How to get from Dubai International to Downtown Dubai
High confidenceChecked May 2026
Take the Red Line metro from Terminal 1 or 3 — AED 8. Cream taxis are also cheap and metered.
Best options
Best overall
Red Line metro to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station.
Cheapest safe
Metro — AED 8 with a Nol card.
Best at night
Cream RTA taxi from the rank — meter starts AED 25, ~AED 60 to downtown.
With luggage / kids
Taxi or Careem — metro luggage rules apply (2 bags max).
Taxi fare
AED 55–80 metered
Ride-hailing
Careem and Uber both work. Pickup is the dedicated app-based zone.
available
Public transport
Red Line metro from T1 and T3. Runs 05:00–24:00 (later on weekends).
After landing — step by step
- 1Exit arrivals and follow 'METRO' signs
- 2Buy a Silver Nol card at the machine (AED 6 + credit)
- 3Red line to your stop — Burj Khalifa, Financial Centre, etc.
- 4For taxi: queue at the cream-taxi rank outside arrivals
Scam warnings
Limo counter inside arrivals upselling AED 200+ rides
Drivers offering 'flat fare' instead of meter — always insist on meter
Avoid this
- • The limousine counter inside arrivals
- • Any quote that doesn't start the meter
SOURCES