refunds, only credit to use in store, so shop wisely. namshi.com
39. Sivvi
When you’ve just been invited to an event last minute and realised you have nothing to wear, Sivvi can come to the rescue. The online shopping platform stocks a great variety of fashion brands and offers regular discounts and, best of all, next day delivery. sivvi.com
40. Vaniday
Book beauty and wellbeing treatments at the touch of a button using Vaniday, which features some of Dubai’s best spas and salons. App users can enjoy some sweet discounts, plus you get to avoid the embarrassment of your coworkers overhearing you your waxing appointment over the phone. Win win. vaniday.ae
This article was originally published in Good magazine
Image: Getty
