Getting from Dubai International Airport to the city

The metro

Dubai's airport is unusual in having metro stations inside the terminals themselves - R14 at Terminal 1 and R13 at Terminal 3, both on the Red Line.

• AED 3 for one zone, AED 5 for two, AED 7.50 for three or more.
• Central Dubai - Deira, Bur Dubai, Downtown, Marina - is within that range.
• Air conditioned throughout, which in Dubai is not a luxury.

Buy a Nol card first

This is the step that catches people, because it happens before the gate.

• There is no paper ticket and no contactless bank card at the barrier. You need a Nol.
• Red Nol ticket - a paper smart ticket from any vending machine, loaded with single trips. The cheapest option for one or two journeys.
• Silver Nol card - AED 25, including AED 19 of travel credit. It works on metro, buses, the tram, water buses and RTA parking, and is the sensible buy for a stay of more than a day or two.
• Machines are at the station inside the terminal and take cards.

The luggage rule

• Dubai Metro restricts large luggage on the trains at busy times, and the rule is enforced.
• With two large suitcases you may be turned away. For a family with hold baggage, a taxi is often the realistic choice regardless of price.

Taxis

• The official taxi queue is metered with a published airport surcharge.
• Careem and Uber both operate.
• The metro does not run all night. For a 03:00 arrival there is no rail option at all, and the taxi rank is the answer.