DXB — Dubai (Dubai International) — Taxi Fare Guide
Official RTA (Roads and Transport Authority) taxis — cream-coloured cars with coloured roofs — queue at the taxi ranks outside every DXB terminal (T1, T2, T3) around the clock, managed by dispatchers. All fares are metered, not flat.
Taxis picking up at the airport have a higher flagfall of AED 25 (versus about AED 5-8 in the city), then charge roughly AED 2.2-2.3 per kilometre. Each Salik toll gate passed adds AED 4, and stationary waiting is billed at about AED 0.50 per minute. There is no extra charge for luggage. Because DXB sits close to the city, a ride to Downtown Dubai / Burj Khalifa is only about AED 45-60 and takes 15-25 minutes, while Dubai Marina / JBR on the far side of the city runs roughly AED 70-100 over 25-40 minutes with a Salik gate or two.
Ride-hailing is well established: Uber and Careem both operate at DXB with app-based pricing, and the RTA's own Hala service books an RTA taxi through the Careem app. App fares are broadly comparable to the meter, sometimes higher at busy times.
| Destination | Approx. fare | Time |
| Deira / Bur Dubai (old city) | AED 25-40 | 10-20 min |
| Downtown Dubai / Burj Khalifa | AED 45-60 | 15-25 min |
| Dubai Marina / JBR | AED 70-100 | 25-40 min |
| Palm Jumeirah / Jumeirah Beach | AED 60-85 | 20-35 min |
Practical tips: Take only official RTA taxis from the marked rank and make sure the meter is running from the start. Fares are low by global standards, so no tip is expected though rounding up is common. Salik tolls are legitimately added to your fare. Cards are accepted in most taxis. Fares are approximate and vary with traffic and tolls.
Other ways to the city
Dubai's metro reaches the airport directly, making public transport a genuinely fast option.
- Dubai Metro Red Line - Stations inside Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 connect to Deira, Downtown (Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall) and Dubai Marina. Fares are roughly AED 3-8 with a Nol card, 20-45 minutes depending on distance.
- Public buses - RTA routes such as the 33 and 401 serve Deira and Bur Dubai for around AED 3-5, taking 25-45 minutes.
- Hotel shuttles - Many Dubai hotels offer free or paid airport transfers; check when booking as this often beats a taxi for value.
- Intercity coaches - Buses from DXB run to Abu Dhabi and Sharjah for roughly AED 25-30, taking 1.5-2.5 hours.
Dubai — Highlights in photos
Fares are researched from official and public sources and are approximate — always confirm the meter or fixed fare before you travel.