We sell a private layover tour, so you might expect us to tell you it is always the best choice. It is not. If you are travelling alone on a budget and only want to see the Burj Khalifa, the metro is the better option. The right choice depends on how many of you there are, how much time you have and how much you want to see. Here is an honest comparison of the three main ways to spend a Dubai layover.
The quick answer
Pick based on your group and your plans. These are the three cases that matter most:
- Metro: best for one or two budget travellers visiting one area, usually Downtown Dubai
- Taxi: best for two to four people with one or two stops in mind
- Private tour: best for groups, first-time visitors, and anyone who wants to see Old and New Dubai without working out the timing
Dubai Metro: cheapest, but limited
The Red Line stops at Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, then runs to Downtown Dubai and Dubai Marina. Fares are a small fraction of a taxi, and a Silver Nol card costs AED 25, which includes AED 19 of travel credit. Each person needs their own card.
The limits are real. There is no metro station at Terminal 2, which is the terminal flydubai uses for many flights. It does not run all night, so check the timetable on the RTA website before you rely on it. Old Dubai means changing to the Green Line, and Jumeirah Beach, Burj Al Arab and Palm Jumeirah are not on the metro at all. You also have to walk between stations and sights, which is hard work in summer.
- Rough cost: AED 25 per person for a card, which should cover a return trip
- Good for: one area, Downtown Dubai, a daytime layover
- Watch out for: Terminal 2, late nights, carrying bags, long walks
Taxis: flexible, but the fares add up
Taxis wait outside the terminals around the clock, and the fare starts at AED 25 from the airport. Expect roughly AED 50 to 70 to Downtown and roughly AED 75 to 120 to Dubai Marina. Salik road tolls add AED 4 per gate, and fares can be higher late at night.
A taxi works well for a simple trip out and back. It gets harder if you want several stops. You pay for each leg, you need to find a new taxi at each stop, and your bags go with you unless you leave them in airport storage. A standard taxi also usually takes up to four people, so a group of five or six may need two. If you try to copy a full Old and New Dubai route by taxi, we estimate AED 250 to 400 in fares, and you still have no guide and no one watching the clock.
- Rough cost: AED 100 to 240 for one out-and-back trip, per taxi
- Good for: two to four people with one or two stops
- Watch out for: changing taxis, keeping your bags with you, and traffic on the way back
Private layover tour: more cost up front, less to manage
Our Private Dubai Layover Tour costs from AED 500 per group for up to 6 people, for 5 hours. It covers a private air-conditioned car, a driver-guide, bottled water, and pickup and drop-off at DXB. Your driver meets you in arrivals, your carry-on bags stay in the car and we track your flight.
The main advantage is that someone else is managing the time. You see about a dozen places across Old and New Dubai, including stops the metro cannot reach, and the tour is planned to get you back at least 3 hours before your next flight.
It is not always the right choice. It needs a layover of at least 9 hours, and pickups only run from 7am to 5pm, so you need to land by about 4pm. Entry tickets are not included, and it is mostly photo stops rather than time inside attractions. If you only want one attraction, the tour is more than you need.
- Cost per person: AED 500 alone, AED 250 for two, about AED 167 for three, AED 125 for four, about AED 83 for six
- Good for: families, groups of three or more, and first-time visitors
- Watch out for: the 9-hour minimum, the 7am to 5pm pickup window, and needing to be able to enter the UAE
Which is best for your group?
Price per person changes the answer more than anything else, so here is how it looks by group size.
- Solo, on a budget: the metro to Downtown Dubai
- Solo, first time in Dubai, 9 hours or more: the private tour is expensive for one person, but it may still be worth it if this is your only visit
- Couple, one area: a taxi, or the metro if you are travelling light
- Couple, wanting Old and New Dubai: the private tour, at AED 250 each
- Family of three or four: the private tour usually wins, because nobody has to manage bags and transfers with children
- Group of five or six: the private tour, because you all stay in one car and pay about AED 83 to AED 100 each
- Landing after about 4pm: a taxi, because our tour pickups end at 5pm
The cost nobody counts: missing your flight
The biggest risk on a layover is not spending too much. It is getting back late. With the metro or a taxi, you have to decide when to leave, find your way back and allow for traffic. Separate tickets make this more serious, because the second airline may not protect you if you miss the flight.
Whichever way you travel, set your return time first and treat it as fixed. Check your airline's check-in deadline as well, because some close 60 minutes before departure and bag drop can close earlier.
Tours mentioned in this guide
Frequently asked questions
Is the metro or a taxi better on a Dubai layover?+
The metro is cheaper and works well for one area, such as Downtown Dubai. A taxi is better for two to four people, or for places the metro does not reach, such as Burj Al Arab or Palm Jumeirah.
How much does a taxi from Dubai Airport cost?+
The fare starts at AED 25 from the airport. Expect roughly AED 50 to 70 to Downtown Dubai and AED 75 to 120 to Dubai Marina, plus AED 4 for each Salik toll gate.
Does the Dubai Metro go to all airport terminals?+
No. The Red Line stops at Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. Terminal 2 has no metro station.
Is a private Dubai layover tour worth it?+
It is usually worth it for groups, families and first-time visitors with at least 9 hours. At AED 500 per group, it costs about AED 83 each for six people. If you are alone and only want to see one area, the metro is better value.
Can I leave my bags somewhere during my layover?+
On our private tour, your carry-on bags stay in the car. With the metro or a taxi, you will need to use paid baggage storage at DXB or take them with you.
