From the airport to Dubai centre

🚇 Dubai Metro Red Line

• 💶 Price: AED 3–7.50 by zone · Nol Silver card: AED 3 within 1 zone, AED 5 across 2 adjacent zones, AED 7.50 across more than 2 zones (RTA). Gold Class AED 6 / 10 / 15. Children aged 5 and under ride free.
• 🕔 Last departure: Mon–Thu and Sat 05:00–00:00, Fri 05:00–01:00 (next day), Sun 08:00–00:00 · Opening hours of the line as published by Dubai Airports; they can be extended on public holidays and big events.
• 🛫 Leaves from: Terminal 1 or Terminal 3 metro station (follow the metro signs in the terminal). Terminal 2 has no station.
• 📍 Arrives at: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall (Downtown), direct on the Red Line. Union is the interchange with the Green Line.
• 🎫 Ticket: Red Tickets and Nol cards are sold at the offices and machines in Terminals 1 and 3 and at metro stations. Tap in and out at the gates.

• Luggage: up to two suitcases per passenger; a large suitcase at most 81 x 58 x 30 cm, a small one at most 55 x 38 x 20 cm (RTA).
• Do not sit in the Gold Class cabin on a Silver card or in the women and children cabin (men): fines apply.
• No eating or drinking on the metro.

Official site ↗

🚌 RTA buses from the arrivals stands

• 💶 Price: A Nol card is required; buses do not take cash.
• 🛫 Leaves from: Dedicated bus stands at Arrivals in Terminals 1, 2 and 3
• 🎫 Ticket: Nol card, sold at the airport terminals and metro stations.

• The metro is simpler for visitors: the bus lines are for areas without a metro station. Check the route in the RTA journey planner.

Official site ↗

🚕 Taxi and ride apps

• 📍 Where: Dubai Taxi (DTC) cabs wait 24/7 at marked ranks in the arrivals area of each terminal. No booking needed.
• 📱 Ride apps: Uber, Careem and Bolt operate at the airport. Order in the app and follow the signs to the pick-up point; the price is shown in the app.

• Starting fare for a pick-up at the airport: AED 20 for a normal taxi, AED 25 for a van, all day (RTA), plus the distance.
• Salik toll charges are added where the route passes a toll gate.

🌙 Landing late at night

The metro stops at midnight (Friday 01:00) and starts at 05:00 (Sunday 08:00). In between take a taxi from the ranks (24/7) or a ride app.

🛫 Going back to the airport

To the airport: Red Line to Airport Terminal 1 or Airport Terminal 3 (check which terminal your airline uses; Terminal 2 has no station and needs a bus or taxi). The first train leaves at 05:00 (Sunday 08:00), so a very early flight needs a taxi.

🚌 RTA bus F55 or N55 plus the Red Line · F55 / N55

• 💶 Price: A Nol card is required; cash is not accepted.
• 🔁 How often: about every 30 minutes
• 🛫 Leaves from: Bus stop at the airport arrivals
• 📍 Arrives at: Expo metro station (F55) or Ibn Battuta bus and metro station (N55), then the Red Line towards Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall
• 🎫 Ticket: Nol card, sold at the airport or at metro stations.

• Dubai Airports tells DWC passengers to take the metro to Ibn Battuta station and continue by RTA bus or taxi.

Official site ↗

🚕 Taxi and ride apps

• 📍 Where: Dubai Taxi (DTC) cabs operate 24/7 from marked ranks in the arrivals area. Uber and Careem also operate; a limousine can be booked through the Bolt app.

• Starting fare AED 25, plus charges based on distance.

🌙 Landing late at night

Taxi or ride app (24/7).

🛫 Going back to the airport

The same routes in reverse: Red Line to Expo or Ibn Battuta, then the bus, or a taxi. Check the bus time before you rely on it.