The cheapest way from Dubai airport to city areas is the Dubai Metro Red Line, which stops inside Terminals 1 and 3 and costs AED 4 to AED 8.50 on a single Red Ticket. The fastest door-to-door option is an airport taxi, which starts at AED 20 and runs about AED 60 to Downtown. Buses are cheap but need a nol card and suit only light luggage.
Quick answer: Metro: Terminals 1 and 3, AED 4 to AED 8.50 one way, no change needed for Downtown or Dubai Marina. Taxi: AED 20 start + AED 2.62 per km, roughly AED 60 to Downtown and AED 105 to Marina on our estimates. Bus: nol card only, no cash. Terminal 2 has no metro station.
Fares below come from RTA and Dubai Taxi Company, checked in October 2026.
Dubai airport to city: all options compared
Option | Where at DXB | Cost one way | Luggage | Best for |
Dubai Metro (Red Line) | T1 and T3 | AED 4 to AED 8.50 (Red Ticket) or AED 3 to AED 7.50 (Silver nol) | Up to 2 pieces per person | Solo travellers, light bags |
Airport taxi | Taxi rank outside arrivals, all terminals | From AED 20 + per km | Plenty | Families, heavy bags, late nights |
Careem / Uber | Signed pickup zones | Upfront quote, surges at peak | Plenty | Fixed price before you leave |
RTA bus | Bus stops outside terminals | Same zone fares as metro, nol only | Limited | Residents on a budget |
Hotel shuttle | Arrivals pickup | Often free or fixed | Plenty | If your hotel offers one |
DXB to Downtown and Dubai Marina: costs and times
Destination | Metro (Red Ticket) | Metro time | Taxi estimate |
Deira / Union | AED 4 to AED 6 | short hop | about AED 30 |
Bur Dubai / BurJuman | AED 4 to AED 6 | short hop | about AED 35 |
Downtown / Burj Khalifa | AED 6 to AED 8.50 | about 30–40 min | about AED 60 |
Dubai Marina / JLT | AED 8.50 | about 60 min | about AED 105 |
Taxi figures are our estimates from DTC’s airport tariff (AED 20 start, AED 2.62 per km) in light traffic. Salik gates, waiting time and rush hour will add to them. Metro fares are RTA’s Red Ticket prices and depend on how many fare zones you cross, so the gate charges the exact amount; a Silver nol card is AED 1 cheaper per trip. Metro times are approximate.
For DXB to Downtown, the metro is the clear winner on price. A taxi saves about 15 minutes at quiet times and wins when you have more than two bags or are travelling as a group of three or four, because one fare covers everyone.
Dubai airport metro: how it works
The Red Line has two airport stations: Airport Terminal 1 and Airport Terminal 3 (the Emirates terminal). Both connect straight into the terminal buildings.
Steps:
- Follow the “Metro” signs from arrivals.
- Buy a Red Ticket or a Silver nol card at the ticket office or a machine. A Silver card costs AED 25 including AED 19 of credit.
- Take the train towards Expo 2020 / Life Pharmacy for Downtown, Al Barsha and Marina, or towards Centrepoint for Rashidiya.
- Tap in at the gate and tap out at your stop.
Not sure which card to buy? Our guide to nol card types compares Red, Silver, Gold and Blue. First-time riders can also read our Dubai Metro guide for first-timers.
Metro hours: check before you land
Day | Metro hours |
Monday to Thursday | 5am to midnight |
Friday | 5am to 1am (next day) |
Saturday | 5am to midnight |
Sunday | 8am to midnight |
This is where many arrivals go wrong. A flight landing at 6am on a Sunday means no metro for two hours. Our Dubai Metro timings guide has the full schedule, including holidays.
Airport taxi fare from DXB
Taxis at the airport ranks are DTC airport taxis with their own tariff:
- Starting fare: AED 20 for a regular car, AED 25 for a van.
- Per kilometre: AED 2.62 listed by DTC (adjusted monthly with fuel prices).
- Extras: Salik gates, 50 fils per waiting minute, and AED 20 if you are going to Sharjah.
- Payment: cash, card or nol card.
Women and families can ask the marshal for a pink-roof ladies taxi, which starts at AED 25. Our Dubai taxi fare guide covers every charge in detail.
Buses from the airport
RTA buses stop outside the terminals and are the cheapest option on paper, charging the same zone fares as the metro. Two catches:
- No cash. You must have a nol card with credit before you board.
- Routes around DXB change. RTA moved or cancelled several airport stops during roadworks in 2025, so routes that once stopped at Terminal 1 may now use a nearby stop. Check the route in the S’hail app before relying on it.
Our view: buses suit residents who already know their route and travel light, but anyone arriving with suitcases is better off on the metro or in a taxi.
Terminal 2 and Al Maktoum Airport (DWC)
- Terminal 2 (flydubai and some other airlines) has no metro station. Use a taxi, or check the S’hail app for the RTA bus that serves Terminal 2.
- Al Maktoum International (DWC) is far to the south of the city and is not on the metro. Airport taxis there use the same AED 20 start, but the long distance means a much higher total. Check which airport your ticket says before planning.
What commonly goes wrong
- Missing the metro luggage limit. Dubai Airports says passengers can carry up to two pieces of luggage, including hand luggage. Oversized bags are a problem at rush hour.
- Arriving after midnight. Outside Friday, the metro stops at midnight, so late arrivals need a taxi.
- Taking unlicensed cars. Ignore anyone offering a ride inside the terminal. Use the official rank or an app pickup zone.
- Forgetting the Sharjah fee. Taxis to Sharjah add AED 20 to the meter.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a taxi from Dubai Airport to Downtown?
On DTC’s airport tariff, a taxi from DXB to Downtown Dubai works out at about AED 60 in light traffic: an AED 20 start plus roughly 15 km at AED 2.62. Salik gates and rush-hour waiting time push it higher. The metro does the same trip for AED 8.50 or less on a Red Ticket.
Is there a metro from Dubai Airport?
Yes. The Dubai Metro Red Line has stations at Airport Terminal 1 and Airport Terminal 3, both linked directly to the terminals. It runs from 5am to midnight most days, 5am to 1am on Friday and from 8am on Sunday. Terminal 2 has no metro station of its own.
Can I pay cash on the Dubai Metro from the airport?
You can pay cash at the ticket office or ticket machines to buy a Red Ticket or nol card, but not at the gates. Every trip needs a nol card or ticket. The cheapest option for more than a couple of trips is a Silver nol card, which costs AED 25 with AED 19 of credit.
How long does it take to get from DXB to Dubai Marina?
By metro, plan for about an hour from Terminal 1 or 3 to the Marina stations on the Red Line, with no change. By taxi it is usually 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic, at around AED 105 on our estimate from DTC’s tariff. Rush hour on Sheikh Zayed Road adds time to both.
Is Uber cheaper than a taxi from Dubai Airport?
Sometimes. Uber and Careem show an upfront price that changes with demand, so late at night they can match the airport taxi, and at peak times they cost more. Compare both apps with the taxi estimate before you walk to the pickup zone. Our Careem vs Uber guide explains when each wins.
Picking your Dubai airport to city route
Travelling light in the daytime? Take the Red Line from Terminal 1 or 3 and spend AED 8.50 or less. Landing late, on a Sunday morning, with family or heavy bags? Go to the taxi rank and budget AED 60 for Downtown or about AED 105 for Marina. Check current details on Dubai Airports’ transport page and RTA’s timetable page before you fly.
For the rest of your stay, our Dubai public transport guide explains how the metro, buses, abras and taxis fit together. More guides are on the Live In Gulf homepage.
Fares checked against RTA and Dubai Taxi Company on 14 October 2026. Taxi totals are estimates; the meter is final.
