Transfer from Dubai airport to the city

Dubai Airport astounds with extreme figures. Around 90,000 employees handle around 66 million passengers a year in three terminals, making DXB Airport one of the top 6 airports in the world. With 6,500 flights a week, it is a central hub for the business world, among other things.

First-class handling services are just as much a matter of course as the impressive selection of accessories: restaurants, exclusive stores, luxurious spas and inviting day lounges. It is 14 km from the Al Garhoud district, where the airport is located, to the gigantic Dubai Mall shopping center and 35 km to the picturesque JBR Beach with its many hotels.

Transfer to the city or to the hotel

Cab

After a flight, a cab is always a convenient option. In Dubai, all cab drivers use taximeters, with the cost varying between 20 and a maximum of 50 euros depending on the distance and time. It is important to ask whether the taximeter is activated. In the event of problems, which is very rare, it is advisable to take a photo of the license plate. The queues at the cab rank can be quite long. Prices tend to be higher than with Uber or Careem.

Uber or Careem

If you decide to use Uber or Careem, you are well advised to book your ride in advance. Advantages include the convenient door-to-door service, easy booking via the app, 24/7 availability and the option to pay directly via the app. With both providers it is possible to order a child seat at the same time, so that even the little passengers can travel safely. The pick-up locations vary depending on the terminal: Terminal 1 (short-term parking lot A1), Terminal 2 (passenger pick-up area next to the outdoor parking lot), Terminal 3 (parking lot 2).

Skytrain Metro

Dubai has an excellent metro system that connects Terminals 1 and 3 of Dubai International Airport. Trains run every ten minutes, but not around the clock. The exact timetable depends on the destination. In general, the red line trains run from 5 a.m. to midnight from Saturday to Wednesday, from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday. Tickets are available directly at the metro station. You can find the timetable on the RTA website.

Bus

Specially air-conditioned buses with spacious luggage compartments are available in front of Terminals 1 and 2. These buses run around the clock at 30-minute intervals and serve two main routes. The airport bus (No. 401) runs to Deira and stops at DNATA, Al Maktoum Road, Deira Taxi Station and Al Sabkha Bus Station. The airport bus (No. 402) takes passengers to the Dubai city area on the other side of the Creek, with stops including Deira City Centre, Al Karama, Golden Sands, Al Mankhool and Al Ghubaiba Bus Station.

The bus ride costs only about 1 euro and is therefore extremely cheap. Please note that buses in Dubai do not accept cash or coin payments. You therefore need a Nol card that can be topped up with money. Nol cards are available from kiosks at the airport, for example. Tourists generally prefer a red ticket, which can be loaded with up to 10 journeys or 5 day tickets.

Rental car:

Of course, there is also the option of using a rental vehicle. The question of whether you need to hire a car for your stay is self-evident. You can find more information on the subject of rental cars in our blog, where you can also get useful tips and tricks.

Our conclusion about the airport transfer

For transfers, we strongly recommend choosing an airport cab, Uber or Careems. This is the best option, especially after a long-haul flight with a lot of luggage. Apart from that, depending on the season, high temperatures can be an additional argument. All public transportation information is available on the RTA website, including metro maps and schedules. It’s worth arranging everything in advance to avoid unnecessary stress.

All information about public transportation can be found on the RTA page. There you can also download the maps of the metro and see the prices and departure times.

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