Airport Terminal 3 Metro Station: DXB Guide (2026)

Airport Terminal 3 is the metro station built into DXB’s Emirates terminal — the world’s largest terminal by area. The station sits on the Arrivals level of the main terminal building, so you walk from baggage claim to the platform entirely indoors. No taxi queue, no traffic: the Red Line puts you in Downtown in about 20 minutes for around AED 5.

This guide covers the walk from arrivals, platforms, fares, luggage rules, timings and onward connections.

Station Quick Facts

The Walk: Arrivals → Metro

Follow the “Metro” signs from the arrivals hall — the route is fully signposted and air-conditioned:

• Walk time: 10–15 minutes from the arrivals hall with bags
• The station has two exits: one for alighting passengers, one connecting directly into the airport
• Lifts and escalators throughout — step-free with luggage trolleys

Platforms & Directions

• Platform 1 (northbound): toward Centrepoint — 2 stops to the terminus; park-and-ride connections
• Platform 2 (southbound): toward Expo 2020 / Life Pharmacy — Deira → Union → Downtown → malls → Marina

Key Journeys & Fares

Fares are Silver Nol card rates (1 zone AED 3 / 2 zones AED 5 / 3+ zones AED 7.50). Buy your Nol card at the station’s ticket office or machines before boarding — the metro is Nol-only. (Check balance · recharge · card types · where to buy · tourist guide.)

Luggage on the Metro

RTA allows one large suitcase + one small bag per passenger. Practical advice:

• Use the lifts, not escalators, with heavy bags
• Board at the middle carriages — more standing room for luggage
• Gold Class (first carriage, ~double fare) has more space and panoramic windows — worth it with bags
• Avoid rush hours (7–9 AM, 5–7:30 PM) with big suitcases if you can

Bus Connections

• 25: Rashidiya Bus Station ↔ Gold Souq Bus Station
• 77: RTA HQ via Airport T3 ↔ Baniyas Square MS
• C01: Airport Terminal 3 ↔ Satwa Station
• N30: Gold Souq ↔ Al Qusais (night service)
• DXB2-1: Ajman intercity service

Timings

Practical Tips

• Buy the Nol card landside before you go through to the platform — machines accept cards and cash.
• Terminal 1 vs 3: they’re adjacent with an airside train between them; landside, it’s one metro stop (R13 ↔ R14).
• Terminal 2: no metro — take a bus or taxi (~10–15 min).
• Meeting someone: wait on the terminal side of the ticket gates, not the platform.

Watch: Dubai Airport Terminal 3 Walking Tour

Last updated: October 2026. Timings follow RTA’s published schedule; verify live departures in the RTA app.

Key Journeys From This Station

*Approximate, including average waiting time; actual times vary by time of day. Fares: AED 3 (1 zone) / AED 5 (2 zones) / AED 7.50 (3+ zones) on a Silver Nol card.

Station Facilities & Accessibility

Like all Dubai Metro stations, Airport Terminal 3 offers step-free access and the standard RTA facility set:

• Ticketing: ticket office, vending machines and Nol card top-up kiosks
• Step-free: lifts and escalators to all levels; tactile paving for visually impaired passengers
• Onboard info: audio announcements in Arabic and English; real-time digital displays
• Comfort: fully air-conditioned concourse and platforms with platform screen doors
• Services: prayer rooms, washrooms, retail kiosks, ATMs and free Wi-Fi
• Safety: 24/7 CCTV, emergency call points and staffed information desks

Station History

The station opened on 9 September 2009 with the Red Line’s first phase, integrated into the Arrivals level of Terminal 3 — then the world’s largest terminal building by area. It was the first airport metro station in the region designed as part of the terminal itself rather than bolted on afterward. The two-exit layout (one for arriving passengers, one connecting into the airport) has barely changed since opening — a sign the original design got the passenger flows right.

Landed? A Perfect First Half-Day

Arrival: clear customs, buy a Nol card at the station machines, and ride 20 minutes to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. Afternoon: drop bags at your hotel (many Downtown hotels are metro-accessible), then the Dubai Mall Aquarium and an early fountain show. Evening: dinner at Souk Al Bahar. Total transport: about AED 10 on the metro versus AED 60–80 by taxi — the classic first-day win.

Good to Know: Riding From This Station

• Tap in and out — every journey needs both taps, or you’ll be charged the maximum fare.
• No eating or drinking on trains and in stations — this rule is strictly enforced.
• Let passengers alight first before boarding; stand clear of the doors.
• Women & children cabin: the pink-marked cabin is reserved — men entering can be fined AED 100.
• Gold Class: the premium cabin (roughly double the fare) is at the front in the direction of travel.
• Luggage: one large suitcase + one small bag per passenger; use the lifts.
• Friday nights run late (until 1:00 AM); Sunday mornings start late (8:00 AM).

Frequently Asked Questions

Keep exploring the Dubai Metro cluster: All Dubai Metro Stations · Airport Terminal 1 Station · Metro to Airport Guide · Luggage Rules · Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Station · Metro Timings · Nol Card for Tourists