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DWC Al Maktoum International Airport

Reviewed & updated by יהב עטיה · About the team

Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) serves Dubai, about 25 km southwest of Dubai. Below: trains and buses from the terminal, an estimated taxi fare to town and nearby cities, where you can fly from here, and hotels nearby.

IATADWC
ICAOOMDW
ServesDubai
From centre25 km
Non-stop40
Airlines11
TimezoneAsia/Dubai
Elevation35 m

See on map ↗

The airport in numbers

Al Maktoum International Airport — facts & history

We pulled Al Maktoum International Airport's numbers from the open aviation datasets — 1.1M passengers in 2024, against a peak of 1.6M in 2019.

Passengers / year
1.1M
as of 2024
Peak traffic
1.6M
in 2019
Elevation
35 מ׳
above sea level
Operator
Dubai Airports Company
Passengers per year, 2014–2024

Figures: Wikidata (CC0) · Wikipedia

Airport to city

Getting from Al Maktoum International Airport to Dubai

The airport is about 25 km southwest of Dubai, about 53 minutes by road in normal traffic.

Train & bus: Dubai (DXB): the red Metro line stops at Terminals 1 and 3. Abu Dhabi (AUH): bus A1 (rail under construction).

Taxi & apps: Regulated metered taxis from the official rank, relatively cheap. Careem and Uber are legal and active. Estimated fare to the centre: AED74–AED118.

Tipping: Round up; ~10% appreciated.

Way inTime to centreCost
Train / bus~37 mincheapestCHEAPEST
Taxi~53 minAED74–AED118
Private transfer~53 minfixed upfront
Car rental~53 min + חניהfrom the terminal
Distances

From DWC to nearby cities

Estimated drive times in normal traffic, and an approximate taxi fare at the local tariff. A pre-booked transfer is usually cheaper.

DestinationDistanceDriveTaxi (est.)
Sharjah55 km77 minAED138–AED219
Ajman65 km68 minAED159–AED253
Abu Dhabi92 km96 minAED217–AED344
Fujairah121 km127 minAED278–AED442
Ras Al Khaimah127 km133 minAED291–AED462
Choose and book

Which way suits you from Al Maktoum International Airport

Taxi

Cheapest for a short trip, one or two people. ~AED74–AED118 to the centre.

Private transfer

Fixed price upfront, driver with a sign. For a late arrival, bags, kids or a group.

Car rental

If you're touring the region. Desks in the terminal, booking ahead beats the counter.

Train or bus is usually the cheapest — details above.

Book your airport transfer in Dubai ahead, no terminal surprises.

Route network

Where you can fly from Al Maktoum International Airport

Non-stop flights to about 40 destinations, operated by 11 airlines. The busiest routes:

Airlines here: Fly Dubai · Transaero Airlines · Ural Airlines · Wizz Air · Air Philippines · Philippine Airlines · Qatar Airways · Malaysia Airlines · Royal Brunei Airlines · Gulf Air Bahrain

At the airport

Left luggage & lost and found at Al Maktoum International Airport

Most large airports offer left-luggage inside the terminal, usually by the hour or day and with a size limit. A common, cheaper alternative: in-city storage points near stations and sights — handy for an early arrival before check-in, or after check-out.

Something lost in the terminal is handled by the airport's lost-and-found office (usually near baggage claim); something left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Keep your flight details, seat number and a description of the item.

Sleep nearby

Hotels near Al Maktoum International Airport

For an early connection — a hotel by the terminal saves a taxi and a headache.

Rates in Dubai shift daily. See what your night costs now.

Reviews — Al Maktoum International Airport

No reviews yet — be the first to share.

Airports nearby

Other options near Dubai

Same country

Other airports in United Arab Emirates

Q&A

Answers to your questions

How do I get from Al Maktoum International Airport to the centre of Dubai?
Dubai (DXB): the red Metro line stops at Terminals 1 and 3. Abu Dhabi (AUH): bus A1 (rail under construction). The airport is about 25 km southwest of Dubai, about 53 minutes by road.
How much is a taxi from Al Maktoum International Airport to Dubai?
Roughly AED74–AED118 (at the local tariff). Many airports have a regulated flat fare — ask at the taxi desk.
Can I use a ride app from Al Maktoum International Airport?
Regulated metered taxis from the official rank, relatively cheap. Careem and Uber are legal and active.
What's the cheapest way from Al Maktoum International Airport to Dubai?
Train or bus, almost always — usually a fraction of the taxi fare. Dubai (DXB): the red Metro line stops at Terminals 1 and 3. Abu Dhabi (AUH): bus A1 (rail under construction).
Can I get from Al Maktoum International Airport into town without a car?
Yes. Dubai (DXB): the red Metro line stops at Terminals 1 and 3. Abu Dhabi (AUH): bus A1 (rail under construction). For a late arrival or a lot of bags, a pre-booked transfer is easier.
Where can I fly non-stop from Al Maktoum International Airport?
About 40 destinations, including Samara, Yekaterinburg, Bahrain, Doha. 11 airlines operate here.
Can I leave luggage at the airport?
Most large airports have a left-luggage service, and there are also in-city storage points near stations and sights that are usually cheaper with no size limit.
Where is Al Maktoum International Airport's lost and found?
Items found in the terminal (not on the aircraft) are handled by the airport's lost-and-found office — usually near baggage claim or the information desks, sometimes one office per terminal. Anything left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Current contact details are on Al Maktoum International Airport's official site.
How do I know which terminal my flight leaves from at Al Maktoum International Airport?
The terminal is on your boarding pass and booking confirmation, and updates on the departure boards at the entrance. Rule of thumb: each airline works from a fixed terminal, and airlines in the same alliance are usually grouped together. With a connection, check whether you change terminals and how long that takes.
Dubai city guide← United Arab Emirates travel guideAll airports

About this page

Written and checked by the Around the World team. We compare prices across the major providers, cross-check official sources, and update when something changes. We have no stake in any one provider — links are affiliate links, and the price is the same for you.

Sources: Airport data: OpenFlights (ODbL) · Route network: OpenFlights routes · Getting-there notes: Around the World, checked 2026

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