How To Get From Dubai Airport To City Center Best Way – All Possible Ways (Updated 2023)

Last updated on March 20th, 2023 at 11:35 am

How To Get From Dubai Airport To City Center Best Way – You can go by bus, metro, taxi and private transfer.

What Is The Distance From Dubai Airport To City Center?

The distance from Dubai Airport to downtown is 15 kilometers. Click here to book online Dubai activities and day trips

The travel time from Dubai airport to Burj Khalifa in city center is around 20 minutes by taxi and 80 AED which is $20 USD.

What Is The Best Way From Dubai Airport To City Center?

The best way from Dubai airport to Burj Khalifa city center is by metro around 25 minutes for 8 AED which is $2 USD depending on your final destination. Read here best Dubai breakfast

What Is The Cheapest Way From Dubai Airport To City Center?

The cheapest way from Dubai airport to city center is by bus for $1 USD and around 1 hour and 15 minutes travel time.

You can also rent a car in Dubai airport or get a private transfer that can be cheaper than a taxi. And make sure you check with your hotel a few of them offer a free shuttle from Dubai airport to city center.

Read here United Arab Emirates breakfast, how to get from Dubai airport to Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi airport to Dubai and Abu Dhabi airport to city center

SIM CARD AT DUBAI AIRPORT

I wouldn’t recommend you to buy a sim card at Dubai airport. If you wish comfort you can buy eSim online and if you aren’t in a hurry just go around phone shops in the city and compare prices to buy the cheapest sim card in Dubai. Read here Dubai sim card for tourist and best Dubai eSim

You can find the cheapest Dubai eSim with Airalo Dubai eSim prepaid for $8 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days (USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER 10%). For $22 USD with 3 GB data and for $35 USD with 5 GB data.

MTX Connect eSim Dubai for €24 with 4 GB data valid for 14 days. Holafly Dubai eSim for $46 USD if you use our code GAMINTRAVELER coming with 6 GB data and valid for 15 days.

WHERE TO STAY IN DUBAI

You can sleep in a dorm room starting from $20-30 USD while you can stay in a budget hotel for as low as $60-90 USD. There are so many to choose from depending on what type and how luxurious you want your stay to be starting from $200 USD.

Book your accommodations in Dubai through Agoda or Booking.

BOOK YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE

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You can get Safetywing Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads valid for 28 days Safetywing for $50 USD per month with kids until 10 years old included

HOW TO GET FROM DUBAI AIRPORT TO DOWNTOWN

BY METRO FROM DUBAI AIRPORT TO DOWNTOWN (BEST WAY DUBAI AIRPORT TO BURJ KHALIFA)

The best way from Dubai airport to city center is by metro. The metro trains are running from Dubai airport to city every 5-10 minutes from 5 am until midnight.

The total travel time from Dubai airport to downtown is around 25 minutes to reach Dubai Mall or Burj Khalifa. The metro fare from Dubai airport to Burj Khalifa is 6 AED (2 Zones).

You will have to pay with the NOL Card that you can get in the vending machine at the airport for 2 AED. The total metro fare is 8 AED from Dubai airport to city center which is $2 USD. For you will have a metro ticket 4 AED for 1 zone and 8.50 AED for 3 zones or more.

You can get the metro at Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 and you will have to walk around 5-7 minutes to reach the Metro Station at Dubai airport. From Terminal 3 Dubai airport to Burj Khalifa you have to take Red Line.

BUS FROM DUBAI AIRPORT TO DUBAI MALL (CHEAPEST WAY)

The cheapest way from Dubai airport to city center is by bus. The bus fare from Dubai airport to Al Ghubaiba Bus Terminal is 5 AED which is $1 USD.

The bus travel time from Dubai airport to Al Ghubaiba is around 1 hour and 15 minutes travel time. The bus will be a great option if you are going from Dubai airport to Abu Dhabi.

I wouldn’t recommend going by bus from Dubai airport to downtown since it’s not possible to get a few places. You can go from Dubai airport to Dubai Mall but it will take around 1 hour.

The metro is better and more efficient than the bus which takes longer. You can’t pay with cash and you will have to pay with the NOL Card.

NOL Card

NOL Card in Dubai is available in the vending machine at the airport. It will cost 2 AED which is only 0.50 cents of USD. You will have to top up. You can get unlimited transportation for 24 hours in Dubai for 20 AED which is $5 USD depending on how many times you will move around Dubai.

The NOL Card is the payment method for buses, metro and water buses too. The Silver Card will cost 25 AED, The Red Ticket will cost 2 AED, Red Ticket day pass is 20 AED.

Dubai Metro Map

There are two Metro Lines: Red the one coming from Dubai airport to Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and city center. You can also transfer to the Green Line.

BUYING THE BEST VPN AND FREE TRIALS

Sometimes is hard to connect your laptop to the VPN and you have to be patient. If you go for a week you will find VPN with free trials. We used Atlas VPN, ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark and Proton VPN. When connecting the VPN to your device will make it slower than usual.

Read here Atlas VPN vs Surfshark VPN, Atlas VPN full review, Atlas VPN vs Proton VPN, Nord VPN vs Surfshark VPN, PIA VPN vs Surfshark VPN, Proton VPN vs Surfshark VPN, ExpressVPN vs Surfshark VPN, IPVanish vs Surfshark VPN, Atlas VPN vs ExpressVPN and Atlas VPN vs Nord VPN

BY TAXI FROM DUBAI AIRPORT TO DUBAI CITY CENTER

If you go from Dubai airport to city center by taxi the most comfortable, available 24/7 and fastest way. The travel time by taxi is around 15-20 minutes and the taxi fare from Dubai airport to Dubai city center is 80 AED which is $20 USD. The prices and travel time aren’t fixed and it will depend on traffic and your final destination.

If you go from Dubai airport to Burj Khalifa and from Dubai airport to Dubai Mall will be the most common area for city center in Dubai.

Free Shuttle from Dubai Airport To Downtown

Is possible a free shuttle from Dubai airport to city center? There are hotels offering free shuttles from Dubai airport to downtown. It could be for free or paid just make sure you ask your hotel about this when I was there the hotels were offering it for free a few times during the day.

CAR RENTAL AT DUBAI AIRPORT

There are many options for renting a car in Dubai’s airport. It’s the most convenient option if you have a place to park your car in Dubai. It will take you 20 minutes to get to Dubai from the airport in a private car. There are a few agencies like Hertz, Avis, available in the airport for €30-40 per day.

Car rental options can be great if you are traveling with a few people or a lot of luggage and planning to visit places around Dubai. Make sure you have a parking place in your hotel or Airbnb since sometimes can be so challenging in Dubai.

Click here to get the best deals renting a car in Dubai!

PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION FROM DUBAI AIRPORT TO CITY CENTER

Hotel transfers are also very easy and convenient but can be a little bit pricey. The transfers are usually available 24 hours and are only ideal if you have the budget and want comfort after your flight to Dubai. Prices are around €60 and you will be able to fit up to 4 people. It could be €15 per person.

Best Way From Dubai Airport to City Center

The best way from Dubai airport to city center is by metro for $2 USD if you are on a budget and it will take around 25 minutes travel time.

The best way from Dubai airport to city center is by bus for $1 USD if you are on a budget and headed to Al Ghubaiba Bus Terminal and it will take 1 hour and 15 minutes.

The best way from Dubai airport to city center if you prefer comfort and you are traveling with more people by taxi or private transfer is so affordable too. If you are staying near public transportation will allow you to save a few dollars if not just go for a taxi.

WHERE TO STAY IN DUBAI

A lot of budget option is available for accommodation in Dubai. Where you can sleep in a dorm room starting from $20-30 USD while you can stay in a budget hotel for as low as $60-90 USD. There are so many to choose from depending on what type and how luxurious you want your stay to be starting from $200 USD.

Book your accommodations in Dubai through Agoda or Booking.

CURRENCY AND EXCHANGE RATE IN DUBAI AND ATMS

The currency of Dubai is called Dirham and this is the money you will use while you travel around the country. And the exchange rate is €1= 4.4 AED. Also if you are bringing debit cards you will find many ATMs all over Dubai. You can pay in most of the places with a card.

Click here to know the exact rate!

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Happy Travels!