Dubai International Airport to Dubai
Trains, buses, private transfers and taxis compared.
Dubai International Airport sits about 5 km from Dubai. Every option below is priced in AUD so you can compare it against what a taxi would cost you at home.
| Option | Price (AUD) | Journey time | Frequency | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Metro Red line Cheapest Stations inside Terminals 1 and 3. Buy a Nol card at the gate. Closed for part of Friday morning. |
~$3 | 25-45 min | Every 5 min | Direct |
| Official RTA taxi Popular Metered, regulated and cheap by Australian standards. |
~$25 | 15-40 min | 24/7 | Door-to-door |
| Careem / Uber Slightly pricier than an RTA taxi but you can pay by card in-app. |
~$30 | 15-40 min | 24/7 | Door-to-door |
| Private transfer Meet and greet at arrivals; sensible for a long stopover with luggage. |
~$60 | 15-40 min | 24/7 | Door-to-door |
Prices are indicative, shown in AUD and refreshed from provider APIs where available. Always confirm the final price on the provider's site - it is the price that applies. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes what you pay. Partners are listed before providers who pay us nothing, as our terms set out; sorting by price ignores all of that and orders on the number alone. How we make money.
Cheapest option: Dubai Metro Red line at around $3. Fastest: Dubai Metro Red line.
Other airports in United Arab Emirates
Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi - 30 km from the centre
Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai - 45 km from the centre
More United Arab Emirates essentials
How these comparisons are made
Routes, operators, journey times and fares come from the operators' own published timetables and pricing, compared in AUD. Public transport options are listed alongside bookable transfers because the train is often the honest answer - and where a booking platform is listed, it's one Jamie has personally booked through. Read the full editorial policy.
Planning United Arab Emirates?
We will send you the United Arab Emirates guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.