Getting to Dubai

First, check which airport.

Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) are different airports. Treat the airport code as part of the booking, not a small detail: it determines your transfer, meeting point and onward journey.

Check the terminal with your airline before departure, including any change shown on your booking. If someone is collecting you, send the flight number, airport code and arrival terminal. A hotel name alone is not enough to arrange a reliable pickup.

When the Metro makes sense.

DXB Terminals 1 and 3 connect directly to the Metro Red Line. This can be a practical choice when your accommodation is close to a station and you can comfortably manage your luggage through the station and the final walk.

The Metro does not run around the clock. Look up the service for your actual arrival day and allow time for immigration and baggage collection. DWC requires an onward connection by bus or taxi; it is not the same airport-to-Metro arrangement as DXB Terminals 1 and 3.

Use the RTA journey planner for the whole trip, including transfers. A station that looks close on a city map may still leave a long walk to the entrance you need.

When a direct transfer is easier.

Dubai Airports lists official taxi ranks at the terminals, with taxis available around the clock. A taxi is worth considering after a late arrival, with several bags, or when the final connection from public transport would be awkward.

For an app-booked ride, follow the pickup instructions rather than joining an unrelated taxi queue. For a prebooked hotel transfer, agree the meeting point, waiting arrangements and how the driver will contact you. If travelling with children or a mobility device, confirm the vehicle requirements before booking.

Keep the first hour simple.

Have your accommodation details available offline, including the entrance or pickup location if the property has more than one. Keep your travel documents accessible and leave room in your schedule for queues or a delayed bag.

If you need airport assistance, arrange it with your airline before travel. Dubai Airports asks passengers to give notice as early as possible, or at least 48 hours before the journey. Tell the airline about return travel too.

• Check entry requirements before you fly.
• Separate the arrival transfer from your sightseeing plans.
• Choose one easy first stop near your accommodation.

Give yourself a first day, not a deadline.

A tightly timed attraction booking straight after landing leaves little room for travel delays. Our suggestion is to settle in first, then explore the neighbourhood where you are staying. Save a fixed-entry landmark for a day when you can control the journey.

Before the return flight, check the departure airport and terminal again. Plan the transfer using the airline’s arrival guidance and the expected traffic, rather than simply reversing the time it took to reach your hotel.

Your questions, answered.