Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Dubai
The Dubai Metro Red Line runs from Terminals 1 and 3 to Downtown, Business Bay and Dubai Marina for a few dirhams. Taxis are plentiful and fairly cheap, about AED 50–90 to Downtown.
Best for most people: Taxi. Taxis are inexpensive by international standards, available 24 hours and easiest with luggage in the heat.
All the options
| How | Time | How often | Price* | Hours | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| metro Red Line from Airport Terminal 1 or Terminal 3 stations to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, Business Bay or Dubai Marina | about 25–30 min to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, about 50–60 min to Dubai Marina | every 4–8 min | about AED 5–9 depending on zones (Nol card) | about 05:00–midnight, later on Fridays and weekends | Buy a Nol card at the station; large suitcases may not be allowed, so check luggage rules. Terminal 2 has no metro station. |
| taxi Official RTA taxi rank outside Arrivals | about 15–25 min to Downtown, 30–45 min to Dubai Marina | about AED 50–90 to Downtown, including the airport pick-up charge | 24 h | Taxis are metered; cards are accepted in most. Pink-roofed taxis with female drivers serve women and families. | |
| ride-hailing Careem and Uber from the designated pick-up areas | similar to taxi | similar to or a little more than taxis | 24 h | Useful when the taxi queue is long. |
*Approximate 2026 prices and times. Services change: check the operator before you fly, especially for late arrivals.
Sort it before you land
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Other airports
- Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) at Dubai World Central, about 50 km south-west, mainly some low-cost and cargo flights
Tips
- Terminal 3 is used mainly by Emirates; Terminal 1 serves most other airlines; Terminal 2 serves flydubai and some smaller airlines.
- Eating, drinking and chewing gum are not allowed on the metro, and fines are enforced.
- The metro has Gold Class carriages and women-and-children sections; check the signs on the platform.
- Many hotels offer airport pick-ups, which can be worth it for late-night arrivals.
Common questions
How much is a taxi from Dubai airport?
A metered RTA taxi from Dubai International to Downtown Dubai usually costs about AED 50–90, including the airport pick-up charge. Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah cost more, roughly AED 90–130. Use the official rank outside Arrivals. Most taxis take cards, and Careem or Uber are alternatives.
Can I take the metro from Dubai airport?
Yes. The Red Line has stations at Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, connected to the arrivals halls. Trains reach Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall in about 25–30 minutes for a few dirhams with a Nol card. Terminal 2 has no station, and bulky luggage may be restricted on trains.
Does the Dubai Metro run at night?
The metro usually runs from about 05:00 until around midnight, with later hours on Fridays and some weekends and holidays. It does not run all night. If you land late, taxis queue outside Arrivals around the clock and cost far less than in most big cities.
How long does it take to get to Dubai Marina?
By taxi, Dubai Marina is about 30–45 minutes from DXB, longer in rush-hour traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road. On the metro Red Line it takes about 50–60 minutes without changing. Downtown and Business Bay are much closer, around 15–25 minutes by taxi.
Compiled by TonyPlan from airport and transport-operator information and travel knowledge; updated 2026-10-05. Anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.