Dubai Airport Guide (DXB)

Dubai International Airport

Department of Civil Aviation, Dubai International Airport, PO Box 2525, Dubai, UAE

DXB

971

(04) 216 2525

(04) 224 4067

Via the airport's website

2

GMT + 4

The airport is located 4km (2.5 miles) southeast of Dubai.

Construction of Terminal 3 and Concourse 2 and an additional Concourse 3 is underway. Terminal 3 and Concourse 2 are due for completion by the end of 2007, while Concourse 3 will be ready in 2008. Work on a Cargo Mega Terminal has begun. This will be built in phases and is scheduled to be completed by 2018. A metro link with the city is expected to be operational by 2010.

Transfer between the terminals takes about 10 minutes using the airport shuttle service. The Terminal 1 Departures concourse (Sheikh Rashid Terminal) is linked to Terminal 1 via a tunnel with travelators. Terminal 2 is used primarily for charter flights, and certain services within the Gulf region.

The Airport Road runs directly southeast from Dubai city centre on the east side of The Creek (Al-Khor). From locations south of Dubai, cross Al-Khor at Al-Garhoud Bridge and drive north, then turn right at the intersection with Airport Road. Terminal 2 is situated to the north of Terminal 1, accessed from Al Towar Road and Rashidiya.

Both short-term (Car Park A) and long-term (Car Park B) parking facilities are available.

There are numerous car hire companies available in the Terminal 1 Arrivals hall, including Budget, Hertz, Sixt and Thrifty.

Road: Bus: A bus service (tel: 800 9090; website: www.rta.ae) runs to the city centre. Bus stations are situated opposite both Terminal 1 and 2. Local buses 4, 11, 15, 33 and 44 connect with Terminal 1, while bus 2 connects with Terminal 2. Dubai International Airport Buses provide air-conditioned transport into the city centre and over 80 hotels.
Taxi: Prepaid taxis to the city centre can be booked 24 hours a day in the Terminal 1 Arrivals hall.

The DTCM Tourist Kiosk (Department of Tourism and Commerce) (tel: (04) 224 5252; website: www.dubaitourism.ae), in the Terminal 1 Arrivals hall, provides tourist information, maps and tours. The travel desk, situated next to the customs X-ray machines, can arrange hotel reservations.

Money and communications: The airport has banking services and ATMs in both terminals. There are 24-hour bureaux de change facilities near gates 8, 18 and 22 and a 24-hour post office near gate 18 on the Sheikh Rashid Departures concourse. Dubai Duty Free (website: www.dubaidutyfree.com) also offers foreign exchange, banking and Internet facilities. Touch-screen Internet kiosks, which take credit card payments, are located opposite the DCA First Class Lounge (gate 9) and the Irish Village (see above).
Eating and drinking: There are some 25 restaurants, cafés and bars in the Sheikh Rashid Departures concourse. The Food Court is located on the upper level, between gates 13 and 15, with outlets including fast food and international cuisine. An Irish Village is located near gate 23. There are also restaurants in Terminal 2.
Shopping: There is comprehensive duty-free shopping at the airport. Dubai Duty Free has a massive array on offer at the Terminal 1 Sheikh Rashid Departures concourse and the ground level of the Departures hall, while Terminal 2 has a special bulk purchasing desk.
Luggage: There is a baggage relocation system in place, which electronically tags each piece of luggage, in order to make retrieval of lost luggage faster and easier.
Other facilities: There is a 24-hour fully-equipped medical centre, located on the ground level of the Terminal 1 Sheikh Rashid Departures concourse, near gate 13 (tel: (04) 216 4950). There are also prayer rooms (for either men or women), a lounge for women, a children’s play area and the the G-Force Health Club (tel: (04) 216 4257) with a swimming pool, gym and massage facilities.

The Connect Business Centre, in the Dubai International Hotel (tel: (04) 216 4278; website: www.dih-dca.com) has five meeting rooms, accommodating from six to 18 delegates, and a conference room for up to 60 delegates. Full support services are available. There are several first- and business-class lounges, many with workstations and Internet access, in both Terminal 1 and 2. VVIP and VIP lounges, with private offices and showers, are available for passengers using the Am Majilis facility, which must be booked 24 hours in advance (via the airport’s website). Meeting rooms are also available adjacent to Terminal 2, in the Regus facility (tel: (02) 414 6666; website: www.regus.ae).

There are desks dedicated to passengers with special needs (tel: (04) 216 2016) between rows A and B in the Departures hall. Electric carts are available to transport passengers to/from the new Sheikh Rashid Departures concourse, where disabled passengers can access special lounges near gates 9 and 22; a dedicated lounge for disabled travellers is also available in the Arrivals hall. Assistance is available for those with special needs; passengers should request special assistance from their airline prior to travel. Rooms for disabled passengers are available in the Dubai International Airport Hotel (see below).

The Dubai International Hotel (tel: (04) 224 4000; website: www.dih-dca.com), a five-star facility, is located on level three of the Sheikh Rashid Departures concourse; rooms are available on a nightly and hourly base. Also nearby are the Holiday Inn (tel: (04) 228 8889; website: www.ichotelsgroup.com) and the Millennium Airport Hotel (tel: (04) 282 3464; website: www.millenniumhotels.com).