Airport Terminal 3

Landing in Dubai and wondering how to reach the city without paying for a taxi, this is your answer. Airport Terminal 3 puts the Red Line right at the doorstep of the largest terminal at Dubai International, the home of Emirates, so arriving passengers can wheel their bags straight from baggage claim towards a train instead of a taxi queue.

The ride into the centre of the city takes roughly 25 to 30 minutes and costs a fraction of a cab fare. The platform is generously sized for travellers with luggage, and bilingual signage in Arabic and English makes the route easy to follow even on a first visit.

Station Overview

Airport Terminal 3 opened in 2009 with the first phase of the Red Line and sits in Zone 5 of the NOL fare system. It is served by the automated, driverless trains that run across the whole Dubai Metro, arriving every few minutes throughout the operating day.

Lines and Connectivity

The Red Line is the only line here. Heading north-east it reaches Airport Terminal 1 and the Centrepoint terminus, while south-west it runs through Deira and the city centre before continuing along Sheikh Zayed Road to Downtown, the Marina and the Route 2020 branch. For the Green Line and the Deira and Bur Dubai heritage stops, change at Union or BurJuman.

Station Layout and Structure

Airport Terminal 3 is an elevated station linked to the terminal, with lifts and escalators carrying passengers and luggage between levels. Facilities include toilets, ATMs, NOL machines, a staffed service desk and small shops on the concourse. Gold Class carriages run at the front of each train and a women and children carriage sits in the middle.

Accessibility

The station is fully step-free, which matters most for travellers with heavy cases. Lifts connect every level, platform screen doors guard the edge, and tactile paving and audio-visual announcements support passengers with reduced vision or mobility.

Travel Tips

• Buy a NOL card at the machines in the station before you board. It costs AED 25 including AED 19 of credit.
• You may carry two pieces of luggage on the metro, so keep bags compact and use the space near the doors.
• The trip to Downtown Dubai is a short hop of a few zones and far cheaper than a taxi.
• The metro runs Saturday to Wednesday 05:00-00:00, Thursday 05:00-01:00 and Friday 08:00-01:00, so late-night arrivals may need a taxi.

Nearby Attractions

Dubai International Airport Terminal 3 - directly connected to the station, the Emirates home terminal and one of the largest airport buildings in the world.

Airport Terminal 1 - one Red Line stop away, the terminal for most other international airlines at DXB.

Deira and Garhoud hotels - a short ride towards the city, a cluster of airport hotels handy for layovers.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

Trains at Airport Terminal 3 run Saturday to Wednesday 05:00-00:00, Thursday 05:00-01:00 and Friday 08:00-01:00. Flight schedules keep footfall fairly steady through the day, though the weekday commuter peaks of 07:30-09:30 and 17:00-19:30 add crowds. If your flight lands after the last train, plan for a taxi into the city.