Dubai Airport Taxi Fare
The airport taxi starting fare at DXB is AED 20. That is the only figure anyone can quote you with certainty, because the RTA publishes the starting fare and does not publish the rate per kilometre. Here is what that means for your actual bill.
Dubai Airport Taxi Fare: The Short Answer
The airport taxi starting fare at DXB is AED 20. That is the only figure anyone can quote you with certainty, because the RTA publishes the starting fare and does not publish the rate per kilometre.
- How much is a taxi from Dubai airport?: The starting fare is AED 20 for a saloon and AED 25 for a van, all day, and the meter runs from there.
- Where is the taxi rank at Dubai airport?: Outside arrivals at each terminal. Terminals 1, 2 and 3 have separate ranks and are not walkable between, so know which terminal you land at before planning the pickup.
- Is a van taxi worth it at Dubai airport?: If you have more than two large cases, yes. It starts at AED 25 rather than AED 20 and avoids a discussion at the boot with a saloon.
- Why is the airport taxi starting fare higher than a normal taxi?: Because an airport surcharge is built into it. Flagging a taxi on the street starts at AED 5, or AED 5.5 overnight.
- Is Uber or Careem cheaper than a taxi from Dubai airport?: E-hail bookings start lower, from AED 9 to AED 13 depending on the day and the hour, against AED 20 at the airport rank.
Everything we run in Dubai, with the price on the card
All prices are per car, not per person, unless the card says otherwise. You are booking the operator directly.
4 hoursHalf-Day Dubai City Tour
Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Frame, Old Dubai, the Creek abra and the Gold Souk in a private 4×4.
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Private vehicle, no other guests
- Morning or evening, same price
- Photo stops, not a drive-past
8 hoursFull-Day Dubai City Tour
New Dubai in the morning, Old Dubai in the afternoon — Palm Jumeirah, Marina, the souks and the Creek.
- The only route reaching both Dubais
- Up to 6 people in one car
- Lunch stop where you choose
- Ends at the Fountain show
4 hoursOld Dubai and the Souks
Al Fahidi wind-tower district, the AED 1 abra across Dubai Creek, the Gold Souk and the Spice Souk.
- Abra crossing costs AED 1 each
- Short, flat walking
- Best in the morning
- Car waits, you walk
4 hoursDubai by Night
The Fountain show, Downtown at full light, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai Marina, JBR and Bluewaters.
- Starts around 5:30 PM
- Fountain show every 30 minutes
- Most of the stops are free
- Good after a day out
6 hoursDesert Safari From Dubai
Dune bashing, camel ride, sandboarding, a Bedouin camp with BBQ dinner and live shows.
- Private 4×4, up to 7 guests
- Hotel pickup and drop included
- Licensed operator, DCT Abu Dhabi
- Shared seats from AED 35 per person
Full dayDubai to Hatta Tour
Hatta Dam, kayaking, the heritage village and the Hajar Mountains. No passport, no border crossing.
- 90 minutes each way
- Kayak hire paid on site
- Best October to April
- You set the timings
One wayDXB Airport Transfer
Meet and greet with a name board at arrivals, flight tracking, luggage handled, one fixed price at any hour.
- Name board at arrivals
- Flight tracked, delays covered
- No surge at 3 AM
- Fixed price, per car
By the hourCar with Driver, As Directed
No fixed route. Your own car and driver by the hour — shopping, meetings, whatever the day needs.
- AED 250 per hour sedan or SUV
- AED 350 per hour Land Cruiser
- Four-hour minimum
- Wait time included
Per attractionDubai Attraction Transfers
A private car to Burj Khalifa, the Mall, the Frame, the Palm or the seasonal parks, with the driver waiting outside.
- Waiting time included
- Salik, fuel and parking included
- Tickets bought direct, not by us
- Child seats on request
Per rideQuad Biking
An automatic quad on a marked desert track with a guide riding ahead. The cheapest way to add adrenaline.
- AED 200 single rider
- AED 300 double
- Guide rides with the group
- No licence needed
30 min blocksDune Buggy
A Can-Am buggy on the dunes, booked by ride time. Sold as an add-on to the safari, not instead of it.
- AED 800 per 30 minutes
- Two-hour minimum
- Helmet and briefing included
- Decide before you arrive
Quick answer: a taxi from Dubai International starts at AED 20 for a saloon and AED 25 for a van, all day, and the meter runs from there. Those are the official RTA figures, read on their own fare page on 12 August.
For one or two people with light bags, a taxi is cheaper than us and you should take one. Our fixed transfer at AED 799 per car earns its price when you are four or more, when you are arriving at 3 AM, when you have a pile of luggage, or when you want a name board and a fixed number instead of a meter.
The official RTA starting fares
Every figure in this table is from the RTA’s own Taxi Fare in Dubai page, read on 12 August. Tariffs change, so check rta.ae again the week you travel.
| Where you get in | Starting fare | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai Airports, all day | AED 20 normal / AED 25 van | Airport Taxi, People of Determination Taxi, Family Taxi, Female Taxi |
| Road pickup, flagging one down | AED 5 / AED 5.5 | Regular street hail, day and overnight rate |
| E-hail app booking | AED 9 / AED 13 / AED 10 | Varies by day and time of day |
| Port Rashid, all day | AED 25 | Regular and People of Determination Taxi |
Note what that first row actually means: getting into a taxi at the airport costs four times as much to start as flagging one on the street. That is a fixed airport surcharge built into the starting fare, and it applies whatever time you land.
The number nobody publishes — and why every “fare calculator” is a guess
The RTA page states that fares vary by service type, booking channel, trip origin and time of day, and then publishes the starting fares above. What it does not publish anywhere on that page is the rate per kilometre, the minimum fare, or the waiting-time charge.
That matters more than it sounds. Search this topic and you will find a dozen sites quoting an exact dirhams-per-kilometre figure to two decimal places. None of them link to an official source for it, because there is not one on the public fare page. Some are stale, some are copied from each other, and the “fare calculators” built on them inherit whatever number they started with.
So treat any precise total you are quoted for a DXB taxi as an estimate, including any you see on this page. We are not going to invent a per-kilometre rate to make a comparison table look tidier. What we can tell you is the starting fare, which is official, and our own fixed price, which does not move.
Taxi, Uber or Careem from DXB
The question people actually ask, answered with what is knowable.
| Airport taxi rank | E-hail app | Our fixed transfer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting fare | AED 20 saloon, AED 25 van | AED 9 to AED 13 depending on day and hour | None — one price |
| Total known before you travel | No | Yes, at the moment you book | Yes, when you book |
| Where you meet it | Rank outside arrivals | Designated pickup zone, a walk from arrivals | Name board inside arrivals |
| If your flight is late | Fine, you just join the rank | Rebook, and surge may have moved | Flight tracked, driver waits |
| Luggage | Saloon boot, or pay for a van | Whatever turns up | Chosen for your group and bags |
| At 3 AM | Available, rank can be short | Fewer cars, higher pricing | Same price as noon |
The e-hail apps have one clear advantage and it is a real one: they show you the total before you accept. The RTA does not publish enough for a rank taxi to do that. If knowing the number matters more to you than anything else, and there are only one or two of you, book on an app.
What our transfer costs, and when it is worth it
One price for the whole car, fixed when you book, with the flight tracked so a delay costs you nothing.
| Vehicle | Guests | Price | USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan or SUV | Up to 7 | AED 799 | USD 218 |
| Land Cruiser | Up to 7 | AED 899 | USD 245 |
Parking, tolls, fuel, the meet in arrivals and the waiting are inside that. No deposit; you pay the driver.
When a taxi is the better buy: one or two of you, cabin bags only, arriving at a civilised hour, going somewhere central. That is most people, and we will say so rather than talk you into a car you do not need.
When ours is the better buy: four or more people, a lot of luggage, small children needing seats, a very late or very early arrival, a first visit where a name board in arrivals is worth something, or a booking someone else is paying for and needs a fixed figure.
Five things worth knowing at the DXB rank
- The airport starting fare is not negotiable and not a scam. AED 20 on the meter before you move is correct and official. Nobody is overcharging you.
- Ask for a van if you have more than two large cases. It starts at AED 25 rather than AED 20 and saves the argument at the boot.
- Salik toll gates are charged on top of the meter on most routes out of the airport. That is normal and it is not the driver inventing a fee.
- Card payment is standard in Dubai taxis. You do not need cash, though small notes are useful.
- Terminal matters. DXB Terminal 1, 2 and 3 have separate ranks and are not walkable between. Know your terminal before you plan the pickup.
Which page do you actually want?
Official starting fares, what is not published, taxi versus app versus fixed car.
You are on the right page.
Name board in arrivals, flight tracked, one price.
Go to the Dubai airport transfer page.
A tour built backwards from your boarding time.
Go to the airport layover tour.
Official DXB left-luggage rates by terminal.
Go to DXB luggage storage.
Key facts
DXB airport taxi starting fare: AED 20 normal, AED 25 van, all day · Street hail: AED 5 / AED 5.5 · E-hail: AED 9 / AED 13 / AED 10 by day and hour · Port Rashid: AED 25 · Not published by RTA: rate per kilometre, minimum fare, waiting-time charge · Our fixed transfer: AED 799 sedan or SUV, AED 899 Land Cruiser, up to 7 guests, flight tracked, no deposit · Source: rta.ae Taxi Fare in Dubai, read 12 August. Check it again before you travel.
Comparing the meter against everything else you will spend? Is Dubai expensive puts taxi and metro costs in context.
Dubai airport taxi — FAQ
How much is a taxi from Dubai airport?
The starting fare is AED 20 for a saloon and AED 25 for a van, all day, and the meter runs from there. That is the official RTA figure read on 12 August. Nobody can give you a reliable total in advance, because the RTA does not publish the rate per kilometre.
Why is the airport taxi starting fare higher than a normal taxi?
Because an airport surcharge is built into it. Flagging a taxi on the street starts at AED 5, or AED 5.5 overnight. Getting into one at Dubai Airports starts at AED 20. It applies at any hour.
Is Uber or Careem cheaper than a taxi from Dubai airport?
E-hail bookings start lower, from AED 9 to AED 13 depending on the day and the hour, against AED 20 at the airport rank. The bigger advantage is that an app shows you the total before you accept, which a rank taxi cannot. Pricing can rise at busy times, so compare on the day.
What is the per kilometre rate for a Dubai taxi?
The RTA does not publish it on its public fare page. It publishes starting fares only and states that fares vary by service type, booking channel, trip origin and time of day. Treat any site quoting an exact per-kilometre figure with caution, and any fare calculator built on one as an estimate.
Is there a waiting charge in a Dubai taxi?
The RTA states the fare structure includes a waiting-time charge but does not publish the rate for it. If you need a car to wait, a fixed-price private car avoids the question entirely.
Do Dubai taxis take card?
Yes, card payment is standard. You do not need cash, though small notes are useful.
Are Salik tolls extra on top of the meter?
Yes, on most routes out of the airport, and that is normal rather than the driver adding a fee. Our fixed transfer includes tolls in the price.
Should I book a transfer or just take a taxi at DXB?
If there are one or two of you with cabin bags arriving at a reasonable hour, take a taxi — it will be cheaper. Book a fixed transfer when there are four or more of you, when you have a lot of luggage, when you land very late or very early, or when you need a fixed figure for someone else.
How much is your Dubai airport transfer?
AED 799 per car for a sedan or SUV and AED 899 for a Land Cruiser, both up to 7 guests. Parking, tolls, fuel, the meet in arrivals and the waiting are included. No deposit, and you pay the driver.
What happens if my flight is delayed?
We track the flight and the driver waits. With a taxi you simply join the rank, which is fine. With an e-hail app you rebook and whatever pricing applies at that moment applies to you.
Where is the taxi rank at Dubai airport?
Outside arrivals at each terminal. Terminals 1, 2 and 3 have separate ranks and are not walkable between, so know which terminal you land at before planning the pickup.
Is a van taxi worth it at Dubai airport?
If you have more than two large cases, yes. It starts at AED 25 rather than AED 20 and avoids a discussion at the boot with a saloon.
Are taxi fares at Dubai airport fixed or metered?
Metered, starting from the AED 20 airport starting fare. Only a pre-booked private transfer gives you a fixed total before you travel.
Is the AED 20 charge a scam?
No. It is the official published airport starting fare and it will be on the meter before the car moves. Nobody is overcharging you.
Can someone pick me up from Dubai airport arrivals?
Not at the kerb. Dubai Airports states there are no pick-up areas at Arrivals, so a friend or a driver cannot simply pull in and wait for you to walk out (dubaiairports.ae, read 17 August). The workable version is meeting inside the terminal and walking together to the car park or the designated pick-up zone, which our drivers plan for and will describe before you land. If your destination is a nearby Dubai hotel, honestly, the rank outside your terminal is quicker and cheaper than any pre-booked car.
Is it cheaper to hail a taxi or book one by app in Dubai?
Hailing is cheaper. RTA puts the street-hail start at AED 5 by day and AED 5.50 overnight, while an e-hail booking starts at AED 9 off-peak, AED 13 at peak and AED 10 overnight (rta.ae, read 17 August). Booking through an app therefore costs several dirhams before the meter has moved a metre. If you are standing on a street where taxis pass, raise your hand and keep the difference. Apps earn their premium at three in the morning, in rain, or when you need a fixed pickup point.
How much does a taxi from Dubai airport to Abu Dhabi cost?
There is no published flat fare for that run. A Dubai airport taxi starts at AED 20 and then meters the distance, and RTA also lists Salik and Darb charges as additions to the fare (rta.ae, read 17 August). Once inside Abu Dhabi the regulated rate is AED 1.82 per kilometre with a AED 12 minimum trip fare and AED 0.50 per minute waiting (admobility.gov.ae, read 17 August). Across roughly a hundred and thirty kilometres a meter gets expensive fast. We price privately per vehicle instead, so message us on WhatsApp.
Is there a bus from Dubai airport to Abu Dhabi?
Not from the terminal door, but RTA runs intercity coaches that get you there for a fraction of a taxi: E101 from Ibn Battuta Bus Station and E100 from Ghubaiba to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station, both bookable online in advance with a dedicated boarding lane (rta.ae, read 17 August). You reach Ibn Battuta on the Red Line, which serves Terminals 1 and 3 (dubaiairports.ae, read 17 August). If you are travelling solo and counting dirhams, take the coach and do not book a car from us.
Can I take the Dubai metro from the airport with my suitcases?
Yes, within a limit. Dubai Airports states the Red Line serves Terminals 1 and 3 and that passengers may bring up to two pieces of luggage including hand luggage, with size and weight rules set by RTA (dubaiairports.ae, read 17 August). Silver nol fares are AED 3, AED 5 or AED 7.50 depending on zones crossed (rta.ae, read 17 August). Trains run 05:00 to midnight Monday to Thursday and Saturday, to 01:00 on Friday, and only from 08:00 on Sunday, which catches people out.
Do Dubai airport taxis charge extra for tolls?
Yes. RTA lists Salik tolls, Darb access, Sharjah entry and the Port Rashid area as charges added to the metered fare (rta.ae, read 17 August), and the federal portal puts each Dubai toll crossing at AED 4, with an extra AED 20 on trips to the Northern Emirates (u.ae, read 17 August). In Abu Dhabi, Darb costs AED 4 per crossing from 07:00 to 09:00 and 15:00 to 19:00, never on Sundays or public holidays, and authorised Abu Dhabi public taxis are exempt (admobility.gov.ae, read 17 August).
Why do websites give different Dubai taxi starting fares?
Because two official sources genuinely disagree. The federal portal lists a Dubai daytime start of AED 8 and Abu Dhabi at AED 3.50 (u.ae, read 17 August), while RTA publishes AED 5 for a street hail and AED 20 from the airport rank (rta.ae, read 17 August), and Abu Dhabi Mobility publishes AED 1.82 per kilometre with a AED 12 minimum (admobility.gov.ae, read 17 August). We trust the emirate regulators over the federal summary, because they set the tariff and calibrate the meters. Any figure on a fare-estimator site is an estimate, not a rate.
Is there a wheelchair accessible taxi at Dubai airport?
RTA operates a People of Determination taxi with accessibility features built into the vehicle, charged at AED 8 by day and AED 9 at night and bookable on 800 88088 or the operator’s app (rta.ae, read 17 August). Availability at a rank is unpredictable, so booking ahead beats hoping. On our own Abu Dhabi transfers a foldable wheelchair travels in the Land Cruiser boot provided you declare it when booking; powered or non-folding chairs cannot be carried, and we would far rather tell you that now than at the kerb.
Is a private transfer better than a taxi from Dubai airport?
Frequently it is not. For one or two people heading to a Dubai hotel, the rank outside your terminal is faster and cheaper than anything pre-arranged, opening at AED 20 on the meter (rta.ae, read 17 August). A private car earns its place on long runs, with a family and several cases, at antisocial hours, or when the next stop is Abu Dhabi. Ours are priced per vehicle rather than per seat, there is no deposit and no booking fee, and you settle with the driver on the day.
Do children pay extra on a private airport transfer?
Not with us. Private tours and transfers are priced per vehicle, so children add nothing to the fare and the only real constraint is how many seats and suitcases fit. There is no deposit and no booking fee, payment happens on the day, and you can cancel free of charge up to twelve hours before pickup. We do not publish a figure because it depends on route and vehicle, so message us on WhatsApp with your flight number, destination and the number of bags and you will get one number back.
Can I go straight from Dubai airport to a desert safari?
You can, if the timing is sensible. An afternoon or evening arrival works well; a red-eye landing followed straight away by dune driving usually does not, and we will tell you so rather than sell it. Luggage either travels with you or goes to the hotel first. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque sits conveniently on the southbound route and entry is free with a pre-booked online access pass, open 09:00 to 20:30 with a Friday split of 09:00 to 11:30 and 14:30 to 20:30 (szgmc.gov.ae, read 17 August).
Where can I leave my luggage at Dubai airport?
All three terminals run a left luggage service around the clock. Dubai Airports prices twenty-four hours at AED 35 for a standard item and AED 40 for a non-standard one in Terminal 3, and AED 40 and AED 50 respectively in Terminals 1 and 2 (dubaiairports.ae, read 17 August). Storing bags and travelling light is usually cheaper and far less annoying than paying a driver to carry them around a city all day. If we are collecting you afterwards, tell us the real bag count so the vehicle fits.
Is there a shower at Dubai airport during a layover?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Dubai Airports lists free showers in Terminal 3 at Gates A and B (dubaiairports.ae, read 17 August), which is comfortably the best-value thing at DXB on a long connection. Use them before paying for a lounge or a day-use room. If the layover is long enough to leave the airport, the Red Line runs from Terminals 1 and 3 and a silver nol journey costs AED 3 to AED 7.50 by zone (rta.ae, read 17 August), which no transfer can match for a short hop.
Do I need to pay a deposit to book an airport pickup?
Not with us. There is no deposit and no booking fee, you pay on the day, and cancellation is free up to twelve hours before pickup. We are licensed by the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi. Because the fare depends on terminal, destination, timing and vehicle, we publish no number online, so message us on WhatsApp with your flight and we will confirm one. If your plans are genuinely unsettled, the DXB taxi rank requires no booking at all and starts at AED 20 (rta.ae, read 17 August).
Heading on to the capital? Read Dubai to Abu Dhabi taxi fare first.
Also useful on a first trip: first time in Dubai.
If we have to cancel, what happens?
A cancellation policy that covers your obligations but not ours is only half a document. Here is our side of it, in writing.
If we have to cancel your booking — for weather, a vehicle issue, or driver illness — we will contact you as soon as we know and rebook you at no charge on the next date that works for you. You pay nothing for the cancelled booking.
If we need to send a different vehicle than the one you booked, we will ask you first rather than turning up in something you did not book.
This is separate from your own cancellation rights, which are unchanged: you can cancel free up to 12 hours before pickup. Because we take no deposit and no booking fee, there is no money of yours sitting with us either way — nothing to chase, and nothing to wait for.
Book your stopover
No deposit and no card details. Message us and we confirm the plan and the exact price before you commit — answered at any hour.
- Send your two flight numbersArrival and departure, with times. That is all we need to tell you what fits.
- We send the plan and the pricePer car, not per person. You see the route, the timings and the exact figure first.
- Pay the driver on the dayCash or card, after the run. Free cancellation up to 12 hours before pickup.
Answered 24 hours · No deposit · No booking fee · Licensed operator