Dubai International Airport sits on the Red Line, so the Metro is the cheapest way into the city by a wide margin. Terminal 3 has its own station, Airport Terminal 3 (R13), and Terminal 1 has Airport Terminal 1 (R14). Terminal 2 has no Metro station, so from there you need a taxi or bus. The Metro reaches Downtown for AED 5 and Dubai Marina for AED 7.50, against roughly AED 50 to 110 by taxi.
Metro, taxi or transfer: which to take
The right choice comes down to your arrival time, your luggage and your hotel. The Metro is far cheaper and dodges traffic, but it does not run overnight and means a walk with bags. A taxi is door to door and always available. A pre-booked transfer fixes the price before you land.
| Option | Cost to Downtown | Time | Available | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro (Red Line) | AED 5 | 35 to 50 min | Daytime and evening only | Light luggage, value |
| Taxi (from the rank) | AED 50 to 90 | 25 to 40 min | 24 hours | Late arrivals, groups, bags |
| Pre-booked transfer | Fixed in advance | 25 to 40 min | 24 hours, meet on arrival | Fixed price, name-board pickup |
The cost gap is the headline. A taxi starts the meter at AED 25 from the airport, against AED 12 in the city, before a single kilometre is counted. The Metro charges the same AED 5 to Downtown whether it is rush hour or not.
Taking the Metro from the airport
Follow the Metro signs from arrivals to the station inside Terminal 3 or Terminal 1. Buy a Nol card at a machine or counter, top it up, and tap in. Fares are set by the zones you cross, so the same trip costs the same from either terminal.
| To | Zones | Silver fare |
|---|---|---|
| Union (Deira, Green Line change) | 1 | AED 3 |
| Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall (Downtown) | 2 | AED 5 |
| BurJuman (Bur Dubai) | 2 | AED 5 |
| Mall of the Emirates | 3 | AED 7.50 |
| Sobha Realty (for Dubai Marina) | 3 | AED 7.50 |
| Ibn Battuta | 3 | AED 7.50 |
For the full route, stops and timings into the city, see our Red Line guide, and for cards and fares see the Nol card guide.
The overnight catch
The Metro does not run around the clock. Trains run from about 05:00 to midnight on most days, until 01:00 on Friday nights, and start later on Sunday at 08:00. Many long-haul flights land late at night or before dawn, which falls in the gap when the Metro is closed. If you arrive then, a taxi or a pre-booked transfer is the only way in, and the airport rank is staffed 24 hours. The full timetable sits on our timings page.
For Dubai Marina, the nearest Metro stop is Sobha Realty, and it is a walk with a footbridge, not a doorstep drop. With two or more suitcases or a late landing, the taxi is usually worth the extra over wrestling bags through the gates and across the bridge.
Tips for the trip in
Buy your Nol card at the airport machine before the queue builds at the counter. Keep at least AED 7.50 on it for the longest run into town. If you take a taxi, use the official rank outside arrivals rather than anyone offering a ride inside the hall. Most taxis take cards, but it is worth checking before you set off. And if your hotel is in the Marina, JLT or near a mall, note your nearest station from the table above so you know where to tap out.
Dubai Metro Guide is independent and not affiliated with the RTA. Fares and taxi rates can change, and taxi figures here are estimates. Confirm current details with the RTA before you travel.