Dubai Airport (DXB)
Dubai Airport (DXB) has three terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. The Metro's Red Line connects Terminals 1 and 3, and the buses leave from the Arrivals stands of Terminals 1, 2 and 3. To pay for the bus you need a Nol card, as the airport takes no cash. Check the terminal on your ticket.
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Updated 21 October 2026
The terminals at Dubai Airport
Dubai International Airport has three passenger terminals:
- Terminal 1 handles most of the international flights of the airport.
- Terminal 2 is a smaller terminal that also takes international flights.
- Terminal 3 takes international flights, and the metro serves it.
The airport's own site asks you to check the terminal on your ticket before you travel, because the airlines assigned to each terminal change.
Getting to and from Dubai Airport
The Dubai Metro's Red Line offers connections from Terminals 1 and 3. The service runs from 5 AM to midnight from Monday to Thursday and Saturday, until 1 AM on Friday, and from 8 AM to midnight on Sunday.
Buses operate from dedicated stands at Arrivals in Terminals 1, 2 and 3, and they run at consistent intervals, although the frequency depends on the route and the hour. A Nol card is required to travel by bus, as cash is not accepted, and you can buy one and top it up in the terminals, at the metro stations and at some bus stations.
The airport's own pages also cover the taxi, the car park and the car rental, so you can compare them before you land.
What happens when you arrive at DXB
Keep your passport and any form you filled in on the plane with you the whole way, from the aircraft door to the exit.
The airport publishes the pages on passport control and visas, on security and customs, on baggage and on transfers, so you can read the step for your flight before you fly.
Dubai Airport with children
The airport's own information pages cover special assistance, and the site has a page on the airport maps, so you can look for the family facilities and the toilets before you land.
Leave the passports and the children's documents in your carry-on bag, not in the checked luggage, so you have them at passport control. The airport's baggage page has the rules on what you can carry in the cabin and what you have to check.
Plan your stop at Dubai Airport
Terminals, airlines and arrival procedures change, so check with the airline and the airport's own site before you travel. And check with the embassy or consulate about the documents your family needs for the entry rules of every country on your route.
Sources
- Official home page of Dubai International Airport, the operator's own site, with the sections on flights, the airport information and the transport into the city. — dubaiairports.ae (checked 21 October 2026)
- Official page of the airport on the Dubai Metro: the Red Line connections from Terminals 1 and 3, and the hours the service runs. — dubaiairports.ae (checked 21 October 2026)
- Official page of the airport on the bus service: the stands at Arrivals in Terminals 1, 2 and 3, and the Nol card needed to pay the fare. — dubaiairports.ae (checked 21 October 2026)
- Official page of the airport on baggage: the rules on what you can carry, the trolleys and what to do if a bag does not arrive. — dubaiairports.ae (checked 21 October 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How many terminals does Dubai Airport have?
Three: Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. Check the terminal on your ticket before you travel, because the airlines assigned to each one change.
How do I get from Dubai Airport to the city by metro?
The Dubai Metro's Red Line connects Terminals 1 and 3. It runs from 5 AM to midnight Monday to Thursday and Saturday, until 1 AM on Friday and from 8 AM to midnight on Sunday.
Can I pay the bus fare in cash at Dubai Airport?
No. A Nol card is required to travel by bus, as cash payments are not accepted. You can buy and top up the card in the airport terminals, at the metro stations and at some bus stations.
Which terminals does the bus serve at DXB?
Terminals 1, 2 and 3, from dedicated stands at Arrivals. The buses run at consistent intervals, but the frequency depends on the route and the time of day.
What do I do first when I land at DXB?
Keep your passport and any form you filled in on the plane with you the whole way, from the aircraft door to the exit, and check the terminal on your ticket before you travel.