Deira and Bur Dubai are the closest districts to the airport: a taxi takes 10-25 minutes and costs about AED 30-50, and the Metro costs AED 3-7.5. Deira is on the airport's side of the Creek, 5-10 km away; Bur Dubai is across the water, about 10-14 km. This guide gives the taxi fare and Metro route for each, the stations for the Gold Souk and Al Fahidi, how to choose a side of the Creek, and a half-day on foot for the first afternoon.
By SB Excursions · Published 29 October 2026 · Updated 29 October 2026
Tour on this route: Old Dubai Walking Tour — From $35 per person, 3-4 hours.
How far is Dubai airport from Deira and Bur Dubai?
Deira is about 5-10 km away, a 10-20 minute taxi for about AED 30-40. Bur Dubai is about 10-14 km, 15-25 minutes for about AED 35-50, with a Salik toll normally added when the route crosses the Creek.
This guide also answers:
- Is there a Metro from Dubai airport to Deira?
- How do I get from Dubai airport to Al Fahidi?
- Is Terminal 2 on the Metro?
Five Old Dubai stops within 30 minutes of the airport
#1
Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
Narrow lanes of restored coral and gypsum houses with wind towers, galleries and cafes, in the oldest quarter of Bur Dubai. It is the start of our Old Dubai walk and 25 minutes from the airport by Metro. Go in the morning or after 4 PM, when the lanes are in shade and the light is softer.
#2
Dubai Creek and the abra
The wooden abras cross the Creek between the Bur Dubai and Deira banks in a few minutes. It is the cheapest boat ride in Dubai and still the way traders cross. Pay the driver in cash, and sit at the edge for the view of the dhows and the old waterfront buildings.
#3
The Spice Souk
Open sacks of spices, dried limes and frankincense in a covered lane. Shops quote a first price that you can negotiate, and prices are better if you buy small amounts. Go in the cooler hours, since the lanes are narrow and busy by midday, and keep your bag in front of you.
#4
The Gold Souk
A covered timber arcade of jewellers' windows. Gold is priced by weight and the day's gold rate, with a charge for making on top, so ask for the rate and compare before buying. Looking is free and welcome. The Metro stop is Gold Souq, with Al Ras a short walk away.
#5
Al Seef on the Bur Dubai waterfront
Lantern-lit heritage lanes, cafes and a waterfront promenade beside the Creek, built in the old style. It works best in the evening, when the lanes light up and the heat has gone. It is walkable from Al Fahidi, and our Old Dubai walk passes through it on the way to the abra.
Dubai airport to Deira and Bur Dubai: the short answer
Deira is the nearest district to DXB: a taxi takes 10-20 minutes and costs about AED 30-40. Bur Dubai, across the Creek, is 15-25 minutes and about AED 35-50. The Metro costs AED 3-7.5 depending on the stop, and the Red Line from Terminal 1 or 3 reaches the Deira hotel strip in 10-15 minutes.
For the Gold Souk and the old quarter you change to the Green Line at Union or BurJuman, about 25-30 minutes in all. With luggage, a taxi is simplest; the train wins for one bag at rush hour or if you are staying by a station. Terminal 2 has no Metro station of its own, so the taxi is the sensible choice from there.
By area: taxi, Metro and fare
The districts are close together, so the choice is mostly about the last leg. Times and fares are typical for a normal day; check the live fare in the S'hail app or on the machine.
| Where you are staying | Taxi (about) | Metro route | Fare (about) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Rigga and the Deira hotel strip | 10-15 min, AED 30-35 | Red Line to Al Rigga | AED 3-5 |
| Deira City Centre mall | 10-15 min, AED 30-35 | Red Line to City Centre Deira | AED 3-5 |
| Gold Souk, Spice Souk, Baniyas Square | 15-20 min, AED 35-40 | Red Line to Union, Green Line to Baniyas Square or Gold Souq | AED 5-7.5 |
| BurJuman, Karama, Mankhool | 15-25 min, AED 35-50 | Red Line to BurJuman | AED 5-7.5 |
| Al Fahidi, Al Seef, Textile Souk | 15-25 min, AED 35-50 | Red Line to BurJuman, Green Line one stop to Sharaf DG | AED 5-7.5 |
Approximate figures on a Silver Nol card; taxi fares include the AED 25 airport flag fall and any Salik toll.
By taxi: the rank, the meter and the Creek
Taxis wait outside arrivals at every terminal, and the queue moves quickly. The meter starts at about AED 25 at the airport rank, which is why a short ride to Deira still costs AED 30-40. Bur Dubai means crossing the Creek, by Al Garhoud Bridge or another crossing, and a Salik toll of AED 4-6 is normally added when the route passes a gate.
Give the driver the hotel name and, for the old districts, a landmark: Al Rigga, Baniyas Road, BurJuman or the Gold Souk. Streets in the old quarter are narrow and one-way, so the driver may drop you at the nearest corner. For fares and apps see the Dubai taxi and Careem guide.
By Metro: Red Line, then the Green Line for the souks
Both airport stations are on the Red Line, inside Terminals 1 and 3, and the Green Line meets it at Union and BurJuman. Trains come every 3-7 minutes from about 5 AM until midnight or 1 AM, with a later start on Sundays.
- For the Deira hotels: take the Red Line towards the Marina side and get off at City Centre Deira or Al Rigga, a few stops from Terminal 1.
- For the Gold Souk and Spice Souk: ride to Union, change to the Green Line towards Creek, and get off at Baniyas Square or Gold Souq. Al Ras is the next stop for the Creek side.
- For Al Fahidi and the old quarter: ride to BurJuman, change to the Green Line and go one stop to Sharaf DG, the station for Al Fahidi.
- For BurJuman and Karama: stay on the Red Line to BurJuman, which is also the change point for the Green Line.
The Silver Nol card is about AED 25 with AED 19 of credit, enough for several trips. The two changes at Union and BurJuman are easy, but with large suitcases they are slow, and a taxi is kinder. The Dubai Metro guide for tourists has the station-by-station detail.
Deira or Bur Dubai: which side of the Creek
Deira is closer to the airport, has more hotels and runs on the Red Line, and its markets are the Gold and Spice Souks and Baniyas Road. Bur Dubai has the Al Fahidi quarter, Al Seef, the museums and BurJuman, and it is closer to Downtown. Both are older, busier and louder than the Marina, and neither has a beach.
The two banks are joined by the abra, which costs about AED 1-2 for a crossing of a few minutes. The Deira versus Bur Dubai guide compares the hotels and streets, and the Old Dubai guide has a half-day plan.
Late arrivals, rush hour and luggage
If your flight lands after about midnight and before about 5 AM, the Metro is closed and the taxi is the plan; the rank runs round the clock on the same meter. Sunday morning arrivals are caught by the Metro's later start that day. At rush hour, from 7 to 9:30 AM and 5 to 8 PM, the roads around Garhoud and the Creek crossings slow down while the train keeps its timetable, so one bag and a weekday morning favour the Metro.
The old quarters are friendly to luggage on the Metro only up to a point. Stations have lifts and escalators, but the streets around Al Fahidi and the souks are narrow, busy and hot, and a hotel in a side lane may not be reachable by car. Ask the hotel for the nearest drop-off point and whether it will send someone, and keep the first walk until you have dropped your bags.
Your first afternoon: Old Dubai on foot
Landing close to Old Dubai makes it the natural first stop. Our Old Dubai walking tour is a shared group walk with an English-speaking local guide, 3-4 hours, from $35 per person, or $55 with street-food tastings. It takes in Al Fahidi, Al Seef, the abra across the Creek, the Spice and Gold Souks, with Arabic coffee or tea, dates and water, and entry to a heritage house.
From Terminal 1 it is the Red Line to BurJuman and one Green Line stop to Sharaf DG, about 25-30 minutes, and the guide meets you in Al Fahidi near Sharaf DG station; the exact pin is sent after payment. Full prepayment confirms your place, and free cancellation or a date change is possible up to 24 hours before the start. It is mostly outdoors, so May to September is very hot: go early. Pushchairs, luggage and large bags are not allowed, so drop your bags at the hotel first. It is not suited to wheelchair users or children under 2.
The next days can be the Burj Khalifa ticket from $55, a timed-entry ticket you book with us and enter yourself at The Dubai Mall, or the full-day desert safari from $45 with hotel pickup in Dubai. More on the area is in the Al Fahidi district guide and the abra ride guide.
FAQ
How far is Dubai airport from Deira and Bur Dubai?
Deira is about 5-10 km away, a 10-20 minute taxi for about AED 30-40. Bur Dubai is about 10-14 km, 15-25 minutes for about AED 35-50, with a Salik toll normally added when the route crosses the Creek.
Is there a Metro from Dubai airport to Deira?
Yes. The Red Line runs from Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 to City Centre Deira and Al Rigga in 10-15 minutes, for about AED 3-5. For the souks, change at Union to the Green Line.
How do I get from Dubai airport to Al Fahidi?
Take the Red Line from Terminal 1 or 3 to BurJuman, change to the Green Line and go one stop to Sharaf DG, the station for Al Fahidi. It takes about 25-30 minutes and costs about AED 5-7.5. A taxi is 15-25 minutes and about AED 35-50.
Which Metro station is for the Gold Souk?
Gold Souq on the Green Line, with Al Ras the next stop. From the airport, take the Red Line to Union and change to the Green Line towards Creek; the Gold Souq is a few stops later.
Should I stay in Deira or Bur Dubai?
Deira is closer to the airport and has more hotels, plus the Gold and Spice Souks. Bur Dubai has Al Fahidi, Al Seef and the museums, and is closer to Downtown. Neither is on a beach, so choose by the sights you want on foot.
Is Terminal 2 on the Metro?
No. Terminals 1 and 3 have Red Line stations, while Terminal 2 does not, so a taxi from the rank is the simple way to Deira or Bur Dubai. The fare is in the same range as from the other terminals.
How much does the abra across Dubai Creek cost?
About AED 1-2 per crossing, paid in cash to the driver. The crossing takes a few minutes between the Bur Dubai and Deira banks, and our Old Dubai walking tour includes an abra ride.
Recommended Dubai tours for this guide
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
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Photos: The Gold Souk — Radosław Botev, CC BY 3.0 pl, Al Seef on the Bur Dubai waterfront — Poorva90, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).