Most visitors land at Dubai International (DXB); some flights use Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central (DWC). Here is how to check your entry rules and reach your hotel.
1. Check whether you need a visa
Citizens of many countries can enter the UAE without applying in advance, for a stay of 30 or 90 days depending on nationality. Others need a visa arranged before travel, often through their airline, hotel or a licensed agent. Rules change, so always check your own passport with the official tools before you book:
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa exemption checker: pick your country to see “visa free” or “visa required”.
- ICP and GDRFA Dubai: the official authorities for visa types and permitted stays.
The same official sources list the passport validity your nationality needs. We do not sell visas.
2. From Dubai International (DXB)
| Option | Good to know |
|---|---|
| Metro (Red Line) | Stations at Terminals 1 and 3, running towards Deira, Downtown, the Marina and Expo City. Pay with a Nol card, sold at the terminals. Terminal 2 has no Metro station. |
| Taxi | Licensed taxis wait at ranks outside every terminal, 24 hours a day. Airport taxis start at AED 25, then charge by distance. |
| Ride-hailing | Uber and Careem operate from signed pick-up points. |
| Bus | RTA buses leave from Arrivals at Terminals 1, 2 and 3. Cash is not accepted; use a Nol card. |
3. From Al Maktoum International (DWC)
- Taxis wait at the terminal around the clock.
- RTA bus F55 runs to the Expo Metro station and N55 to Ibn Battuta Metro and bus station, each roughly every 30 minutes.
- DWC is far from most hotels, so a taxi or hotel transfer is usually easiest with luggage. Expo City and Dubai Parks hotels are the closest.
4. Metro opening hours
Monday to Thursday and Saturday 5am to midnight, Friday 5am to 1am, Sunday 8am to midnight. Arriving outside these hours? Take a taxi.
5. Which hotels are easiest to reach?
For a short stopover or an early flight, choose one of our hotels near the airport. If you plan to use public transport, pick from hotels near the Metro. Resorts on the Palm, in the desert and at Creek Harbour are best reached by taxi or a transfer arranged with the hotel.
More help: getting around Dubai, how to book a hotel in Dubai and the best time to visit.