Which UAE airport should you fly into?
Start from where you’re staying, then look at flights. DXB covers most of Dubai and has by far the most flights. DWC, in Dubai South, puts you closer to Jebel Ali, Dubai South and the road to Abu Dhabi; the DWC vs DXB guide weighs the two up. AUH serves Abu Dhabi city, Yas, Saadiyat and Al Ain. SHJ suits Sharjah, Ajman and the northern emirates.
RKT and FJR are the local airports for Ras Al Khaimah and the east coast. Many travellers bound for either still land at DXB or SHJ, where the choice of flights is wider, and drive the rest. The routes page shows those drives with distances and times.
Each airport has its own page with terminals, the meeting point and drive times: Dubai International, Al Maktoum, Zayed International in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.
Airport taxi in the UAE: who runs each rank
Every UAE airport has metered taxis outside arrivals. Who runs them, and the small print, varies.
| Airport | Taxi at the terminal | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| DXB | Dubai Taxi, the only operator, ranks at every terminal, 24/7 | No pickup lane outside arrivals. Private cars meet you via the car park |
| DWC | Dubai Taxi, ordered through the Bolt app | Buses F55 to EXPO Metro Station and N55 to Ibn Battuta |
| AUH | Metered taxis outside Terminal A arrivals | Renamed Zayed International in 2024, code still AUH |
| SHJ | Sharjah Taxi, 24 hours, AED 20 surcharge from the airport | Ladies and family taxis, plus Air Arabia coaches to other emirates |
| RKT | Metered local taxis | Many Ras Al Khaimah visitors fly into DXB or SHJ instead |
| FJR | Metered taxis outside arrivals | Few flights, so confirm your schedule early |
Sources: Dubai Airports, DWC transport and Sharjah Airport, checked October 2026.
A taxi is fine for one person with a cabin bag going a few kilometres. Once you have children, four or more large cases, or a drive into another emirate, a booked car with a fixed fare is the calmer choice. The taxi vs private transfer guide runs through the trade-offs.
How a private airport pickup works
- Send your pickup airport, drop-off address, date, flight number, passengers and suitcases on WhatsApp, or use the quote form.
- We reply with a fixed fare for the car that fits your group.
- We track the flight, so an early or late landing moves the pickup with it.
- Your driver waits in arrivals with your name on a board, with 60 minutes of free waiting.
- The driver takes your bags to the car. At DXB that means a short walk to the terminal car park.
If you want extra help inside the terminal, see airport meet and greet.
Cars, child seats and tolls
Choose the car by luggage, then by headcount. Four adults with four large cases will not fit a sedan with any comfort: book an SUV or a van.
Child seats are available on request. UAE rules require a child seat for children under four, and our child car seat guide covers the front-seat rule too. Tell us the child’s age when you book.
Dubai charges road tolls through Salik gates and Abu Dhabi through Darb. If your drive crosses them, the quote shows how they’re handled, and the Salik and Darb guide explains both systems.
