Dubai Airport Transfer
A chauffeur inside arrivals with your name on a board, the car class you booked, and one fixed price that already covers airport parking, Salik and VAT.
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A Dubai airport transfer with us is a pre-booked private car whose chauffeur tracks your flight and meets you inside the arrivals hall at DXB Terminal 1, 2 or 3, or at Al Maktoum International (DWC). You pay one fixed price, get 45–60 minutes of free waiting after landing, and have help with your bags to the car.
Airport runs are the everyday core of our chauffeur service in Dubai. The car is a business sedan, an S-Class, an SUV, a van or a Rolls-Royce, whichever fits your group and your luggage. In Dubai, people often call this an “airport limo”. It means the same thing: a chauffeur-driven car booked ahead, not a stretch limousine.
Reviewed by Arshad Hussain, chauffeur operations specialist, dubai · Updated
Dubai airport transfer rates
All-inclusive: chauffeur, fuel, Salik tolls, airport parking, VAT (5%), bottled water and Wi-Fi. No surge pricing and no night surcharge. Send your pickup, drop-off and time on WhatsApp for a fixed quote in minutes.
| Vehicle class | DXB ↔ Dubai | DWC ↔ Dubai |
|---|---|---|
| Business sedanMercedes E-Class, Lexus ES, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers | On Request | On Request |
| First-class sedanMercedes S-Class, BMW 7 Series, Audi A8 · up to 3 passengers | On Request | On Request |
| Luxury SUVGMC Yukon Denali, Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban · up to 6 passengers | On Request | On Request |
| Luxury vanMercedes V-Class, Hyundai Staria, Toyota HiAce VIP · up to 7 passengers | On Request | On Request |
| Ultra-luxuryRolls-Royce Ghost, Phantom, Cullinan, Bentley Flying Spur · up to 3 passengers | On Request | On Request |
Rates in AED, VAT included, updated 2026-09. Hourly bookings have a 3-hour minimum. Airport pickups include 45–60 minutes of free waiting. See all prices.
How much is an airport transfer in Dubai?
The price depends on the car class and where you’re going. Published Dubai rate cards (September 2026) put a Mercedes S-Class airport transfer at about AED 400–500. A business sedan costs less, and an SUV, van or Rolls-Royce costs more. Our fixed rates for DXB and DWC to Dubai addresses are in the rate table on this page.
Every quote includes the chauffeur, fuel, Salik tolls, airport parking, VAT, bottled water and Wi-Fi. A 3 a.m. landing costs the same as a 3 p.m. one, because we charge no night surcharge and no surge pricing.
For comparison, Dubai Taxi’s airport fare starts at AED 20–25 and adds AED 2.62 per km. Salik tolls are charged on top, and there’s an extra AED 20 if the trip crosses into Sharjah. A taxi is cheaper for one person with a carry-on going a short distance. The gap narrows for three or four people with luggage, or for a long run to Dubai Marina or the Palm.
DXB Terminals 1, 2, 3 and DWC: where your chauffeur meets you
Neither Dubai airport has a kerbside pick-up area at arrivals. Dubai Airports sends anyone collecting a passenger to the terminal car parks. So your chauffeur parks, walks into the arrivals hall, and waits with your name board where passengers come out. The parking fee is already in our price.
| Terminal | Airlines (examples from Dubai Airports’ directory) | Where the car waits |
|---|---|---|
| DXB Terminal 1 (D Gates) | British Airways, Qatar Airways, Air India, Saudia and many other international airlines | Car Park A, a 2–3 minute walk from the terminal |
| DXB Terminal 2 (F Gates) | Some flydubai flights, plus Wizz Air, SalamAir and Air India Express | Car Park A, a 3–5 minute walk |
| DXB Terminal 3 (A, B and C Gates) | Emirates, with Qantas, United, Air Canada and some flydubai flights | Terminal 3 car park, a 2–3 minute walk from any level |
| DWC, Al Maktoum International | A smaller schedule, mostly low-cost and charter airlines such as flynas | The DWC car park (parking is free there) |
Airline schedules at both airports changed in 2026 as carriers returned after the spring regional airspace disruption. Dubai Airports’ chief executive said in May 2026 that DXB was back at full operating capacity. Check the terminal on your ticket and send it with your booking. If it changes, we move the pickup.
Terminal 3 has its own quirks: three concourses and a train link to the A Gates, so the time from the gate to the arrivals hall varies a lot. Our guide to Terminal 3 arrivals pickup walks through it. Every airport, terminal and option is compared in our complete guide to Dubai airport transfers.
DWC sits in Dubai South, about 37 km southwest of central Dubai, near Expo City and Jebel Ali. It’s close to Dubai Marina and Abu Dhabi, and far from Deira. Public transport means a bus to the Expo City or Ibn Battuta Metro stations, every 30 minutes. A pre-booked car is the simplest way into the city. In April 2024, Dubai approved an AED 128 billion expansion of DWC, and all DXB operations are planned to move there over roughly a decade. Our Al Maktoum Airport (DWC) to Dubai guide covers the drive.
What is included in airport meet and greet?
Our meet and greet is a chauffeur waiting inside the arrivals hall with your name on a board. The chauffeur takes your luggage trolley to the car and drives you to your address. It’s included in every airport transfer. Here’s how it runs:
- You book. Send your flight number, date, destination, passengers and bags by WhatsApp (+971 55 500 7952), email or the booking form.
- We confirm a fixed price. One amount, with parking, Salik, fuel and VAT inside.
- You get your chauffeur’s details. Name, mobile number and plate, sent before you fly.
- We track the flight. Early, late or diverted, the chauffeur works to the real landing time.
- The chauffeur waits in arrivals. With your name board, while you clear immigration and collect your bags.
- Bags to the car. The chauffeur takes the trolley and walks you to the car park.
- Straight to your address. Water and Wi-Fi on board. Ask for a child seat when you book if you need one.
Our chauffeurs meet you landside, after immigration. If you want someone at the aircraft door, marhaba (dnata’s meet and greet at DXB) meets you at the arrival gate. Its tiers escort you to the fast-track immigration counter, with a porter on the higher ones, and it includes a car only on its Elite tiers. You can book marhaba inside and our car outside. Our comparison of marhaba and private meet and greet sets out who does what.
Flight tracking and free waiting
We watch your flight from departure, not from landing. Free waiting of 45–60 minutes starts when the plane actually lands, so a two-hour delay costs you nothing. That’s usually enough for immigration and the baggage belt at DXB. If a bag goes missing or the passport hall is packed, message the chauffeur and they’ll keep you posted from the arrivals hall.
Which car do you need for your luggage?
Book the car for your bags, not your headcount. A sedan takes two large cases. Four adults with four cases need an SUV or a van, however short the drive.
| Vehicle class | Examples | Passengers | Large cases | Book it for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sedan | Mercedes E-Class, Lexus ES, BMW 5 Series | 3 | 2 | Solo business trips, couples with light luggage |
| First-class sedan | Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7 Series, Audi A8 | 3 | 2 | Executives and VIP guests |
| Ultra-luxury | Rolls-Royce Ghost or Phantom, Bentley Flying Spur | 3 | 2 | Arrivals that need to make an impression |
| Luxury SUV | GMC Yukon Denali, Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban | 6 | 5 | Families of four to six with luggage |
| Luxury van | Mercedes V-Class, Hyundai Staria, Toyota HiAce VIP | 7 | 6 | Groups, golf bags, prams, long-stay luggage |
Golf bags, prams and diving gear count as large cases. When in doubt, go one size up. It costs less than a second car.
Drive times from DXB and DWC
These are typical door-to-door times for the main areas. Off-peak means late morning, early afternoon and late evening. Rush hour means roughly 6 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 8 p.m. on weekdays, the hours when Salik charges its peak toll.
| Route | Distance | Off-peak | Weekday rush hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| DXB → Downtown Dubai / DIFC | about 14–20 km | 15–25 min | 30–45 min |
| DXB → Business Bay | about 18–22 km | 15–25 min | 30–45 min |
| DXB → Deira hotels | about 5–8 km | 10–15 min | 20–30 min |
| DXB → Dubai Marina / JBR | about 33–40 km | 30–40 min | 45–60 min |
| DXB → Palm Jumeirah (Atlantis) | about 40–44 km | 35–45 min | 50–70 min |
| DXB → Sharjah city | about 13–19 km | 20–30 min | 45–75 min |
| DXB → Abu Dhabi city | about 150–165 km | 1 h 45 – 2 h 15 | Longer |
| DWC → Expo City | about 15–21 km | 15–25 min | 20–30 min |
| DWC → Dubai Marina / JBR | about 30–37 km | 25–35 min | 35–50 min |
| DWC → Downtown Dubai | about 50 km | 40–50 min | 55–70 min |
| DWC → Abu Dhabi city | about 120–130 km | 1 h 15 – 1 h 40 | Longer |
If you’re staying in Dubai Marina or JBR and your airline flies to both airports, DWC is the shorter drive.
Departures: when to leave for DXB
Dubai Airports advises being at the terminal about three hours before an international flight, which is when check-in counters open. Emirates adds its own deadlines at Terminal 3:
Check-in opens early
you can check in and drop bags 24 hours before departure (12 hours for US flights), and City Check-in at DIFC takes bags from 24 to 4 hours before.
Passport control by 90 minutes
you need to clear passport control and security 90 minutes before the flight.
Gate deadlines
60 minutes before departure in Economy and Premium Economy, 45 minutes in First and Business.
Long walks airside
Emirates says the walk takes up to 20 minutes to the A Gates and up to 25 minutes to the C Gates.
Our recommended pickup times for an international departure from DXB:
| Pickup from | Normal day | Weekday rush or holiday peak |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown, DIFC, Business Bay | 3 h 30 before departure | 4 h before |
| Dubai Marina, JBR, JLT | 3 h 45 before | 4 h 15 before |
| Palm Jumeirah | 4 h before | 4 h 30 before |
| Abu Dhabi city | 5 h before | 5 h 30 before |
Holiday peaks are real. Dubai Airports expected daily traffic to regularly top 200,000 guests in early July 2026 as the summer school break began. Allow the extra 30 minutes around school holidays and Eid.
Airport transfers to Abu Dhabi and Sharjah
We drive from both Dubai airports to anywhere in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah at a fixed price, and pick up inside both emirates for the return.
DXB to Abu Dhabi
about 150–165 km, 1 h 45 to 2 h 15 to the city. From DWC it’s about 120–130 km, noticeably shorter. See Dubai to Abu Dhabi private transfer.
DXB to Sharjah
only 13–19 km, but the Dubai–Sharjah roads jam at rush hour, so a 25-minute drive can take over an hour at 6 p.m. See chauffeur service in Sharjah.
Flying private
executive terminals at DWC and DXB work differently from the main terminals. See private jet terminal transfers.
Hotel teams
concierge desks can book guest pickups on a monthly account. See hotel transportation in Dubai.
Private transfer, taxi, Uber or airline chauffeur: which is best?
The best option depends on your group, your bags and your ticket. Here’s how the four compare at DXB:
| Private transfer (us) | Dubai Taxi | Uber, Careem, Bolt | Emirates Chauffeur-drive | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Fixed and quoted in advance, parking and Salik included | Meter from AED 20–25 plus AED 2.62/km, Salik extra | App fare, varies with demand | Included with eligible tickets |
| Who can use it | Anyone | Anyone | Anyone with the app | First Class, and Business Class on Saver, Flex or Flex Plus fares |
| Where you meet the car | Inside arrivals, name board | Taxi rank at arrivals | Signed pickup point (T3 has an Uber pick-up area) | Emirates Chauffeur-drive desk |
| The car | The class you booked | Next in the queue | The category you pick | Set by Emirates |
| Waiting after landing | 45–60 minutes free | Not applicable | You book once you have your bags | Set by Emirates |
| Best for | Families, VIPs, groups, late-night arrivals | Solo, short trips | Solo, light bags | Eligible Emirates passengers |
Emirates’ chauffeur service isn’t available on award tickets, economy-to-business upgrades or Business Special fares, and has to be booked in advance. Our Emirates chauffeur service guide covers the rules. If your fare doesn’t qualify, or your group won’t fit one car, book with us.
Dubai Airport Transfer: frequently asked questions
Published Dubai rate cards (September 2026) put an S-Class airport transfer at about AED 400–500. A business sedan is cheaper, and an SUV or van costs more. Our fixed DXB and DWC rates are in the rate table on this page, with parking, Salik and VAT included and no night surcharge.
For one person with light bags on a short trip, a Dubai Taxi from the rank is usually cheapest: from AED 20–25 plus AED 2.62 per km and Salik. Uber and Careem fares change with demand. For three or more people with luggage, or long runs to the Marina or Palm, a fixed-price private car narrows the gap.
For families, business travellers and late-night arrivals, a pre-booked private transfer is the least stressful. Someone is waiting in arrivals, the car fits your bags and the price is set. Solo travellers with a carry-on do fine with a taxi. Emirates First and eligible Business passengers should check their free Chauffeur-drive first.
With us: flight tracking, a chauffeur in the arrivals hall with your name board, 45–60 minutes of free waiting from landing, help with your luggage to the car, and the drive to your address. Gate-side escort and fast-track immigration are separate airport services, such as marhaba at DXB.
Yes. Book with your flight number, terminal and destination, and your chauffeur meets you inside arrivals at DXB Terminal 1, 2 or 3, or at DWC. Because neither airport has a kerbside pick-up area, the chauffeur parks in the terminal car park and walks you to the car.
It’s included for Emirates First Class and for Business Class on Saver, Flex or Flex Plus fares, within a set distance of the airport. It isn’t available on Business Special fares, award tickets or economy-to-business upgrades, and you have to book it in advance.
Book your chauffeur
Send your pickup, drop-off, date and time. We reply with a fixed, all-inclusive price, usually within minutes, 24 hours a day.