Dubai International Airport

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About Dubai–International Airport

Dubai International Airport

Dubai International Airport is the main airport in Dubai, UAE. The airport is one of the busiest airports in the world by passenger traffic, as well as for cargo.

Dubai International has more Airbus A380 and Boeing 777s aircraft flying from the airport than any other airport in the world. Because of this, the airport has the highest number of average passenger per flight in the world.

The airport is a hub for Emirates and flydubai, that both offer international flights from Dubai airport to all over the world.

Dubai International was built in the 1960s with the inaugural flight flying in 1996. The airport has undergone three major expansions since, with the opening of Terminal 2 in 1998, the opening of Terminal 3 ten years later, in 2008 and the opening of Concourse D (attached to Terminal 1) in 2016.

What is the airport code for Dubai International Airport?

The airport code for Dubai International Airport is DXB.

Airport Location

Dubai International Airport is located in the Al Garhoud district of Dubai. This is around 3 miles from Dubai centre. Dubai Airport is roughly a 5–10-minute drive away from Dubai city centre and a little further away from the hotels and resorts. The furthest away hotels and resorts will usually take no longer than an hour to reach.

Facilities

Telephones at Dubai Airport

The airport has an award-winning concessions program, featuring more than 300 commercial venues to meet all passenger’s shopping, dining and service needs.

Facilities Include:

Unlimited free high-speed WiFi

Currency exchange

Business centre

Baby care rooms

Baggage storage

Prayer rooms

Smoking lounges

Car hire

Showers

Emergency and medical services

Home check-in

VAT refund

Dining

Shopping

Lounges Include:

Al Majlis Lounge

  • Flat-screen TVs & WiFi
  • Customised menu and drinks
  • BMW transportation from lounge terminal and departure gate
  • Duty-free shopping area with a personal assistant
  • VIP parking
  • Prayer rooms
  • Personal assistance for airport procedures

Dubai International Business Class

  • High-speed WiFi
  • Spacious luggage area
  • Showers
  • Sleeping room
  • Smoking room

Dubai International First Class

  • Luggage area
  • Work stations
  • High-speed Wi-Fi
  • Smoking room
  • Quiet room

Marhaba Lounge

  • Refreshments
  • Bar
  • Working area
  • Relaxation area

Ahlan Lounge

  • Food and drink
  • Bar
  • WiFi
  • TV screens
  • Smoking area
  • Newspapers & magazines
  • Spa (additional cost)

Emirates First & Business Class Lounge

  • Gourmet dining
  • Bar
  • Entertainment

British Airways Lounge

  • Food and drink
  • Business centre
  • TV screens
  • Lockers

Lufthansa Lounge

  • Buffet
  • TV screens
  • Bar

Sky Team Lounge

  • Refreshments
  • Bar
  • TV screens
  • Newspapers & magazines
  • Showers

Gulf Air Lounge

  • Buffet
  • Business services
  • Showers

Book Lounge Passes for Dubai International Airport

Did you know that you can buy lounge passes for Dubai International Airport with Alternative Airlines? You can purchase them for Ahlan Business Class Lounge at Terminal 1 Concourse D, Marhaba Lounge at Terminal 3 Concourse C, Terminal 1, Concourse D, Terminal 3 Concourse A, Terminal 3 Concourse B, Terminal 2, and Ahlan Lounge at B.

Runways

Dubai International Airport Runway

Credit: Umair Shaikh on Flickr

Dubai Airport has two runways — the southern runway 12R/30L and the northern runway 12L/30R The runways are situated closely together and are both 4,000 x 60m. Each runway has four instrument landing systems to help guide aircraft under poor weather conditions. The runways have gone under a few expansions and refurbishments over the years. Most recently, the southern runway undertook a complete resurfacing and lighting replacement to boost its safety. This was completed in May 2019.

Terminals

Dubai International is split into three terminals. All numbered chronologically — Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. Terminal 2 is a standalone building. Whereas Termina 1 and Terminal 3 have concourses attached to the terminal. Each terminal facilitates a mix of international and domestic traffic.

Terminal 1

Terminal 1 is the original terminal of Dubai International. The terminal is attached to Concourse D (originally planned to be Terminal 4) which dramatically increased the capacity of the airport when it was built it was opened in 2016. The Terminal facilitates a number of different global airlines. With the opening of Concourse D, all airlines that flew out of Concourse A, B and C moved to Terminal 1 to allow Emirates to take over the other Concourses.

Terminal 2

Terminal 2 opened in 1998 and mainly facilitates flights to countries of southern and western Asia. The Terminal is also where flydubai is based. The Terminal underwent its first major refurbishment in 2010, where all facilities were improved and more space was created to better handle passenger traffic.

Terminal 3

Terminal 3 is the largest and newest terminal at Dubai International. The terminal was opened in 2016 and upon opening was the largest airport in the world by floor space. The terminal is attached to Concourse A, B and C.

The airport is partly underground and has multiple levels with an extensive selection of restaurants, lounges and other shopping opportunities,

Originally, Terminal 3 was used exclusively by Emirates. However, it is now used both by Emirates and Qantas, who have a codeshare agreement.

Concourse A, B and C all have three–five-star hotels within their respective buildings.

Airlines that fly to Dubai International Airport

Both Emirates and flydubai use Dubai International as its main hub.

Take a look at the table below to see a full list of airlines that fly to/from Dubai International.

AIRLINE COUNTRY FROM
Aeroflot Russia
African Express Airways Kenya
Air Algérie Algeria
Air Astana Kazakhstan
airblue Pakistan
Air Canada Canada
Air China China
Air France France
Air India India
Air India Express India
Ariana Afghan Airlines Afghanistan
Azur Air Russia
Azerbaijan Airlines Azerbaijan
Badr Airlines Sudan
Biman Bangladesh Airlines Bangladesh
British Airways England
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong
Cebu Pacific The Philippines
China Eastern China
China Southern China
Daalo Airlines UAE
EgyptAir Egypt
Emirates UAE
Ethiopian Airlines Ethopia
flynas Saudi Arabia
Gryphon Airlines USA
Gulf Air Bahrain
GoAir India
IndiGo India
Iran Air Iran
Iraqi Airways Iraq
Jazeera Airways Kuwait
Jubba Airways Somalia
Karun Airlines Iran
Kenya Airways Kenya
Kish Air Iran
KLM Netherlands
Korean Air South Korea
Kuwait Airways Kuwait
Lufthansa Germany
Mahan Air Iran
Middle East Airlines Lebanon
Nepal Airlines Nepal
Norwegian Norwegian
Oman Air Oman
Pakistan International Airlines Pakistan
Pegasus Airlines Turkey
Philippine Airlines The Philippines
Qeshm Airlines Iran
Royal Brunei Airlines Brunei
Royal Jordanian Jordan
RwandAir Rwanda
S7 Airlines Russia
SalamAir Oman
Saudia Saudi Arabia
Sichuan Airlines China
Singapore Airlines Singapore
Smartwings Czech Republic
SpiceJet India
SriLankan Airlines SriLanka
Swiss Switzerland
Syrian Air Syria
Thai Airways Thailand
Transavia Netherlands
Turkish Airlines Turkey
Turkmenistan Airlines Turkmenistan
Ukraine International Airlines Ukraine
Ural Airlines Russia

How to get to Dubai International Airport

By driving

Dubai Airport terminals are accessed via Airport road if travelling from the south of Dubai centre. This is on the east of Dubai creek. If travelling from the north of Dubai, the terminals can be accessed via Al Quds Street.

Rental cars are available at the airport and the airport has a large parking facility at each terminal.

By taxi

Dubai taxis are cream (with pink trim for female drivers) and can be flagged down on the road.

Alternatively, you can ask the place that you're staying at for a taxi number. Or, contact +971 (0) 4 208 0808 to order a taxi independently.

By metro

Dubai's metro system has two different lines — the red line and the green line.

The red line stops at terminal 1 and terminal 3 and is the bigger line of the two. The green line is smaller and doesn't stop at the airport terminals. However, if travelling on the green line, you can use the interchange stations at Union or Burjuman to change onto the red line.

The metro runs from 5.50am–12am seven days a week. On Thursday it opens at 5.30am and on Thursday & Friday it closes at 1am.

Metro service doesn't start until 1pm on Friday.

By bus

There are a number of different routes that stop at Dubai airport. Once at the airport, there are shuttle buses that drive between each termina. Bus routes that travel from the city to the airport include:

  • F1 route
  • F2 route
  • F3 route
  • F4 route
  • F5 route
  • F6 route
  • F7 route
  • F8 route
  • F9 route
  • F10 route
  • F11 route
  • F13 route
  • F29 route
  • F30 route
  • F31 route
  • F32 route
  • F33 route
  • F37 route
  • F48 route
  • F999 route