Dubai airport to the city: metro, taxi, bus

Dubai International Airport (DXB) lies in the east of the city, right next to the old districts of Deira and Al Garhoud. That makes it one of the few big hub airports with a metro line at the terminal door. You have three main options: the Dubai Metro Red Line, a taxi or ride-hailing car, or a public bus. The short answer: take the metro from Terminal 1 or 3 if you arrive in the daytime with no more than two bags; take a taxi at night, from Terminal 2 or with heavy luggage.

Dubai airport to the city: the options

By car, it is 21 km from Terminal 3 to the Burj Khalifa and about 33 minutes of pure driving time, according to OpenStreetMap routing; with traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road plan a third more.

The metro: Red Line from Terminals 1 and 3

The Red Line of the Dubai Metro has its own stations at Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, connected to the arrivals halls by walkways. From there it runs through Deira and Bur Dubai, under the Creek, and along Sheikh Zayed Road past Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall towards Dubai Marina and beyond. At Union and BurJuman you can change to the Green Line.

According to Dubai Airports, the Red Line runs at these times:

That is from 5 am to midnight Monday to Thursday and on Saturday, from 5 am until 1 am the following night on Friday, and from 8 am to midnight on Sunday. On public holidays and during big city events the hours can be longer; check the RTA website for current times.

Two things to know before you take the metro:

• Luggage: according to Dubai Airports, you may travel with up to two pieces of luggage, including hand luggage. With more, take a taxi.
• Tickets: Red Line passes and Nol cards are sold at the ticket offices and vending machines in Terminals 1 and 3. The Nol card also works on buses, trams and water buses, so it is worth keeping for your whole stay.

The metro is air-conditioned and has separate carriages, including one for women and children and a Gold Class carriage. The journey to the Burj Khalifa is long in stops, but you avoid the traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road.

Taxi and ride-hailing: around the clock

Taxis of the Dubai Taxi Company wait 24/7 at designated ranks at every terminal, according to Dubai Airports. Fares are charged by distance and start with an airport fee shown in the taxi. A taxi is the easiest option if you land at night, before the metro starts on a Sunday morning, or with more than two bags.

Uber, Careem and Bolt also operate at the airport; you book in the app and follow the signs to the pick-up point. If you prefer a fixed price and a driver waiting with your name, a pre-booked transfer from Dubai airport^* (Welcome Pickups) is the most relaxed option, especially with children. Our article on when an airport transfer pays off compares the options.

Public buses: cheapest, slowest

Buses leave from dedicated stands at arrivals in Terminals 1, 2 and 3. They connect with the metro, tram and water buses, but according to Dubai Airports cash is not accepted – you need a Nol card, which you can buy and top up at the airport terminals and at metro stations. Routes and timetables are on the RTA website and app. For most visitors the bus only makes sense from Terminal 2, which has no metro station, or if your hotel lies directly on a bus route.

Which option suits whom?

• Hotel near Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall or Business Bay, arriving by day: Red Line to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall.
• Hotel in Deira or Bur Dubai, near the Creek: metro – only a few stops.
• Hotel at Dubai Marina, JBR or on Palm Jumeirah: metro to the end is possible but long; a taxi is often easier.
• Arrival at Terminal 2: taxi, ride-hailing or bus.
• Arrival at night or on Sunday before 8 am, or with more than two bags: taxi.

Mobile data from home is often expensive in the Emirates. A travel eSIM for the UAE^* (Airalo) is usually much cheaper than roaming; our eSIM price index compares prices per gigabyte.

On the day you leave

The metro takes you back to Terminals 1 and 3; allow for the walk to check-in and remember the two-bag rule. Many flights from Dubai leave late at night, after a full day in the city: you can leave your suitcases at a luggage storage point in Dubai^* (Radical Storage) and pick them up on the way to the airport.

How long to stay and what to see is in our article how many days in Dubai; when the heat is bearable, in best time to visit Dubai.

Dubai trip planDay by day, with map and tips

How YesTrip helps you plan

In YesTrip you add your flight and hotel to the trip and plan each day around them, with a map of your places in Dubai and the weather for your travel days – in summer, that tells you which hours belong indoors. The ready-made plans for Dubai can be copied into your trip with one tap, and with the offline package you have the map without a connection. YesTrip is free.

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