How far is Dubai airport from the city?

Dubai International (DXB) sits inside the city, not outside it. Its Red Line stations in Terminals 1 and 3 are on the same line as Deira, Bur Dubai and Downtown: Union is 4 stops from Terminal 1 and Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall is 11. Al Maktoum International (DWC) is a different airport with no Metro station.

The airport measured in Metro stops

Stop counts help you picture the route, but do not give a door-to-door hotel arrival time. Counts below start at Airport Terminal 1; add one stop from Terminal 3. Station codes are not always sequential stop counts because RTA numbering has gaps.

For a timed journey on the day, Dubai Airports points travellers to RTA’s S’hail app, which plans the route and shows the schedule.

What the trip costs

• Metro: Silver fares are AED 3 within one zone, AED 5 across two adjacent zones and AED 7.50 beyond two; Gold surcharges apply on Metro and Tram. Official sources differ for age exactly 5, so check at the ticket office; under-fives are covered in both.
• Taxi: DTC’s airport service lists AED 20 for a normal car, AED 25 for a van and AED 2.62 per kilometre; Dubai Airports states AED 25 without separating type. Confirm the current tariff for your vehicle. what a taxi from Dubai airport costs
• Bus: from arrivals in Terminals 1, 2 and 3, nol card only.

A worked example

First record passengers, bags and the hotel address. If two adults buy two Silver cards, the initial payment is AED 50 including AED 38 credit; do not add that credit again as a second purchase. Compare the deducted fares and any station-to-hotel transport with a taxi without transfers. how much a nol card costs

Terminal by terminal

• Terminal 1 and Terminal 3: each has its own Red Line station (Airport Terminal 1 and Airport Terminal 3), plus taxi ranks and bus stands.
• Terminal 2: no Metro station. Use the taxi rank or the bus stand at arrivals.

Dubai Airports allows up to two pieces of luggage per Metro passenger, including hand luggage. RTA sets the maximum size of a large suitcase at 81 x 58 x 30 cm. More than that and a taxi is the realistic choice whatever the distance.

The clock matters more than the kilometres

RTA lists usual station hours until midnight or 1 am after Friday, not the last train from every platform. For a 2 am arrival there are 24-hour taxis and potentially other route-dependent options; check S’hail and allow for airport arrival procedures. what time the Dubai Metro closes

Al Maktoum International (DWC) is a different airport

Check the airport code: DWC is Al Maktoum and differs from DXB. The airport’s site lists F55 to Expo Metro and N55 to Ibn Battuta. Check the route and timetable with RTA for your day rather than treating a 30-minute interval as a guaranteed departure.

• F55 to the EXPO 2020 Metro station, at the end of the Red Line.
• N55 to Ibn Battuta bus and Metro stations.

From either station you continue on the Red Line. Taxis at DWC are metered like everywhere else in Dubai. Check the airport code on your ticket before you plan the arrival.

Which option fits your arrival

Frequently asked questions

Is Dubai airport in the city centre?

DXB is inside the city. Its two Metro stations are on the same Red Line as Deira, Bur Dubai, Downtown and the Marina, with Union 4 stops from Terminal 1.

Can I take the Metro from Terminal 2?

No. Dubai Airports lists Metro access at Terminals 1 and 3 only; Terminal 2 has buses and taxis.

How do I get from Al Maktoum airport to Dubai?

By taxi, or by bus F55 to the EXPO 2020 Metro station or N55 to Ibn Battuta, then the Red Line.

Is the Metro or a taxi quicker from the airport?

It depends on the time of day and the traffic. The Metro is unaffected by road traffic; a taxi is door to door. Plan the trip in the S’hail app for a live estimate.

Every option out of DXB, priced and compared, is in DXB to your hotel; to pick an area near the Red Line, see where to stay in Dubai.

Sources reviewed remotely on 11 October 2026: arrival stations, nol purchase prices and DTC’s airport-specific tariff, including the Dubai Airports wording difference. This checks published information, not a personal visit. See editorial policy.