§ 01 — The airports
Dubai's two airports
DXB
Dubai International Airport
The main airport — one of the world's busiest by international passenger numbers. Three terminals. Emirates flies from Terminal 3 (its dedicated hub); most other airlines use Terminal 1 or 2. Well connected to the city by Metro (Red Line), taxi and bus. 15–45 minutes from most city hotels.
World's busiest international airport · 3 terminals · Metro-connected
DWC
Al Maktoum International (Dubai World Central)
The second airport, 45km south of the city near Expo City. Used by budget carriers including flydubai, Wizz Air and some charter airlines. Significantly further from most hotels. No Metro connection — taxi or pre-booked transfer required. Factor in extra journey time when booking.
Budget carriers · 45km south · Taxi/transfer required
Which airport are you arriving at? Check your ticket carefully. Many visitors booking budget carriers (especially from Europe) arrive at DWC and expect DXB. The difference is 30–45 minutes and 50–80 AED in taxi fares — not catastrophic, but worth knowing before you land.
§ 02 — Airport to city transfers
Getting from DXB to your hotel
| Option | Time | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Metro (Red Line) | 20–45 min | 6–15 AED | Terminals 1 and 3 connected. Buy a Nol card at the station. Runs 5am–midnight (2am Fri–Sat). No luggage restrictions but can be crowded in peak hours. Best value by far. |
| Taxi (metered RTA) | 20–45 min | 50–100 AED | Metered, reliable, no surge pricing. Queue at the designated taxi areas. Airport surcharge of 20 AED applies. Cream-coloured cars; pink roof = female driver option. |
| Uber / Careem | 20–45 min | 55–120 AED | Both apps work well from DXB. Pick-up from designated rideshare zones (follow airport signs). Slightly more predictable wait than taxi queue at busy times. |
| Pre-booked transfer | 20–45 min | 120–200 AED | Arranged through your hotel or a transfer company. Driver meets you in arrivals with name card. Worth it for first visits with heavy luggage, late arrivals, or if you want certainty. |
| Hotel shuttle | Variable | Often free | Many 5-star and luxury hotels offer complimentary airport transfers. Check with your hotel before booking a separate transfer — particularly Burj Al Arab (Rolls Royce) and Atlantis (private transfer). |
DWC transfers: Al Maktoum International has no Metro connection. Taxi to Downtown takes 45–60 minutes and costs 120–180 AED. Uber and Careem operate from DWC. Pre-book a transfer if arriving late at night when ride availability can be limited.
§ 03 — Airlines
Getting to Dubai — airlines by type
Emirates
Full-service · Hub carrier
Dubai's home airline — the world's largest long-haul carrier. Flies from 150+ cities. Business and First Class products among the best in aviation. Terminal 3 (DXB). Book direct for best fares; tends to be more expensive than competitors but the A380 experience is worth trying once.
flydubai
Budget · Short/medium-haul
Dubai's low-cost carrier — operates from DXB Terminal 2 and DWC. Covers regional routes (Middle East, South Asia, East Africa) that Emirates doesn't serve economically. Good for connecting from Dubai to smaller regional cities.
British Airways / Virgin
Full-service · UK routes
Both operate multiple daily flights between London Heathrow and Dubai International. Competitive pricing against Emirates on the UK route. Business class options available. Terminal 1 at DXB.
Wizz Air / Air Arabia
Budget · Europe routes
Ultra-low-cost options from European cities. Often significantly cheaper than full-service airlines. Generally operate from DWC (Al Maktoum) — factor in the extra transfer time and cost. No frills; adequate for a straightforward A-to-B.
Etihad Airways
Full-service · Abu Dhabi hub
Abu Dhabi's national carrier — if you fly Etihad you land in Abu Dhabi (AUH), not Dubai. The Abu Dhabi to Dubai taxi is 90–120 minutes and 200–300 AED. Factor this in carefully when comparing fares. A bus service (Etihad coach) connects AUH to Dubai for a fraction of the taxi cost.
Qatar Airways
Full-service · Doha hub
Like Etihad, a routing via Doha (DOH) then a connection to Dubai. Often well-priced. Qatar Airways' Doha–Dubai route is short (75 minutes) and frequent if you're connecting onward. Business Class is exceptional and often priced below Emirates on the same routes.
§ 04 — On arrival
What to do when you land
Immigration at DXB
Dubai International is efficient — most visa-on-arrival nationalities pass through immigration in 15–30 minutes outside of peak times. Peak arrivals (flights from Europe landing 7–10pm, flights from Asia landing early morning) can see queues of 45–60 minutes. Smart Gates (automated biometric lanes) are available for UAE ID holders and some nationalities — worth registering for if you visit regularly.
Baggage and customs
Baggage claim is fast by major airport standards. Customs is a green/red channel — most visitors with normal luggage go straight through without inspection. The prohibited items list is strict: no pork products or alcohol in your luggage (both are controlled), no medications without documentation, no vapes or e-cigarettes (these are banned in the UAE).
First things to do
- Get a Nol card from the Metro station in arrivals if taking the Metro — you'll use it throughout your stay (Metro, bus, tram)
- Get local currency (AED) — the airport exchange rates are reasonable; ATMs are widely available throughout the airport
- Get a local SIM — du and Etisalat both have airport kiosks with tourist SIM packages (data + calls). 50–100 AED for 5–10GB. Useful if your roaming plan is expensive
- Download Careem or Uber before you leave the airport Wi-Fi in case you need a ride
Terminal 3 — Emirates passengers
Terminal 3 is one of the world's largest buildings and the most comprehensively serviced terminal at DXB. Emirates First and Business Class passengers have dedicated immigration lanes. The Concourse A, B and C connections within T3 are via an automated people mover — follow signs carefully as the terminal is vast.