Dubai International (DXB) and Abu Dhabi International (AUH) are very different transit experiences. DXB is among the world's busiest and has excellent public transit links; AUH leans heavily on taxis.
DXB (Dubai International)
DXB has three terminals:
- Terminal 1 — foreign airlines (Korean Air, etc.)
- Terminal 2 — budget carriers (some flydubai)
- Terminal 3 — Emirates exclusive (largest)
Option 1: Metro (cheapest, recommended)
- Red Line metro connects directly to Terminals 1 and 3. Terminal 2 needs a shuttle to T1 or T3 first.
- City: ~25–30 AED on a Silver Nol card
- Travel time: ~30–40 minutes to central Dubai (Downtown / Burj Khalifa)
- Pros: cheap, traffic-proof, direct from T1/T3
- Cons: not running pre-05:00, awkward with large luggage
Option 2: Official taxi (RTA)
- Rank outside every terminal's arrivals
- Base fare 25 AED (airport surcharge included)
- City: 50–100 AED
- Cards accepted. Ask for a receipt.
- Must be metered (reject hagglers)
Option 3: Uber / Careem / Bolt
- Designated pickup zones (app instructions)
- In-app fare estimate — roughly 60–120 AED to the city
- Similar to or slightly above official taxis
- Pros: app payment, English, vehicle class options, auto-receipt
- Cons: pickup zone may require a walk
Option 4: Hotel / company shuttle
- Emirates premium tickets may include chauffeur service to the city
- Most 5-star hotels offer paid pickup
- Business travellers: usually arranged by the employer
AUH (Abu Dhabi International)
Centred on Terminal A (unified, opened 2023).
Option 1: Taxi (the standard)
- Rank outside arrivals
- City: 60–80 AED / ~30–40 min
- Cards accepted
Option 2: Uber / Careem
- Comparable availability to Dubai
- Pickup zones in-app
Option 3: Airport bus
- A1 line: airport → Abu Dhabi central bus terminal (Al Wahda Mall). ~4 AED
- ~1 hour (more in traffic)
- Not recommended with luggage. Abu Dhabi public transit is sparse — you'll likely need another taxi from the terminal
Option 4: Etihad free shuttle
For Etihad ticket holders with advance booking:
- Abu Dhabi ↔ Dubai (~75 min)
- Abu Dhabi ↔ Al Ain (~90 min)
- Free, book via Etihad's official channels
Between the two airports (Dubai ↔ Abu Dhabi)
Many Korean expats live in Abu Dhabi but fly out of DXB (direct flights to Seoul).
- Taxi — ~250–350 AED (no meter, agree a flat fare). 1h15–1h30
- Inter-Emirates bus (E101) — Dubai Ibn Battuta terminal → Abu Dhabi central terminal. 25 AED / 1h30. Every 15–30 min.
- Etihad shuttle (Etihad ticket holders) — free, book ahead
- Uber Inter-City (where offered) — 400+ AED
Practical tips
- Arriving at DXB during Dec–Feb peak or weekends/public holidays: immigration can be slow; arrivals less so
- Solo with luggage: taxi preferred. Metro transfers and stairs are painful
- Family with luggage: Uber SUV is easy
- Departing: arrive 3 hours early at DXB
Summary — by situation
| Situation | Best option | |-----------|-------------| | Short trip / budget | DXB → Metro, AUH → Taxi | | Family / heavy luggage | Uber SUV or official taxi | | Business / premium | Hotel pickup or Etihad chauffeur | | Between the airports | E101 bus (cheap) or taxi (fast) |