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A traditional abra crossing Dubai Creek with a minaret behindPhoto: Rcastro creative / Pexels

DXB layover

A layover in Dubai

The city is 25–40 min from Dubai International each way, so budget around 1.3 hours of travel for the round trip before immigration and security. DXB is large and Emirates connections can involve a train between concourses. Allow at least 2.5 hours back at the airport before departure.

  1. 0–7hStay airside
  2. 7–12hDowntown Dubai
  3. 12–24hOld Dubai by the Creek

Checked against sources:· How we verify

Can you leave the airport?

That depends on your passport and ticket. Check the official rules before you plan anything outside the terminal:

We link the official sources rather than summarise entry rules, because they change and differ by nationality.

0–7 hours

Stay airside

DXB's Terminal 3 concourses are long; check which concourse your onward flight uses and rest near it. Lounges and the airport hotel sell day access.

7–12 hours

Downtown Dubai

Take the Metro Red Line to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. Downtown is the most time-efficient stop: mall, fountain and the Burj in one place, with the metro straight back.

12–24 hours

Old Dubai by the Creek

Red Line to Al Ghubaiba or BurJuman, cross the Creek by abra and walk the souqs in Deira. Avoid the Sheikh Zayed Road rush hours in a taxi.

Into Dubai and back

  • Dubai Taxi (meter)Taxi rank outside arrivals (T1, T3) → Door to door · 15–35 min
  • Dubai Metro Red LineTerminal 1 and Terminal 3 metro stations → Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, Downtown · 25–35 min

Routes that connect in Dubai

Sources

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