Dubai International has three terminals, but they do not behave like three terminals. Terminals 1 and 3 are joined. Terminal 2 is not. Your route depends on which side of immigration you are standing.
Airside: Terminals 1 and 3 are one connected area
If you are connecting, Terminals 1 and 3 are linked inside the secure area. You do not pass immigration to move between them, and an Emirates or Qantas connection to a Terminal 1 airline stays airside. Both terminals have their gates in concourses, so allow at least 15 minutes to reach a gate once you are in the right terminal. Our planning figure for the whole link is about 20 minutes.
Airside: Terminal 2 is a separate transfer
Terminal 2 handles flydubai and many regional and low-cost airlines, and it stands apart across the airfield. Connecting passengers are meant to be moved automatically, but if you are not, you visit the Marhaba and Connections counters and take an airside shuttle bus. One guide estimates about 60 minutes from landing to the Connections desk. Do not book a tight connection to or from Terminal 2 on separate tickets.
Landside: Metro or taxi
- Terminals 1 and 3 each have a Dubai Metro Red Line station. Trains run about every ten minutes through most of the day and stop around midnight. You need an NOL card.
- Terminal 2 has no Metro station. The suggested route is the Metro to Abu Hail and a short taxi.
- Taxis are metered and start at Dh25, about AUD 10. A ride between terminals is about 30 minutes and is the one reliable option from Terminal 2.
- Free shuttles between terminals reportedly run every 20 to 30 minutes, but the details are unconfirmed.
Hotel shuttles
Most of the hotels near the airport run their own free shuttle to Terminals 1 and 3. None we checked says it serves Terminal 2. From Terminal 2 plan on a taxi. The stay pages say what each hotel claims.
The short version
| Where you start | Where you finish | What we would do |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 or 3, airside | The other of the two | Walk the airside link, about 20 minutes. |
| Terminal 2, airside | Terminal 1 or 3, airside | Marhaba and Connections desks, then the airside shuttle. Allow an hour or more. |
| Any terminal, landside | A hotel | Hotel shuttle, or a metered taxi. |
| Terminal 1 or 3, landside | The Metro | Walk to the station, then the Red Line. |