Al Maktoum Airport (DWC) to Dubai: distance, drive times and how to get there

Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) is in Dubai South, about 34 km by road from Dubai Marina and 50 km from Downtown Dubai. By car, plan on 35 to 50 minutes to the Marina and 45 to 70 minutes to Downtown. There’s no Metro station at the airport, so you’ll take a Dubai Taxi, an RTA bus to the Metro, or a pre-booked car.

DWC is Dubai’s second airport and far quieter than Dubai International (DXB). That’s good news on arrival (a smaller terminal, free parking) and bad news if you assumed you’d land next to the city. We run chauffeur airport transfers from DWC as well as DXB, and many first-time visitors don’t realise how far south it is. This guide gives the distances, the real options and what each one costs.

Where is Al Maktoum International Airport?

DWC sits in Dubai South, south-west of the city, south of Jebel Ali and towards the Abu Dhabi border. Expo City Dubai is about 20 km away by road, and Jebel Ali about 25 km.

Some background from Dubai Airports, which runs both airports:

• Cargo flights started on 27 June 2010, and passenger flights on 27 October 2013.
• After an expansion, the passenger terminal can handle 26 million passengers a year.
• DWC supports “seasonal charter and scheduled operations”, plus cargo and general aviation (private and business jets).

Parking at DWC is free for all airport users, which is unusual in Dubai. There’s still no kerbside pick-up lane: the DWC FAQ tells anyone collecting a passenger to use the car park.

If you’re flying private into DWC, the arrival works differently from a commercial flight. Our private jet transfer page covers that side.

Which airlines use Al Maktoum airport?

A changing mix, much of it seasonal. When we checked the DWC arrivals board in late September 2026, it showed a handful of flights, including Pobeda from Makhachkala and Utair from Grozny.

Dubai Airports’ airline directory lists these carriers at DWC, among others:

Type	Examples from the Dubai Airports directory
DWC only	Pobeda, Utair, Ural Airlines, Red Wings, Rossiya, Luxair, TUI fly Netherlands, Norwegian, World2Fly, VietJet
Split between DXB and DWC	flydubai, Wizz Air, Eurowings, flynas, Gulf Air, Jazeera Airways, Transavia France
Cargo	Several freight carriers

The split carriers are the ones to watch. The same airline can fly some routes into DXB and others into DWC. Check the three-letter code on your ticket: DWC, not DXB. Then send us the flight number, because that’s what we track.

How far is DWC from Dubai?

These are road distances on the fastest route from the DWC terminal, measured in our route checks. The time ranges run from a clear road to a normal weekday rush hour.

DWC to	Road distance	Typical drive
Expo City Dubai	about 20 km	20 to 35 min
Jebel Ali	about 25 km	25 to 40 min
JBR	about 31 km	30 to 45 min
Dubai Marina / JLT	about 34 km	35 to 50 min
Dubai Hills	about 35 km	35 to 55 min
Al Barsha	about 39 km	40 to 55 min
Madinat Jumeirah / Burj Al Arab	about 40 km	40 to 60 min
Palm Jumeirah (Atlantis)	about 41 km	40 to 60 min
Business Bay	about 48 km	45 to 70 min
Downtown Dubai / DIFC	about 50 km	45 to 70 min
Deira	about 56 km	55 to 80 min
DXB (Dubai International)	about 60 km	55 to 80 min
Zayed International (AUH)	about 95 km	1 h 5 min to 1 h 25 min
Abu Dhabi city	about 120 km	1 h 20 min to 1 h 45 min

The pattern is simple: DWC is close to “new Dubai” and far from “old Dubai”. If you’re staying in the Marina, JBR or on the Palm, DWC is barely further than DXB. If you’re in Deira or near DXB, it’s a long drive.

Al Maktoum airport to Dubai Marina

From DWC, the route to the Marina heads north on Expo Road (E77) and joins Sheikh Zayed Road (E11), about 34 km in total. Allow 35 to 50 minutes.

• Taxi: Dubai Taxi’s airport fare is a AED 20 starting fare plus AED 2.62 per km, so expect roughly AED 110 to 130 before Salik tolls and any waiting time.
• Bus and Metro: the N55 bus runs to Ibn Battuta bus and Metro stations every 30 minutes, then it’s the Red Line towards the Marina stations. Cheap, but the Metro allows only two pieces of luggage including hand luggage.
• Private chauffeur: fixed price, meet and greet in arrivals, tolls included. The rate table on our airport transfer page shows DWC prices by car class.

Getting from DWC to Dubai: the options compared

Option	What it costs	Good for	Watch out for
Dubai Taxi	AED 20 start (AED 25 for a van), then AED 2.62 per km, plus Salik and waiting	Solo travellers and couples with light bags	Long trips to Deira or Downtown add up fast
Bolt app	Price shown in the app	App users; Dubai Airports points DWC arrivals to Bolt for taxis and limousines	Prices vary with demand and time of day
RTA bus F55 or N55, then Metro	Nol card fares	Budget travellers with one bag	Buses every 30 minutes; the Metro doesn’t reach the airport
Private chauffeur	Fixed price, including tolls and parking	Families, business travellers, late arrivals, heavy luggage	Book before you fly

Dubai Taxi Company is the only taxi operator at both DXB and DWC, according to the DWC taxi page. Pink-roof taxis, driven by women, are reserved for women and families. One small inconsistency to know about: the DWC page quotes a AED 25 starting fare, while RTA’s fare table lists AED 20 for a normal airport taxi and AED 25 for a van.

The buses, per Dubai Airports: the F55 links DWC with the Expo Metro Station, and the N55 links DWC with Ibn Battuta bus and Metro stations. Both run every 30 minutes. Pay with a Nol card; buses don’t take cash.

For a fuller comparison of metered fares and fixed prices, see Dubai airport taxi fare vs private transfer.

Meeting your driver at DWC

DWC’s terminal is compact, which makes meeting simple. After passport control, baggage claim and customs, your chauffeur waits in the arrivals hall with a name board, then walks you to the car park. Parking is free here, so there’s no meter running while we wait.

When several flights land close together, immigration can still queue. We track the flight and include 45 to 60 minutes of free waiting, so a slow start doesn’t cost extra.

For a family of four with checked bags, book an SUV. A business sedan fits two large suitcases; the drive from DWC is too long to spend with a bag on someone’s lap. Our luxury SUV fleet covers the GMC Yukon, Cadillac Escalade and similar.

Connecting between DWC and DXB

You can’t connect between the two airports airside. flydubai spells it out: to transfer between DXB Terminal 3 and DWC you must enter the UAE, clear immigration and customs, and collect your bags. flydubai’s minimum connection time for that transfer is 4 hours. Check whether you need a visa to enter the UAE before booking a split-airport connection.

The drive is about 60 km, 55 to 80 minutes depending on traffic. If the connection is tight, book a car in advance rather than joining the taxi queue. Our DXB Terminal 1 and 2 guide covers the DXB end.

What’s changing at DWC

Big plans, on a long timeline. Dubai Airports says Phase Two of DWC, announced in April 2024, will give the airport five runways and capacity for 150 million passengers a year “within the next decade”, eventually rising to 260 million.

In September 2026, Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths told Khaleej Times that flydubai would lead the move, starting with five or six aircraft from early 2027, when a second runway is due. The full transfer of DXB’s operations is planned for when DWC reaches its 150-million-passenger phase. Gulf News reported in June 2026 that the new terminal’s first phase is on track to open in 2032.

For anyone flying this year or next, the practical point is unchanged: most flights still use DXB, and a minority use DWC. Always check the airport code.

Frequently asked questions

Is DWC far from Dubai?

It depends where you’re going. DWC is about 34 km from Dubai Marina, 41 km from Atlantis on the Palm and 50 km from Downtown Dubai. That’s 35 to 70 minutes by car. It’s close to Expo City and Jebel Ali, and about 60 km from DXB and Deira, so the northern end of the city is a long drive.

Which airlines use Al Maktoum airport?

Mostly seasonal and charter carriers, plus some scheduled airlines. Dubai Airports’ directory lists airlines such as Pobeda, Utair, Ural Airlines, Luxair, TUI fly Netherlands and Norwegian at DWC, and carriers such as flydubai, Wizz Air, Eurowings and flynas split between DXB and DWC. Check the airport code on your ticket.

How do I get from Al Maktoum airport to Dubai Marina?

By car it’s about 34 km via Expo Road and Sheikh Zayed Road, 35 to 50 minutes. A Dubai Taxi costs roughly AED 110 to 130 before tolls. The budget route is the N55 bus to Ibn Battuta Metro station, then the Red Line. A pre-booked chauffeur gives you a fixed price and meets you in arrivals.

Is there a metro at Al Maktoum airport?

No. The Dubai Metro doesn’t reach DWC. Dubai Airports says travellers connect by bus or taxi from Ibn Battuta Metro station (bus N55) or the Expo Metro station (bus F55). Both buses run every 30 minutes and need a Nol card. The Metro allows two pieces of luggage per passenger, including hand luggage.

Is DWC going to replace DXB?

Eventually, according to Dubai Airports. The plan is for all DXB operations to move once DWC’s expansion reaches 150 million passengers a year, with flydubai starting a partial move from early 2027. That’s years away. For now, most Dubai flights still land at DXB.