Going from Dubai airport to downtown 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 go from Dubai airport to the city center , read on 😉 We tell you about all the transport options to get to Dubai from the international airport . Subway, bus, taxi or car , discover what is best for you!
HOW TO GET FROM THE DUBAI AIRPORT TO THE CITY CENTER
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Rent a car in Dubai
Driving from the airport to the city is very easy. 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 life. So you can expect good roads and a city perfectly suited to a large number of vehicles . Therefore, if you do not want to depend on public transport and taxis for your trips, renting a car in Dubai is highly recommended. Sports car lovers can rent Ferrari Dubai or any exotic car through any luxury car rental company.
Hiring a transfer is perfect if you are looking to not worry about transportation to go from the Dubai airport to the city center. It costs € 36 per vehicle with 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 is a super practical option even if you are reading this article just before flying.
If there are less than 12 hours until you get to Dubai, you can take a taxi to your hotel . In this case, you will probably have to queue at the airport stop. You will not pay a fixed price, it will depend on what the meter reads. Simply indicate your hotel and make sure the meter is on to avoid misunderstandings when paying.
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Metro, the most practical transport to go from Dubai airport to the center
The metro is the cheapest transportation 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 where the red line stops are the Burj Khalifa and Mall of the Emirates. The metro seems to us 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 AED 12 (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 6 AED for the trip. You can recharge it with the amount you want or, even better, get a day pass with unlimited trips for AED 20 (about € 5).
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Bus to go from Dubai airport to downtown
Buses are an alternative if you want to use public transport to go from Dubai airport to downtown but do not have a metro stop near your hotel. There is a bus stop at all airport terminals. The line C01 circulates 24 hours of the day every 30 minutes approximately. It has a lot of stops both in the historical area of ​​Dubai and in the financial center.
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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 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.
If your hotel is off the beaten track, get off at Al Ghubaiba central bus station. From there many local bus lines leave. In any case, we recommend that you check the best line for you with the route planner .
The price of the buses is the same as the subway: AED 12 if you buy a single ticket or AED 6 if you opt for the rechargeable NOL Card. Please note that you cannot pay the driver directly in cash.
