Dubai International (DXB) Airport Guide: Terminals, Transfers and Tips
Dubai International Airport, Dubai, United Arab Emirates: terminals, getting to the city, security, lounges and connections.
Quick answer: Dubai International has three passenger terminals. Terminal 3 is Emirates' home, with Concourses A, B and C. Terminal 1 handles most other international airlines, with gates in Concourse D. Terminal 2 is a separate building on the other side of the airfield for flydubai and regional flights, with no Metro station. The Dubai Metro Red Line stops at Terminals 1 and 3. US citizens get a visitor visa on arrival, and the US State Department has rated the UAE Level 3, Reconsider Travel, since March 2026.
Facts checked November 2026. Schedules and entry rules change, so confirm with the airline and the official government site before you travel.
DXB at a glance
| Terminal 3 | Emirates, Concourses A, B and C; walk between B and C, train to A |
|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | Most foreign airlines; gates in Concourse D, reached by airport train |
| Terminal 2 | flydubai and regional flights, F gates; separate building, no Metro |
| Emirates to the US | Nonstop or one-stop to 12 US airports as of November 2026 |
| Into the city | Metro Red Line from Terminals 1 and 3; taxis and ride-hailing at arrivals |
| Entry for US citizens | Free visitor visa on arrival (UAE Embassy: up to 90 days); passport valid 6+ months |
| US travel advisory | Level 3, Reconsider Travel, since 3 March 2026 |
Which terminal at Dubai airport?
Terminal 3 belongs to Emirates. It is a huge building with a check-in and arrivals hall and three concourses: A, B and C. Concourse A was built for the Emirates A380, and B and C handle much of the rest of its fleet. The airport's directory also lists Air Canada in Terminal 3, and some flydubai flights use it.
Terminal 1 is used by most other international airlines, such as Qatar Airways and Air India, plus European airlines whose Dubai flights are running. Its gates are in Concourse D, reached from the main Terminal 1 building by a short airport train.
Terminal 2 is on the opposite side of the airfield from Terminals 1 and 3. Its F gates handle flydubai and other regional and charter flights. It has no Metro station, so you get there by taxi or bus. If your booking says Terminal 2, do not go to Terminal 3 by mistake: the drive between them takes time.
During 2026, conflict in the region has led many airlines to cut, reroute or suspend Gulf flights, and terminal assignments have changed with them. Check the terminal on your booking and the airline's flight status the day before you fly.
Flying between Dubai and the US
Emirates is the main airline between Dubai and the United States. In November 2026 its network covers 12 US airports: New York JFK, Newark, Boston, Washington Dulles, Chicago O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston Intercontinental, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Miami and Orlando. Most are daily nonstops. Newark is served via Athens, and one of the JFK flights stops in Milan. On 1 November 2026 Emirates put the Airbus A350-900 on the Orlando route. All Emirates flights use Terminal 3.
United's Newark to Dubai nonstop is off its schedule for the winter, and schedule data points to a restart no earlier than late March 2027, which could still change. Check United's site before you plan around it.
There is no US preclearance at Dubai. Flights to the US clear customs and immigration when they land in the US. The only US preclearance facility in the UAE is at Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport, for flights from there.
Entry rules and the US travel advisory
The US State Department raised its advisory for the UAE to Level 3, Reconsider Travel, on 3 March 2026, citing the threat of armed conflict and terrorism, and it was still Level 3 at its September 2026 update; read the current advisory on travel.state.gov and enroll in STEP before you go.
US citizens with a regular passport get a free visitor visa on arrival in the UAE; the UAE Embassy in Washington says stays of up to 90 days are allowed, so check the current rule before you fly. Your passport should have more than six months of validity left. The UAE does not accept emergency passports for entry.
Most people transferring at DXB on one ticket stay airside and never pass UAE immigration. If you are on separate tickets, you usually have to clear passport control, collect your bags and check in again for the next flight.
Transferring at DXB
If you are connecting, follow the transfer signs. At the transfer desks you can collect a boarding pass for your onward flight if you do not have one. Expect a security screening on the way to the gates.
Inside Terminal 3 you can walk between Concourses B and C, and a short train runs to Concourse A. Terminal 1's Concourse D is also reached by an airport train. For a change between Terminal 3 and Terminal 1, Dubai Airports tells passengers to check the route with their airline or the airport's Guest Experience Ambassadors, and it takes longer than a change within one terminal.
Connections involving Terminal 2 are different, because it is on the far side of the airport. If your onward flight leaves from Terminal 2, allow much more time and ask your airline how the transfer works on your ticket.
On separate tickets, the transfer desk can arrange Marhaba's baggage transfer service, which carries a charge. Otherwise you collect your bags, clear passport control and check in again.
Getting into Dubai
The Dubai Metro Red Line has stations at Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, with trains toward Downtown Dubai, the Burj Khalifa area and Dubai Marina. Dubai Airports lists Metro hours of 5 a.m. to midnight Monday to Thursday and Saturday, 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday, and 8 a.m. to midnight on Sunday, with longer hours on holidays. Buy a Nol card at the ticket offices or machines in Terminals 1 and 3. You may bring at most two pieces of luggage on the Metro, hand luggage included, so families with lots of bags usually take a taxi.
Taxis wait outside the arrivals halls of every terminal, and ride-hailing apps work in Dubai. Terminal 2 has no Metro, so arrivals there use a taxi or bus.
If you are connecting to Dubai World Central (DWC), the city's second airport, you must clear passport control and collect your bags at DXB first, then take a taxi or the Metro to Ibn Battuta station and a dedicated bus to DWC. Allow plenty of time.
Lounges in Terminal 3 and Terminal 1
Emirates runs First and Business Class lounges in Terminal 3, with direct boarding from the lounges in Concourse A. The Concourse C First Class Lounge has been closed for refurbishment since March 2026, and First Class passengers are directed to the Concourse B First Class Lounge instead.
Marhaba lounges, which sell entry to anyone for a set number of hours, are open around the clock in Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 Concourses A and B. The Terminal 3 Concourse C Marhaba lounge closed in June 2026.
Lounges at DXB are busy at night, when many long-haul flights leave. Check the entry rules for your ticket or card before you go.
The move to Dubai World Central
In April 2024 Dubai approved plans for a much larger passenger terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai World Central, and said all DXB operations would move there in the coming years. In September 2026 the head of Dubai Airports said the first major phase is expected in the early 2030s, and that DXB operations will move only once that capacity is ready. For trips in the next few years, DXB stays Dubai's main airport for Emirates and its US flights.
Route guides to Dubai (DXB)
Frequently asked questions
Which terminal is Emirates at Dubai airport?
Terminal 3. Emirates uses Concourses A, B and C there. You walk between B and C and take a short train to A.
What is the difference between DXB Terminal 1, 2 and 3?
Terminal 3 is Emirates. Terminal 1 is for most other international airlines, with gates in Concourse D. Terminal 2 is a separate building for flydubai and regional flights and has no Metro station.
Do US citizens need a visa for Dubai?
Not in advance. US citizens with a regular passport get a free visitor visa on arrival; the UAE Embassy in Washington lists stays of up to 90 days. The passport should be valid for more than six months.
Is there a US travel advisory for the UAE?
Yes. The State Department has rated the UAE Level 3, Reconsider Travel, since 3 March 2026. Check travel.state.gov for the latest version before you book.
Does Dubai have US preclearance?
No. You clear US customs and immigration on arrival in the US. The UAE's only US preclearance facility is in Abu Dhabi.
Does the Dubai Metro go to the airport?
Yes. The Red Line stops at Terminals 1 and 3. Terminal 2 has no Metro station. You may carry at most two pieces of luggage on the Metro.
Which US cities does Emirates fly to from Dubai?
As of November 2026: New York JFK, Newark (via Athens), Boston, Washington Dulles, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Miami and Orlando. Check Emirates for current schedules.
