Which Dubai Airport is best to fly or closest to City?

Dubai Airport (DXB) or Al Maktoum Airport (DWC)

Top 5 Must-See Activities in Dubai

These are the most famous Dubai tourist attractions & sight tours which sees thousands and millions of visitors each year:


Quick Jump links to Dubai Airports

Dubai is served by two airports; Dubai Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum Airport (DWC). Dubai Airport is the primary international airport serving the city and the busiest airport by international passenger traffic in the world. Al Maktoum Airport is another international serving Dubai, it is part of Dubai World Central which is still very much under construction. The airport serves mainly seasonal flights, domestic and some international flights. We summarize all the information you need about the airports to make your next trip easy.

Dubai Airport Vs. Al Maktoum Airport

Dubai Airport (DXB)

Al Maktoum Airport (DWC)

    Dubai Airport (DXB) Al Maktoum Airport (DWC)
Airport Maps Dubai Airport (DXB) Map Al Maktoum Airport (DWC) Map

Getting To The Airports From The City Centre

Distance from City Centre 22 miles(35 kilometres) 25.7 miles(41.4 kilometres)
Public Transport Operating Hours 24-Hours Metro services end 12:00AM night (1:00AM on Thursday and Friday) 24-hours
Train

Dubai RTA Metro Red Line runs every 10 minutes to central Dubai.
Fare: $1-$2
Journey time: 42 min

RTA Timetables

N/A
Shuttle Services Hotels provide airport shuttles for their guests. Contact your hotel for shuttle service details and availability. N/A
Bus

Dubai RTA Bus Line 10 runs every 30 minutes.

Fare: $5
Journey time: 1h 25 min

RTA Timetables

N/A
Taxi

Around $22 - $27,
Journey time: 30 min.

Around $20-$25,
Journey time: 35 min.

Uber

Available on demand $26-$35

Uber fare estimator

Available on demand $30-$40

Uber fare estimator

   

Which Airport Is Most Suitable For Me?

How Close to City Centre

Dubai Airport is the closest to Dubai's city centre. It is linked to central Dubai by metro trains, buses, shuttles, taxis and car hire services.

It takes 29 minutes by taxi to get to central Dubai.

Al Maktoum Airport is far from the city centre but also linked by taxis, and car hire services to other parts of Dubai.

It takes 35 minutes to get to the city centre.

Cost Factor

ubai Airport is the main airport serving Dubai, it is served by major airlines with flights to destinations almost every continent in the world.

The airport handles both domestic and international flights compared to Al Maktoum Airport which handles seasonal international flights.

This is a more expensive airport interms of flight fares, transportation as it is served by more public transport service than DWC.

Car hire services are relatively comparable for both airports. This airport is a better choice if you want more public transport options.

Al Maktoum Airport is also an international airport serving Dubai. It is part of Dubai World Central and most of the airport is still under construction so there are limited fpublic transport services at the airport.

Only taxis and Uber are available at the airport and also car rental services. This is a cheaper airport in terms of flight fares but hotels are relatively expensive.

It is a better choice if you want to save money on flight fares but at the same time, you need to make arrangements for taxi before you land.

Airport Delays

Avg Security & Immigration Delays: High

Avg Flight Arrival Delays: 20 minutes.

Avg Security & Immigration Delays:

Average
Avg Flight Arrival Delays: 15 minutes

Flight Fares From 02-01-2019 searched on 07-12-2018

Flight Fares Kuwait $103, Frankfurt $337, Lagos $620, Abidjan $576, Adelaide $898, Buenos Aires-Ezeiza $1,329, Los Angeles $977, London $561, Toronto $955. Bucharest $191, Budapest $897, Cluj-Napoca $317, Katowice $402, Sofia $381, Moscow $997.

Hotel Prices Per Day From (01-01-2018 to 02-01-2018) Searched on 07-12-2018

Hotel

Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre (5-star) - $283,

Roda Al Bustan (5-star) - $250,

Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai (4-Star) - $267.

Aloft Dubai South (3-Star)- $180

Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa (5-star) - $1,035,

easyHotel Dubai Jebel Ali (1-Star) - $66.


Car Hire Prices Per Week (01-01-2018 to 02-01-2018) Searched on 07-12-2018

Car Hire

Budget Cars: (Ford Figo, Kia Picanto, Chevrolet Spark) $67.20-$91.10

Intermediate Cars: (Mitsubishi Lancer, Vw Jetta, Toyota Altis, Toyota Corolla, Ford Mondeo, Ford Mondeo, Alfa Romeo) $68.62-$148.55

Luxury Cars: (Mercedes E Class, Dodge Challenger, Bmw 5 Series, Chevrolet Camaro) $310.54-$422.05.

Budget Cars: (Ford Figo, Kia Picanto, Chevrolet Spark) $67.20-$91.10

Intermediate Cars: (Mitsubishi Lancer, Vw Jetta, Toyota Altis, Toyota Corolla, Ford Mondeo, Ford Mondeo, Alfa Romeo) $68.62-$148.55

Luxury Cars: (Mercedes E Class, Dodge Challenger, Bmw 5 Series, Chevrolet Camaro) $310.54-$422.05.

Car Hire Companies Al Wefaq, Budget, Diamondlease, Europcar, Fast, Hertz, Sixt, Hertz, National, Avis, Dollar and Thrifty. Alamo, Dollar, Europcar, InterRent, Keddy By Europcar, and Thrifty.
Online car hire Car Hire Dubai Airport (DXB) Car Hire Al Maktoum Airport (DWC)

Airport Facilities

Shopping and Dining McDonald's, Baskin Robbins, Costa Coffee, Boots and many others are located in all the airport terminals. There are many duty-free shopping available including restaurants like Costa Coffee, McDonald's, Starbucks and many more around the airport.
Lounges Marhaba Lounge, Ahlan Business Class Lounge, SkyTeam Lounge, and Lounge @ B. PMarhaba Lounge.
Wi-Fi Services Unlimited Free WiFi available. Unlimited Free Wi-Fi available.
Transfer in and Around The Airport DXB has three terminals with four concourses. T1: concourse D, T3: concourse A, B, & C, while T2 is not as modern as the other terminals. There is free inter-terminal shuttle for passengers. The airport currently has one functional terminal, but is expected to have three terminals upon completion.
Currency Exchange & ATM cash Points Travelex, UAE Exchange, Sharaf Exchange, ENBD Money Exchange, Al Ansari Exchange, Dubai Express Exchange alloffer currency exchange services and ATM cash points located in T1, T2, and T3 Emirates NBD, Sharaf Exchange and UAE Exchange all offer currency exchange services. ATM cash points are also located everywhere in the airport.
Important phone numbers DXB Airport: +971 4 224 5555. DWC Airport: +971 4 224 5555.
Major Operating Airlines

Aeroflot, Air Algerie, Air Astana, Air Blue, Air Canada, Air China, Air France, Air India, Ariana Afghan Airlines, Azerbaijan Airlines, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Cebu Pacific, China Eastern, China Southern, Daalo Airlines, EgyptAir, Emirates, Equatorial Congo Airlines, Eritrean Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Finnair, Fly Dubai, Fly Nas, Gulf Air, Indi Go, Iran Asseman, Iran Air, Iraqi Airlines, Jazeera Airways, Jet Airways, Jubba Airways, KAM, KLM, Kenya Airways, Kish Air, Korean Airlines, Libyan Airlines, Lufthansa, Mahan Air, Middle East Airlines, Naft Airlines, Nordstar, Norwegian, Oman Air, Pegasus, Philippine Airlines, Pakistan International, Qantas, Qeshm, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Rwand Air Express, Safiran Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Soman Air, Spicejet, Srilankan Airlines, Swiss, Syrian Arab Airlines, Taban, Thai Airways, Transavia, Travel Servis, Turkish Airlines, Turkmenistan Airlines, Ukraine International Airlines, United Airlines Bangladesh, Ural Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airways, and Yemen Airways.

Aeroflot, Azur Air, Belavia, Condor, flydubai, I-Fly, Neos, Nordwind Airlines, Pegas Fly, Smartlynx Airlines Estonia, TUI fly Deutschland, Ural Airlines, and Wizz Air.

Major Connecting Destinations

Abidjan, Abuja, Accra, Addis Ababa, Adelaide, Ahmedabad, Algiers, Amman-Queen Alia, Amsterdam, Athens, Auckland, Baghdad, Bahrain, Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Barcelona, Basra, Beijing-Capital, Beirut, Bengaluru, Birmingham, Bologna, Boston, Brisbane, Brussels, Budapest, Buenos Aires-Ezeiza, Cairo, Cape Town, Casablanca, Cebu, Chennai, Chicago-O'Hare, Christchurch, Clark, Colombo, Conakry, Copenhagen, Dakar-Diass, Dallas/Fort Worth, Dammam, Dar es Salaam, Delhi, Denpasar, Dhaka, Dublin, Durban, Düsseldorf, Edinburgh, Entebbe, Fort Lauderdale, Frankfurt, Geneva, Glasgow, Guangzhou, Hamburg, Hanoi, Harare, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Houston-Intercontinental, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Istanbul-Atatürk, Istanbul-Sabiha Gökçen, Jakarta-Soekarno-Hatta, Jeddah, Johannesburg-O. R. Tambo, Kabul, Karachi, Khartoum, Kochi, Kolkata, Kuala Lumpur-International, Kuwait, Lagos, Lahore, Larnaca, Lisbon, London-Gatwick, London-Heathrow, London-Stansted, Los Angeles, Luanda, Lusaka, Lyon, Madrid, Mahé, Malé, Malta, Manchester, Manila, Mauritius, Medina, Melbourne, Milan-Malpensa, Moscow-Domodedovo, Mumbai, Munich, Muscat, Nairobi-Jomo Kenyatta, New York-JFK, Newark, Newcastle upon Tyne, Nice, Orlando, Osaka-Kansai, Oslo-Gardermoen, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Perth, Peshawar, Phuket, Phnom Penh, Prague, Rio de Janeiro-Galeão, Riyadh, Rome-Fiumicino, Saint Petersburg, San Francisco, São Paulo-Guarulhos, Santiago de Chile, Seattle-Tacoma, Seoul-Incheon, Shanghai-Pudong, Sialkot, Singapore, Stockholm-Arlanda, Sydney, Taipei-Taoyuan, Tehran-Imam Khomeini, Thiruvananthapuram, Tokyo-Haneda, Tokyo-Narita, Toronto-Pearson, Tunis, Venice, Vienna, Warsaw-Chopin, Washington-Dulles, Yangon, Zürich and many more.

Bucharest, Budapest, Cluj-Napoca, Katowice, Sofia, Amman-Queen Alia, Beirut and many more seasonal destions to other cities in the world.

Tourist Info Centres There are airport staff walking around in “May I help you?” blue polo shirts to assist with any questions you might have or check info centres in the arrivals and departures hall. There are 4 Info centres located in before and after security check areas.
Official website http://www.dubaiairports.ae http://www.dubaiairports.ae
See all Airport to Hotel Transfers from Dubai

DUBAI AIRPORTS

Which Dubai airport is closest to central Dubai?

There are two airports that serve Dubai; Dubai Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum Airport (DWC). Dubai airport is closest to the city centre just 22 miles away, its fast public transport (Dubai Metro train) will get you to central Dubai in 42 minutes. Al Maktoum airport is the furthest from central Dubai at 25.7 miles and there are no public transport serving this airport except taxis which takes 35 minutes to the city centre. From these airports, you can visit any attractions in and around the city.

Compare airport distances and transfer times to the center of Dubai by public transport below.

Distance to Central Cities:

Al Maktoum Airport: 25.7 miles / 41.4 km
Dubai Airport: 22 miles / 35 km

Dubai Airport to the Central Dubai Journey Times:

By Train (Dubai RTA Metro Red Line): 42 minutes
By Bus (Dubai RTA Bus Line 10): 75 minutes
By Taxi: 30 minutes

Al Maktoum Airport to Central Dubai Journey Times:

By Taxi: 35 minutes

What is the best airport to fly into in Dubai?

Dubai airport is the best airport to fly into when flying to Dubai. It is closer to the major attractions and the city centre, from the airport passengers can get to Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa in 33 minutes. The airport is served by good public transport links by metro train, and bus which is very convenient with direct lines from the airport to the city centre and some of the top attractions. It takes around 42 minutes to central dubai by train. Dubai airport is served by top airlines such as Air Canada, Air China, Air France, Air India, British Airways, Emirates, KLM, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Airways, and more handle both domestic and international flights to most cities in the world. Although it is best to fly into in Dubai, you should expect some flight delays, long queues and a lot of crowd, the airport has 3 terminals but is served by inter-terminal shuttle for passenger transfer between terminals.

DWC (Al Maktoum airport) is the second international airport serving Dubai. The airport handles both domestic and some seasonal international flights to other cities in the world through airlines such as Aeroflot, Azur Air, Belavia, Condor, flydubai, I-Fly, Neos, Nordwind Airlines, Pegas Fly, Smartlynx Airlines Estonia, TUI fly Deutschland, Ural Airlines, and Wizz Air. It is further away from the city centre and its attractions, it is only served by taxi to central Dubai with a journey time of 35 minutes. The airport is still under construction and currently has a single functional terminal building which handles fewer crowd compared to DXB, so it experiences shorter queues and less flight delays.

Is Dubai airport better than DWC?

Dubai airport is a better option for travellers flying into Dubai because of its close proximity to the city centre and its top attractions. The airport benefits from its fast and comfortable public transport services that will get you to central Dubai in 42 minutes by train. But as the major airport serving Dubai. You should expect to experience longer queues at security/immigration, flight delays at the airport.

Which airport is closest to the top attractions in Dubai, United Arab Emirates?

Dubai is one of the cities in the world with amazing sights to see, and from Dubai airport passengers can get to Burj Khalifa in 33 minutes using the metro train at the airport for $1-$2. Alternatively, you can use taxi or Uber from $12-$15 each. Some of the other attractions to see in the city include Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, The Dubai Mall, Palm Jumeirah, Palm Islands, Palm Islands, Dubai Marina, Al Fahidi Fort, The Dubai Fountain, Jumeirah Beach, Ski Dubai, Dubai Creek, Madinat Jumeirah, Wild Wadi Water Park, The World, Dubai Spice Souk, Aquaventure Waterpark, Jumeirah Mosque, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Al Bastakiya, The Lost Chambers Aquarium, Dubai Dolphinarium, Saeed Al Maktoum House, Emirates Towers, Grand Mosque, Public Beach, Dubai Zoo, Dubai Miracle Garden, The Walk, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Heritage Village, Dolphin Bay, Palm Jebel Ali, IMG Worlds of Adventure, Al Mamzar Beach Park, Dubai Opera, Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, Jumeirah Public Beach, Deira Island, At The Top Burj Khalifa, Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel, Burj Khalifa Lake, Motiongate Dubai, Legoland Dubai, Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization and many more.

How much does it Cost from Dubai or Al Maktoum to Central Dubai?

From Dubai Airport by:

Train (Dubai RTA Metro Red Line): $1-$2 - https://www.rta.ae/links/timetables/en/timetables.html Train runs every 10 minutes, last train takes off by 12:00AM night (1:00 am Thur & Fri.)

Bus (Dubai RTA Bus Line 10): $5- https://www.rta.ae/links/timetables/en/timetables.html Bus runs every 30 minutes from 05:45-12:00 midnight.

Taxi: $22 - $27 -http://dtc.dubai.ae/en/Pages/default.aspxAvailable 24/7.

Uber: $26-$35 - https://www.uber.com/global/en/price-estimate// Available on demand.
But Private taxes are cheaper than Airport taxis, here to Book at

From Al Maktoum Airport by:

Taxi: $22-$27 -http://dtc.dubai.ae/en/Pages/default.aspxAvailable 24/7 at the airport.
But Private taxes are cheaper than Airport taxis, here to Book at

How much are Hotels at Dubai and Al Maktoum Airports?

Hotel prices can vary greatly depending on how far in advance you book, the demand for rooms, and which hotel you book but the prices below will give you a rough idea and you can do further research and hotel booking at https://www.tripindicator.com/hotel.html

Dubai Airport Hotels: From $250 per day .
Al Maktoum Airport Hotels: From $66 per night

How much does car hire cost at Dubai or Al Maktoum Airports?

All of the airports mentioned offer competitive prices and a range of cars to suit your needs. Prices are based on the type of car, driver age, length of hire, and demand but you can get a rough idea for each airport below.

Dubai Airport Car Rental:
Budget Cars: (Honda Fit, Ford Figo etc) $67.20 per day
Intermediate Cars: (Peugeot 408, Toyota Corolla, etc) $68.62 per day
Luxury Cars: (BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E Class etc) $310.54 per day

Compare prices here - https://www.tripindicator.com/car-hire/dubai-airport.html

Al Maktoum Airport Car Rental:
Budget Cars: (Honda Fit, Ford Figo etc) $67.20 per day
Intermediate Cars: (Peugeot 408, Toyota Corolla, etc) $68.62 per day
Luxury Cars: (BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E Class etc) $310.54 per day

Compare prices here - https://www.tripindicator.com/

Which Is The Main International Airport In Dubai?

Dubai Airport (DXB) is the main airport serving Dubai and major airlines operate from this airport with flights to many major cities across the globe.

How Many Terminals Does Dubai Airports Have?

Dubai Airport has 3terminal buildings with four concourses. T1 houses concourse D, while T3 has concourse's A, B, & C, T2 is not a modern terminal like T1 & T3.Al Maktoum Airport still has most parts under construction, it is set to have 3 terminals once completed, one will handles Emirates passengers, another for International flights and the last for budget airlines. But as it stands, only one terminal is operational at the airport for now and it handles domestic and seasonal international flights.

Which Airport Is Closer To The City Centre?

Dubai Airport is 35 km to the city centre making it the closest airport to central Dubai. The fastest mode of transport is by taxi which takes just 30 minutes to get to where all the main attractions are in central Dubai.

What Best Hotels Are Near The Airports?

At DXB, Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre (5-star), Roda Al Bustan (5-star), and Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai (4-Star). At DWC, Aloft Dubai South (3-Star)- $180, Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa (5-star), and easyHotel Dubai Jebel Ali (1-Star).

What Things To Do Near Dubai Airports?

If you are using any of the Dubai airports, it is important that you know some of the best things to do near the airports such as a visit to the tallest building in the world ‘Burj Khalifa' , Dubai Fountain, The Dubai Mall, Al Majlis, Zen Gardens, rest in a five star hotel, Enjoy a good meal at the airport restaurants, go on raptor team tour, desert safari Dubai, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, and many more.

Dubai Airport (DXB), Al Maktoum Airport (DWC) Terminal Maps

For Dubai Airport (DXB) Terminal Maps visit https://www.tripindicator.com/dxb-dubai-airport-terminal-map.html

For Al Maktoum Airport (DWC) Terminal Maps visit https://www.tripindicator.com/dwc-al-maktoum-airport-terminal-map.html

 

Top Dubai Attractions Tickets

Top Tours & Tickets


Dubai Fountain Show and Boat Ride

Bestseller

Duration: 30 minutes

3.5 (11 reviews)

Dubai Fountain Show and Boat Ride

Dubai Hot air Balloon Flight with Breakfast & Falconry

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Duration: Six hours

4.5 (216 reviews)

Dubai Hot air Balloon Flight with Breakfast & Falconry

Ski Dubai Penguin Tickets

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Duration: 40 minutes in total

4.5 (34 reviews)

Ski Dubai Penguin Tickets

Abu Dhabi Day Sightseeing Tour from Dubai

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Duration: 8 hours

4.0 (164 reviews)

Abu Dhabi Day Sightseeing Tour from Dubai

Big Bus Dubai Bus Tour

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Duration: 24 hour ticket, 48 hour tickets also available.

4.5 (1944 reviews)

Big Bus Dubai Bus Tour

Dubai Flora and Fauna 4-Hour Tour

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Duration: Four hours

4.0 (30 reviews)

Dubai Flora and Fauna 4-Hour Tour

Dubai Desert Sunrise Camel Trek with Breakfast

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Duration: Around four hours

5.0 (11 reviews)

Dubai Desert Sunrise Camel Trek with Breakfast

Dinner & Traditional Show in the Desert: 5-Hour Tour

Bestseller

Duration: Between four and five hours

4.5 (22 reviews)

Dinner & Traditional Show in the Desert: 5-Hour Tour