Trying to get home in a Northern Emirate

There are a large number of vehicles in a certain Northern Emirate with the word 'Taxi' written on them in Arabic and English. When I've asked them to take me somewhere, they usually say that they're not going there. Apparently, their business is not carrying passengers about the Emirate, but something else, and, if a passenger wishes to go wherever their business is already taking them, they'll let him ride for a fee.

These vehicles all have meters, but most drivers refuse to use the meters, which I can understand: one can go all over the urban area and the meter will only register between €1 and €2. Consequently, many of the drivers demand €3 to €5 for these trips so they can make a profit. They also pick up other passengers going in the first passenger's general direction, and these other passengers also have to pay €3 to €5, unless they are friends of the driver.

I was waiting (futilely) for a taxi going in the general direction of the place where I sleep when I'm in this Emirate, when a young man parked his car some distance away from me, walked to where I was, and offered to take me anywhere in the Emirate.

'How much?'

'No charge. You look just like my father.'

Actually, I come from a different continent than his father, and my age would be more in line with his grandfather's. Had he asked the metered fare of €1, I would have been delighted to accept. Had he demanded €2 or €3, I would have reluctantly paid it to get to my bed. But I was suspicious. I'm not sure why, he looked like a nice enough young man, but for someone to go so far out of his way to give a stranger a lift seemed a little too unusual. And one hears stories from this Emirate.

I probably wasted half an hour (and €2) out of unnecessary caution, but I couldn't persuade myself to get into his car.