At DXB you pass passport control, collect your bags, clear customs and reach the taxi rank or the Metro, which takes about an hour with hand luggage and longer with checked bags. Passengers on the visa-on-arrival list get their permit at the desk, and smart gates are open to eligible visa-on-arrival passengers and returning tourists with biometric passports. This guide covers each step, the gate rules, baggage fees, SIM cards and transport.
By SB Excursions · Published 3 November 2026 · Updated 3 November 2026
While you are in Dubai: Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai — From $45 per person, 7 hours.
How long does it take to get through immigration at Dubai airport?
Dubai Airports publishes no standard wait, and queues vary by the hour. Our planning figure is about 1 hour from landing to the taxi rank with hand luggage only, and 1.5 to 2 hours with checked bags at a busy hour. A smart gate can shorten the passport step.
This guide also answers:
- Who can use the smart gates at Dubai airport?
- Do I need a visa to arrive in Dubai?
- Where do I get a taxi at Dubai airport?
Four ways out of Dubai airport
#1
The taxi rank
Dubai Taxi Company cars wait at designated ranks in every terminal around the clock. The meter starts at AED 25, then adds the distance. Typical totals are AED 30-40 to Deira, AED 40-60 to Downtown and AED 80-110 to the Marina, with cards accepted in the car.
#2
Ride-hailing pickup
Dubai Airports lists Uber, Careem and Bolt, and asks you to book in the app and follow the signs to the pickup point. You need data or Wi-Fi to book, so get the free SIM or an eSIM first. The app shows the fare before the car arrives.
#3
The Metro Red Line
The Red Line has stations inside Terminals 1 and 3 and reaches Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall in about 25 minutes for AED 5-7.5, plus AED 25 for a Silver Nol card. Terminal 2 has no station. The airport lists the first and last trains for each day of the week.
#4
RTA bus from Terminal 2
Terminal 2 has no Metro station, so a taxi or an RTA bus from the stands at Arrivals are the options. The bus needs a Nol card, because cash is not accepted on board. Check your route in the RTA's S'hail app before you leave the hall.
Arriving at DXB: the short answer
The path is the same for everyone: aircraft, passport control, baggage claim, customs, then a taxi, a ride-hailing car or the Metro. Dubai Airports publishes no standard clearing time, so these are our planning figures, not airport statistics: about 1 hour from landing to the taxi rank with hand luggage only, and 1.5 to 2 hours with checked bags at a busy hour.
Three habits save the most time. Have your documents in your hand before you reach the desk. Use a smart gate if you are eligible. And know your terminal, because Emirates uses Terminal 3, flydubai uses Terminals 2 and 3, and most other international airlines use Terminal 1. The terminals guide shows which airlines use which.
Step by step: from the aircraft door to the street
Follow the signs and the order below. Each step is explained in the sections that follow.
- 1. Walk to passport control. Follow the Arrivals and Passport Control signs and keep your passport and boarding pass in your hand.
- 2. Show your passport. An officer issues your entry permit at the desk if your passport is on the visa-on-arrival list. Some visitors are asked for an eye scan.
- 3. Collect your bags. Signs above each carousel show the flights it serves. Trolleys are free; porters charge a fee.
- 4. Pass customs. Bags are scanned. Medicines, vapes and alcohol follow the rules in our customs guide.
- 5. Get online. Take the free Du SIM if you are offered one at immigration, or buy a plan at the kiosks in the arrivals halls.
- 6. Leave the hall. Choose the taxi rank, the ride-hailing pickup, or the Metro in Terminal 1 or 3.
Immigration: visa on arrival, queues and the eye scan
Dubai Airports says citizens of 47 listed countries are eligible for a free visa on arrival, a list that includes Australia, Canada, France, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. Citizens of GCC countries need only their GCC passport or national ID card. Citizens of other countries need a visa before they travel. The airport page advises you to confirm the rules with your airline, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA) and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, because rules change. Our visa-on-arrival guide covers stay lengths and where to check.
For airport visa questions there is a GDRFA visa office in Terminal 3 arrivals, near Entrance 1, which Dubai Airports says is open 24 hours. The GDRFA line from Dubai is 800 5111. Some visitors may be asked to complete an eye scan at passport control.
Have these ready before you reach the desk:
- A passport valid for at least six months from the day you arrive, with blank pages.
- A return or onward ticket, because an officer or your airline may ask for it.
- The name and address of your first hotel, or of your host.
- Your bookings on your phone and on paper, in case the signal is weak.
Queues vary by the hour and the day, and early-morning arrivals can be crowded. Officers decide each entry, so answer plainly and keep your documents in hand luggage, not in the hold.
Smart gates: who can use them
Smart Gates are an automated passport control system at DXB and DWC. The table follows the Dubai Airports page on who may use them.
| Traveller | Smart gate? | What Dubai Airports says |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-on-arrival passengers with a biometric passport | Yes | Listed as eligible |
| Returning tourists with a biometric passport | Yes | Listed as eligible |
| UAE and GCC nationals, and UAE residents | Yes | Listed as eligible |
| First-time users | Registered at the passport control touchpoint | The page does not describe a separate sign-up |
| Guests under 1.2 metres tall | No | Listed as not eligible |
| Guests with large strollers, and families with children | No | Listed as not eligible |
| People of Determination | No | Listed as not eligible |
Remove face coverings, glasses and hats at the gate, and keep your passport and boarding pass ready. According to the airport, registered users pass by looking at the green light, without scanning a document. The airport website also offers a SmartGates PreCheck tool to check your eligibility. If you travel with children or a large stroller, plan for the desk, and if a gate does not let you through, an officer at the desk will.
Baggage, trolleys and left luggage
Signs above each carousel show which flights it serves. If your flight is not displayed, ask a Guest Experience Ambassador. Dubai Airports says trolleys are free at various locations, and porters are available at all terminals. The airport site does not set out steps for lost baggage, so ask your airline or an ambassador before you leave the hall. Airport security may open bags without the guest present and is not liable for damage, so pack fragile items with that in mind.
| Service | Terminal 1 | Terminal 2 | Terminal 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porter with a regular trolley, paid to the porter | From AED 30, rising with time | From AED 30, rising with time | AED 40 |
| Porter with a flat-bed trolley | Not listed | Not listed | AED 100 |
| Left luggage, standard bag, up to 12 hours | AED 40 | AED 40 | AED 35 |
| Left luggage, non-standard or valuable item | AED 50 | AED 50 | AED 40 |
| Where | dnata Baggage Services, Arrival level | dnata Baggage Services | Emirates Left Luggage, Arrival level, near Exit 1 |
Left luggage is open 24 hours at all three terminals. A standard bag is up to 21 by 24 by 11 inches. Prices from Dubai Airports; confirm at the counter.
SIM card, money and first purchases
At immigration the officer often hands out a free Du SIM with 1 GB of data valid for 24 hours, which covers the ride to the hotel. Etisalat and Du tourist plans are sold at kiosks in the arrivals halls of Terminals 1 and 3. Our SIM card guide compares them.
Cards work in taxis and shops, and the dirham is fixed to the dollar at 3.6725. Airport exchange kiosks usually give worse rates than exchange houses in town, so change only a small amount on arrival. Money in Dubai explains the options.
Taxi, ride-hailing or Metro: costs and hours
Dubai Airports says Dubai Taxi Company cars are available around the clock at designated ranks in each terminal, with a start fare of AED 25 and extra charges by distance. Uber, Careem and Bolt are also available. The Metro is cheaper, but it runs on a timetable.
| Option | Where | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi | Ranks in each terminal, 24 hours | Meter starts at AED 25; about AED 40-60 to Downtown | Luggage, groups, late arrivals |
| Uber, Careem or Bolt | Pickup point shown in the app | Fare shown in the app | Pinned address, no explaining |
| Metro Red Line | Stations in Terminals 1 and 3 only | AED 5-7.5 to Downtown, plus AED 25 for the Nol card | One bag, daytime |
| RTA bus | Stands at Arrivals, from Terminal 2 | Nol card needed; no cash on board | Budget travel |
According to the airport, the Red Line runs Monday to Thursday and Saturday from 5 AM to midnight, Friday from 5 AM to 1 AM, and Sunday from 8 AM to midnight. Outside these hours, take a taxi. Public holidays can change the timetable, so check the RTA site. Fares and times for the common routes are in Dubai airport to Downtown and the taxi and Careem guide.
How long it takes, and what to book for day one
These are our planning figures, built from guests' experience, not from airport statistics. Add time if you land when several wide-bodied flights arrive together.
| Your situation | Landing to the taxi rank |
|---|---|
| Hand luggage only, a quiet hour, a smart gate or a short desk queue | About 1 hour |
| Checked bags | About 1.5 hours |
| Busy arrivals, young children, or a first visa-on-arrival queue | Up to 2 hours |
Because of this, avoid fixed-time bookings within a few hours of landing, such as a yacht slot or a Burj Khalifa ticket. If you land in the morning, keep the first day light. Our full-day desert safari, from $45, collects you at your hotel and needs no prepayment, so you can add it once you have landed and slept. If you are only changing planes, read our layover guide first.
Arrival mistakes to avoid
Most arrival problems are small and easy to prevent:
- Arriving without the hotel address. The officer or the taxi driver may ask for it.
- Packing medicines in the checked bag. Keep them in hand luggage with the prescription.
- Changing a large sum at the airport kiosk. Change a small amount and compare rates in town.
- Forgetting the Metro hours. The Metro opens at 8 AM on Sundays and is closed overnight; use a taxi then.
- Going to the wrong terminal for the return. Check your departure terminal on your ticket.
- Booking a tight first-day plan. Give yourself the buffer in the table above.
FAQ
How long does it take to get through immigration at Dubai airport?
Dubai Airports publishes no standard wait, and queues vary by the hour. Our planning figure is about 1 hour from landing to the taxi rank with hand luggage only, and 1.5 to 2 hours with checked bags at a busy hour. A smart gate can shorten the passport step.
Who can use the smart gates at Dubai airport?
Dubai Airports lists UAE and GCC nationals, UAE residents, visa-on-arrival passengers and returning tourists with biometric passports. Not eligible are People of Determination, guests with large strollers, families with children and guests under 1.2 metres tall. First-time users are registered at the passport control touchpoint.
Do I need a visa to arrive in Dubai?
Citizens of 47 listed countries get a free visa on arrival, according to Dubai Airports, including the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, France and Japan. Citizens of other countries need a visa before they travel. Confirm with your airline, GDRFA and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Where do I get a taxi at Dubai airport?
At the designated ranks in each terminal, open 24 hours. The meter starts at AED 25, and a ride to Downtown is typically AED 40-60. Uber, Careem and Bolt are also available: book in the app and follow the signs to the pickup point.
Is there a free SIM card at Dubai airport?
Often, yes: a free Du SIM handed out at immigration with 1 GB of data valid for 24 hours. Paid Etisalat and Du tourist plans are sold at kiosks in the arrivals halls of Terminals 1 and 3. Prices move, so confirm at the counter.
Are luggage trolleys free at Dubai airport?
Yes, Dubai Airports says trolleys are free at various locations. Porters charge a fee paid directly to them: from AED 30 for a regular trolley at Terminals 1 and 2, and AED 40 at Terminal 3, where a flat-bed trolley is AED 100.
Does the Metro run from Dubai airport at night?
No. According to the airport, the Red Line runs Monday to Thursday and Saturday from 5 AM to midnight, Friday from 5 AM to 1 AM and Sunday from 8 AM to midnight. Outside those hours take a taxi, which runs around the clock.
Where can I leave my bags at Dubai airport?
Left luggage is open 24 hours at all three terminals. A standard bag costs AED 40 at Terminals 1 and 2 and AED 35 at Terminal 3 for up to 12 hours. Terminal 1 and 2 use dnata Baggage Services, and Terminal 3 uses Emirates Left Luggage near Exit 1.
Recommended Dubai tours for this guide
Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai
It is the slow-travel version of the classic safari: more time on the dunes, sunset without the crowds and a full evening programme at a premium camp with air-conditioned tents, unlimited drinks and a large BBQ buffet with vegetarian and gluten-free options. Everything is arranged from the hotel door — a licensed English-speaking driver, the 4x4, the camp and the shows.
- Duration
- 7 hours
- Area
- Lahbab Desert, Dubai
- Format
- Full-day desert safari
- Best for
- families, couples and first-time desert visitors who want the full evening programme
From $45 per person No prepayment
View tour
Old Dubai Walking Tour
It is the Dubai that is walked rather than driven: the Creek where the city began as a trading port, the restored wind-tower quarter and the souks that still trade spices and gold. A local guide tells the story along the way. The $35 walk includes the abra, Arabic coffee or tea, dates and water; the $55 option adds street-food tastings.
- Duration
- 3-4 hours
- Area
- Old Dubai: Bur Dubai and Deira
- Format
- Shared group walk
- Best for
- first-time visitors, food lovers and anyone who wants the old trading side of Dubai on foot
From $35 per person Full prepayment
View tour
Dubai Marina Shared Yacht Tour
It is the most stylish way to see the skyline without paying for a private charter: a premium yacht with spacious decks and 5-star hospitality, a red carpet at the pier and the crew helping with photos against JBR and Ain Dubai. Full pre-payment secures your slot — the hourly departures sell out — and the yacht leaves strictly on time.
- Duration
- 1 hour
- Area
- Dubai Marina
- Format
- Shared 1-hour sightseeing cruise
- Best for
- families, couples and anyone who wants the Marina skyline from the water without a private charter
From $32 per person Full prepayment
View tour