Welcome to Dubai. As you exit the terminal and see many people, you’re probably wondering: How do I get to the main city? Don’t worry, we've got you covered!
Situated in the Al Garhoud district, Dubai International Airport is only 5km away from the city center. We tell you the three best options to get to the city and turn your vacation mode on!
HOP ON THE METRO
Riding the Metro is a fast, convenient and affordable way to get to central Dubai.
This system has 2 lines: Red line and Green Line.
You can reach Downtown Dubai by taking a Red Line metro from the airport’s Terminal 3 (T3) or Terminal 1 (T1). Visitors who want to head to The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Emirates Grand Hotel, or Towers Rotana Hotel can alight at Financial Centre station.
Travel time: 24 minutes (from T3 to Burj Khalifa Dubai Mall Metro Station)
Cost: Range from AED 4 ($1.09) to AED 8.50 ($2.31) if paying is via an NOL Red Ticket Standard Class card
BUS
The bus takes roughly twice as long as using a metro service. Remember you cannot pay cash to the driver and you must use an NOL card.
There are bus stops at the arrival level of T1 and T3 and the arrival area of T2. Take bus 43 from T1 to go to Dubai Festival City from where bus 44 will take you to Al Ghubaiba bus station.
Travel time: Approximately 1.15 hours (from T1 to Al Ghubaiba bus station).
Cost: AED 5 ($1.36) for traveling from T1 to Al Ghubaiba bus station.
HAIL A TAXI
Taxi is the best option for traveling from Dubai International Airport to the central city if you arrive at odd hours. All the taxis serving in the airport area are registered under the government-operated Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC).
Travel time: 13 to 15 minutes
Cost: You must pay a flat AED 25 ($6.81) fee for getting into a taxi from the airport. Then, the charge for each subsequent kilometer will be AED 1.96 ($0.53). A trip from Dubai Airport to Burj Khalifa in Downtown Dubai can cost approximately AED 53 ($14.43).
RECOMMENDATION – PURCHASE A NOL CARD ON ARRIVAL
Cash payment is not acceptable in metro, buses and water buses. Travelers will have to buy an NOL card for traveling. NOL Card is a kind of prepaid smart cards introduced by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
To break it down further, there are 4 types of cards designed to meet the different requirements of residents and visitors. The Silver Card and Red Ticket are the most suitable options for visitors.
The Silver Card can be purchased at the price of AED 25 ($6.81). This card allows you to enjoy the rides on all modes of transport.
The Red Ticket is available at any ticket vending machine at a very cheap price – AED 2 ($0.54). However, this paper-based card only allows ticket holders to ride a mode of transport at a time. This means that you must buy different Red Tickets to use on Dubai different vehicles.
Enjoyed this article?
