Getting from Dubai Airport to the city center

A Welcome Pickups private transfer from Dubai Airport to Dubai city center starts at €25 (AED 107), while a regular RTA taxi costs around €15 (AED 64), and the Metro and bus options are from €0.70 to €5.88 (AED 3 to 25) depending on the route and whether you already have a Nol card or not.

Dubai International Airport (DXB) has Metro stations at Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, both on the Red Line. The Metro does not connect to Terminal 2.

Dubai Airport is roughly 15–20 km from central Dubai, with a Welcome Pickups private transfer taking around 20 minutes off-peak and up to 40 minutes during peak traffic. 

Terminals 1 and 3 have direct Red Line Metro stations. Terminal 2 does not have a Metro station, so you can take a taxi or a public bus from the terminal. RTA’s network also connects Terminal 2 with the nearby Airport Freezone Metro Station on the Green Line, which is a 10-minute walk.

The Red Line runs from Airport Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 toward central Dubai. For Downtown and the Burj Khalifa, get off at Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Station (R25).

The metro ticket is paid through cashless card payments, and its fare starts at €0.70 (AED 3) with a Silver Nol card for one zone, €1.18 (AED 5) for two adjacent zones, and €1.76 (AED 7.50) for more than two zones.

A Nol card is Dubai’s contactless public-transport payment card, valid on the Metro, buses, trams, and other RTA transport. For most visitors, the Silver Nol Card is the simplest choice; it costs AED 25, including AED 19 credit. You can buy one at ticket machines or ticket offices at Metro stations, including the airport Metro stations.

Metro operating hours vary by day, holidays, and special events, so check the current RTA timetable before traveling. Here are the 2026 metro operating hours: 

• Monday to Thursday: 05:00 – midnight
• Friday: 05:00 – 01:00 (next day)
• Saturday: 05:00 – midnight
• Sunday: 08:00 – midnight

You can take a 24-hour C01 bus from Terminal 3, an official airport taxi, or pre-book a Welcome Pickups private transfer. Welcome Pickups monitors your flight and provides airport pickup with up to 1 hour of complimentary waiting time.

You can take two suitcases per passenger: one large suitcase up to 81 × 58 × 30 cm and one small suitcase up to 55 × 38 × 20 cm. Luggage must be stored in the designated luggage area.

Dubai buses operate from dedicated stands in the Arrivals areas of Terminals 1, 2, and 3. Routes vary by terminal and destination, so travelers should check the RTA journey planner for the current route and fare. A Nol card is required because cash isn’t accepted on Dubai buses; the fare starts at €0.70 (AED 3) with a Silver Nol card for one zone, €1.18 (AED 5) for two adjacent zones, and €1.76 (AED 7.50) for more than two zones.

Official Dubai taxis are available at the taxi queues in the Arrivals areas of Terminals 1, 2, and 3. Follow the taxi signs after exiting arrivals.

The standard minimum RTA fare (flag fall) for a road pickup is €2.80 (AED 12), while airport taxis have a higher airport starting fare of €4.68 (AED 20) for smaller cabs and €5.80 (AED 25) for vans. Waiting is charged at €0.12 (AED 0.50) per minute, so traffic can increase the meter.

Yes. Dubai taxi fares can vary according to the service type, time, and circumstances, and the RTA states that fares can change during peak hours and major events. Airport taxis currently have a €4.68 (AED 20) starting fare all day, while other taxi starting rates can vary by time.

Yes. You can pay Dubai taxis by credit card, as well as cash and other supported payment methods, including Nol and digital wallets.

No. Dubai Airport operates public buses, but there isn’t a general airport-to-hotel shuttle covering Dubai hotels. Some individual hotels may operate their own shuttle services. For direct hotel transportation, Welcome Pickups provides a private, door-to-door transfer.

Typical official taxi costs are approximately €9 (AED 35) to Deira, €13 (AED 53) to Downtown, €21 (AED 86) to Palm Jumeirah, and €23 (AED 92) to Dubai Marina, depending on traffic and the exact destination. Welcome Pickups offers a separate fixed private-transfer fare, which is quoted when you book your airport transfer. 

No. DXB and DWC are two different airports. DWC is around 60 km from DXB and is farther from central Dubai. Welcome Pickups currently lists a private transfer from DWC to Dubai city center at around 65 minutes, with a fixed fare starting at €48 during the day.

No. You don’t have to pre-book transport because taxis, buses, and the Metro are available at DXB. However, pre-booking a Welcome Pickups private transfer means your driver is arranged in advance, your fare is fixed, and your flight is monitored for a guaranteed on-time pickup. 

Welcome Pickups’ private-transfer fares are fixed for the vehicle/booking, rather than being metered per passenger. For example, the Dubai airport sedan accommodates up to 4 passengers, while larger vehicles are available for groups.

Welcome Pickups monitors your flight, so the driver receives updated arrival information as per your flight landing time and waits accordingly. 

Your Welcome Pickups driver meets you at the prearranged meeting point in the Arrivals area of Terminal 1, 2, or 3, depending on where your flight lands. You’ll receive the meeting details, driver information, and vehicle details before the pickup, and the driver will hold a sign with your name.

Yes. Welcome Pickups offers baby seats and booster seats on request. Vehicle capacity varies by vehicle type: a sedan accommodates up to 4 passengers, a minivan up to 7, and a minibus up to 12, with luggage capacity depending on the vehicle and passenger configuration.

Yes. Welcome Pickups allows transfers between specified origin and destination addresses, so you can book a private transfer to a residence, apartment, or other address rather than only a hotel. You can also book a return transfer by entering the pickup and destination addresses, travel date, and passenger and luggage details.