When you land at Dubai International (DXB), you walk from the aircraft to immigration, clear passport control at a staffed counter or a smart gate, collect your bags, pass through customs and exit into your terminal’s arrivals hall. A Dubai airport meet and greet service puts a greeter at your side for that whole journey, usually with fast-track immigration and help with luggage, so the arrival is quicker and far less stressful. This guide explains each terminal, every arrival step and who benefits most from assistance.
DXB’s three terminals work almost like separate airports. Knowing your terminal before you land helps you plan where your driver or greeter should wait and how you will travel onwards. The table below reflects Dubai Airports’ airline directory at the time of writing (October 2026).
| Terminal | Example airlines | Metro station |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 (including D Gates) | British Airways, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Air India, Gulf Air, Oman Air, Kuwait Airways and many other international carriers | Yes (Red Line) |
| Terminal 2 (F Gates) | flydubai (most flights), Wizz Air, Transavia, SalamAir, Air India Express, Iraqi Airways and other regional carriers | No |
| Terminal 3 (A, B and C Gates) | Emirates, selected flydubai flights, United, Air Canada | Yes (Red Line) |
Terminal allocations can change, so always confirm the terminal on your ticket, with your airline or on the Dubai Airports website a day or two before you fly.
Terminal 3 is Emirates’ home and is very large. If your aircraft parks at A Gates, you take a short airport train to reach the main building before immigration. Expect long walks after a long-haul flight.
Terminal 1 handles most international airlines that are not Emirates. Flights arriving at D Gates are linked to the main terminal by an airport train. Terminal 2 is smaller and sits on the opposite side of the airfield; it is reached by road only, so plan a taxi or pre-booked transfer rather than the metro.
Before you fly, check that you have the correct entry permission for your nationality. Visa rules depend on your passport and purpose of travel and change from time to time, so confirm with your airline or the official UAE and Dubai immigration authorities rather than relying on older blog posts.
According to GDRFA Dubai guidance, smart gates can be used by UAE and GCC citizens, UAE residents, eligible visa-on-arrival guests and holders of pre-issued visas. Users must be at least 1.2 metres tall, so young children go through a staffed counter with their parents. In July 2026 Dubai Airports launched a Smart Gates Eligibility Pre-Check with GDRFA Dubai, available through QR codes in the terminals and the airport’s Pocket Flights service, so you can check before you reach passport control.
Belt numbers appear on screens after immigration. If a bag is missing or damaged, report it to your airline’s baggage desk before you leave the hall.
Dubai Customs asks travellers aged 18 or over to declare cash, cheques, precious metals or stones worth more than AED 60,000 (or the equivalent). Some goods, including certain medicines, drones and filming equipment, need prior approval, and items such as narcotics, counterfeit goods and betel leaves (paan) are prohibited. If you take prescription medicine, carry it in your hand luggage with the prescription and check the current rules before travelling.
Dubai International is close to the city, and you have three main options once you are landside.
| Option | Best for | Things to know |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai Metro (Red Line) | Light travellers on a budget | Stations at Terminals 1 and 3 only; up to two pieces of luggage including hand baggage; buy a Nol card at the station |
| Taxi or ride-hailing | Flexible, on-demand travel | Dubai Taxi ranks at every terminal, 24/7; Uber, Careem and Bolt have signed pick-up zones |
| Pre-booked transfer | Families, groups, late arrivals, business travellers | Driver waits for you, tracks your flight and can provide the right size vehicle |
The Red Line runs from both Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 towards the city. At the time of writing, Dubai Airports lists opening from 5am most days (8am on Sundays) until midnight, with later closing on Fridays; hours can be extended on public holidays.
Official Dubai Taxi Company cars wait at designated ranks outside each terminal around the clock. Dubai Airports states that fares from the airport start at AED 25, with the rest charged by distance.
A private airport transfer removes the queue at the rank and lets you book child seats or a larger vehicle in advance. At Terminal 3, Dubai Airports also runs DXB Greet & Go, a dedicated arrivals-hall space for meeting hotels, tour operators and transport providers.
The terms are often used interchangeably, but they describe different levels of help. Exact inclusions depend on the terminal, the provider and the package, so read your confirmation carefully.
Fast track focuses on one thing: a priority lane through passport control. It suits confident, independent travellers who simply want to avoid a long immigration queue, but you collect your bags and find your transport yourself.
Dubai Airports’ own partner service, marhaba, offers meet and greet at Terminals 1 and 3. Independent providers, including AxisLink, arrange meet and assist services through local partners, which can be useful if you also want transfers or multi-airport itineraries handled in one booking.
Depending on your airline and final destination, you may land at a different UAE airport. Abu Dhabi is the main gateway for Etihad, and our assistance pages cover Abu Dhabi airport meet and greet. Sharjah, the base of Air Arabia, is often convenient for Sharjah, Ajman and the northern emirates; see Sharjah airport meet and assist. The arrival process is similar, but terminals, services and transport links differ, so check before you fly.
We arrange Dubai airport meet and greet at all three DXB terminals through vetted local partners. A greeter meets you with a name board, guides you through immigration (with fast track where available), baggage and customs, and hands you over to your driver. Every booking is confirmed in writing with the meeting details.
Our 24/7 operations desk monitors your booking and can add a chauffeur transfer, departure assistance or a DXB fast track service. Travel agents can book for clients through our B2B partner programme, and you can reach us on WhatsApp at +971 54 515 7619.
Prices depend on the terminal, the service level (fast track only, standard meet and greet or a premium package), the number of passengers and whether you add a transfer or lounge. Request a quote with your flight number and party size. Always check exactly what is included, such as porter service and fast-track immigration, before you compare options.
Emirates operates from Terminal 3 at Dubai International, which has three concourses: A, B and C Gates. If you arrive at A Gates, a short airport train takes you to the main terminal building for immigration and baggage reclaim. Some flydubai flights also use Terminal 3, so check your booking if you are connecting between the two airlines.
Many can. GDRFA Dubai guidance lists eligible visa-on-arrival guests and holders of pre-issued visas alongside UAE and GCC citizens and UAE residents. You must be at least 1.2 metres tall. Since July 2026, Dubai Airports has offered a Smart Gates Eligibility Pre-Check through QR codes in the terminals and its Pocket Flights service, so you can confirm before reaching passport control.
No. The Dubai Metro Red Line has stations at Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 only. Terminal 2, used mainly by flydubai and regional airlines, is reached by road. From Terminal 2, take an official taxi from the rank, use a ride-hailing app from the signed pick-up area, or pre-book a private transfer so a driver is waiting when you exit the arrivals hall.
Fast track gives you priority access through immigration, but you handle the rest of the airport on your own. Meet and greet adds a personal greeter who meets you on arrival, escorts you through the terminal and immigration, helps with baggage and customs, and takes you to your driver. Meet and greet suits families, older travellers and first-time visitors; fast track suits confident solo travellers.
Travellers aged 18 or over must declare cash, cheques, precious metals, precious stones and similar valuables worth more than AED 60,000, or the equivalent in other currencies, when arriving in Dubai. You can declare using the red channel at customs or through Dubai Customs’ declaration services. Rules can change, so check the official Dubai Customs guidance shortly before you travel.
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