Going from the Dubai airport to the center is very easy. Did you know that it is one of the busiest airports in the world? Every year it is in the top 5 in number of passengers. If you are about to be one of them and you don’t know how to get from the Dubai airport to the city center , keep reading We tell you all the transportation options to get to Dubai from the international airport. Metro, bus, taxi or car , discover what is best for you! What do we tell you in this post?
How To Go From Dubai Airport To The City Center
1. Taxi or private transfer, the most comfortable option
There is nothing more comfortable than landing in Dubai, getting into a car and standing at the door of your hotel. With the private transfer service, the driver will wait for you in the arrivals area of the terminal with a sign with your name on it and will take you directly to your accommodation in the city. The journey takes between 20 and 40 minutes , depending on the area where you are going to stay and the traffic. Hiring a transfer is perfect if you want to forget about transportation to go from the Dubai airport to the city center. It costs €36 per vehicle for up to 4 passengers , although you can also book an 8-seater minibus if you need it. The more people you travel, the more you will pay. You can book the transfer up to 12 hours before landing in Dubai. So it’s a super practical option even if you’re reading this article right before you fly. If there are less than 12 hours left before you arrive in Dubai, you can take a taxi to your hotel. In this case, you will surely have to queue at the airport stop. You will not pay a fixed price, it will depend on what the meter shows. Simply indicate which hotel is yours and make sure that the meter is turned on so as not to have misunderstandings when paying.
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2. Metro, the most practical transport to go from the Dubai airport to the center
The metro is the cheapest way to get from Dubai airport to downtown. There are stops at terminals 1 and 3 , where trains run from 5:30 a.m. to midnight. The frequency is very good, you will not have to wait more than 5 minutes. The trip from the airport to the center takes about 25 minutes , depending on the specific stop where you get off. Two popular places to stop on the Red Line are the Burj Khalifa and Mall of the Emirates. The metro seems to us to be a very practical option to go from the Dubai airport to the center if your hotel has a stop nearby. If not, it is more worth taking a taxi directly from the airport. The metro ticket costs only 12AED (almost €3). Although if you plan to use public transport more times during your visit to Dubai, we recommend that you take out a NOL transport card directly. In that case, you will only pay 6AED for the trip. You can top it up with the amount you want or, even better, get a daily pass with unlimited travel for 20AED (about €5).
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3. Bus to go from Dubai airport to the center
Buses are an alternative if you want to use public transport to get from Dubai airport to the center but you don’t have a metro stop near your hotel. There are bus stops at all airport terminals. Line C01 runs 24 hours a day approximately every 30 minutes. It has a lot of stops both in the historical area of Dubai and in the financial center. If your hotel is off the route, get off at Al Ghubaiba Central Bus Station. Many local bus lines leave from there. In any case, we recommend you check the best line for you with the route planner. The price of the buses is the same as the metro : 12 AED if you buy a single ticket or 6AED if you opt for the rechargeable NOL Card. Please note that it is not possible to pay directly in cash to the driver.
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4. Rent a car in Dubai
As a last option to get from Dubai airport to downtown , you can drive. There are plenty of car rental companies at the airport and the prices are quite affordable. You can find cars from only €20 per day. Remember that you must carry the international driving license. Driving from the airport to the city is very simple. You just have to take the E11 motorway and in about 20 minutes you will be in the center. Make sure you book a hotel with parking in Dubai. In big cities it is usually not a good idea to rent a car. But the case of Dubai is an exception. Practically all the inhabitants of Dubai move by car in their day to day. So you can expect good roads and a city perfectly adapted to a large number of vehicles. Therefore, if you do not want to depend on public transport and taxis for your travels, renting a car in Dubai is highly recommended.
