Dubai Airport Transfer

Have you just landed in Dubai and want to head straight to the city center or your hotel? There are several options available: taxi, shuttle, bus, metro… it all depends on your budget, how much time you have, and your desired level of comfort.
Here are the pros and cons of the different airport transfer options in Dubai.

Dubai Airport: One of the Largest Airports in the World

Dubai International Airport is one of the largest in the world. It was even the 4th busiest airport in 2019, handling an average of 75 million passengers per year. It’s fairly close to downtown Dubai: expect the trip to the city to take between 20 and 40 minutes, depending on your mode of transportation.

The airport consists of 3 terminals:

• Terminal 1 or Sheikh Rashid Terminal: handles international flights except those operated by Emirates. If you’re arriving from France on Air France, for example, you’ll arrive here.
• Terminal 2: serves regional flights and low-cost carriers connecting primarily to the Middle East or Eastern Europe.
• Terminal 3 : serves all Emirates flights. If you’re arriving from France on Emirates, you’ll arrive here.

Private Dubai Airport Shuttle: The Most Convenient Option

To start your trip with peace of mind, the most convenient way to get to the city from the airport in Dubai is a private transfer.

How does a transfer service work? You book your shuttle in advance. Upon arrival, the driver will be waiting for you at your terminal holding a sign with your name handwritten on it. He’ll take you directly from the airport to your hotel or the address of your choice.

Shuttle prices are very affordable in Dubai: expect to pay around €35.90 for a 4-passenger car or €75.10 for a car seating up to 6 passengers for a one-way trip.

The price is, of course, on a sliding scale and averages out to €20–25 per person. If you’re traveling in a group , this is truly the best transfer option available. You’re sure to find a vehicle that can accommodate everyone, and best of all, the total price will be divided by the number of people in your group!

– It’s the most convenient mode of transportation: you’ll be picked up upon arrival and taken directly to your desired destination.
– The price is reasonable for the service provided.
– The ride is quick: expect an average of 20–30 minutes to reach the city center.

If you’re on a very tight budget, this isn’t the most economical mode of transportation

Airport Transfer by Taxi: The Fastest

Whether from the airport or within the city in general, taxis are very inexpensive in Dubai. Fares for trips to and from the airport are not the same as those for trips within the city, but they are still very reasonable. 

In fact, there are taxis dedicated to this route that have a fixed minimum fare: 25 AED (6.10 €). Depending on your destination, expect to pay around 60 AED (14.50 €) for the trip.

You can pay by card, but we recommend carrying cash, as some drivers do not have card readers. 

→ For more information, read our article on Dubai taxis.

– Taxi fares in Dubai are generally inexpensive: it’s a very affordable way to get around.
– As with private shuttles, the drive to Dubai is very quick: expect it to take between 20 and 30 minutes.

You’ll need to take the time to look for and find an available taxi upon arrival. There are quite a few of them, but if you arrive fairly late at night, this isn’t the most convenient option.

Dubai Airport Transfer by Public Transportation: The Most Economical Option

By Metro 

One of the most economical ways to get to the heart of Dubai is by metro.

The Red Line serves the airport at two stations: Airport Terminal 1 and Airport Terminal 3. It then runs through much of the city, notably past Burj Khalifa, Mall of the Emirates or Dubai Marina. If your hotel is near a metro station, this is a very convenient option.
For your information, the trip takes about 30–40 minutes to the Burj Khalifa Dubai Mall stop.

However, if you’re a bit far from the line, you’ll still have some distance to cover, and walking in Dubai isn’t always the easiest option, nor the most recommended.

For detailed fare information, we recommend reading our article dedicated to Dubai Metro, as fares vary depending on your final destination.

– It’s one of the most economical ways to get to the city of Dubai.
– If your hotel is right next to a metro station, it’s a very convenient option.

– It’s not the fastest mode of transportation: it takes longer than traveling by car (taxi, private shuttle, rental car, etc.)
– There are luggage restrictions: you can only bring one suitcase and one carry-on bag per person.

By bus

In addition to the metro, you can also take the bus to get to Dubai. The buses are very modern and equipped with air conditioning and Wi-Fi.

There are a few bus routes that stop at the airport and serve the city center—primarily routes 32C and C1. For the neighborhoods of Deira and Bur Dubai, this can bring you closer to your hotel. If you’re further south, you’ll have to change lines, which becomes much less convenient with all your luggage.

We do not recommend taking the bus. In fact, the fare is the same as for the metro. And the bus routes that go through the airport serve almost the same areas as the metro (which is easier to use).

It’s one of the most economical modes of transportation. Like the metro, the fare is very inexpensive.

The lines that run through the airport mainly serve the northern part of the city. To reach the rest of the city, you’ll need to transfer to different buses, and the network can be difficult to navigate on your first trip to Dubai.

Dubai Airport Transfer by Skybus: The Best Option for Certain Hotels

From Dubai Airport, another bus service connects to certain hotels. The Skybus Airport was launched by the Dubai RTA public transportation network. Like the city’s buses, the Skybus Airport is very modern, comfortable, and equipped with Wi-Fi and air conditioning.

The buses follow 12 different routes and drop you off in front of specific hotels.

If your hotel is on the list, that’s perfect! Otherwise, this isn’t really the right transfer option for you.

You can board it from any terminal at the airport. For payment, you must use a NOL card, which you’ll need to purchase at the airport before boarding. The price is fixed: 15 AED per person (3.60 €). 

– If your hotel is located along one of the routes, you’ll be dropped off right next to it, which is very convenient.
– The price is very reasonable, and the buses are quite comfortable: Wi-Fi, air conditioning…

This applies to only a small number of hotels. If your hotel isn’t listed, we don’t recommend taking the Skybus. You’ll have to take another form of transportation (private shuttle, taxi, bus, metro, etc.) to reach your hotel. 

Comparison Table of Transportation Options from Dubai Airport

* Price for 1 Red NOL ticket (card: 2 AED + price for 1 zone: 4 AED)