Dubai International was the world’s 20th-busiest airport in 2008 measured by passenger throughput, handling 34 million flyers. The airport opened a new Terminal in 2008 and will open a facility for the A380 superjumbo this year (2009). Dubai is one of the world’s great shopping centres and DIA boasts 5,400 square metres of retail. Emirates, the Dubai-based carrier, has a hub there.
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<div class="rxbodyfield">Transfer between the terminals takes about 10 minutes using the airport shuttle service. The Terminal 1 Departures concourse (Sheikh Rashid Terminal) is linked to Terminal 1 via a tunnel with travelators. Terminal 2 is used exclusively for business and charter flights.</div>
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Road: Taxi: Prepaid taxis to the city centre are available 24 hours a day in the Terminal 1 Arrivals hall. Limousine: Limousine hire can be arranged in the Arrivals hall (journey time to the city centre: 10 minutes). Bus: A bus service runs to the city centre. Bus stations are situated opposite both Terminal 1 and 2. Local buses nos.4, 11, 15, 33 and 44 connect with Terminal 1, while bus no.2 connects with Terminal 2. Dubai International Airport Buses provide air-conditioned transport into the city centre and over 80 hotels.
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Both short-term (Car Park A) and long-term (Car Park B) parking facilities are available.
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Money and communications: The airport has banking services and ATMs in both terminals. There are 24-hour bureaux de change facilities near gates 8, 18 and 22 and a 24-hour post office near gate 18 on the Sheikh Rashid Departures concourse. Dubai Duty Free (website:
www.dubaidutyfree.com) also offers foreign exchange, banking and Internet facilities.
Eating and drinking: There are some 25 restaurants, cafés and bars in the Sheikh Rashid Departures concourse. The Food Court is located on the upper level, between gates 13 and 15, with outlets including fast food and international cuisine. An Irish Village is located near gate 23. There are also restaurants in Terminal 2.
Shopping: There is comprehensive duty-free shopping at the airport. Dubai Duty Free has a massive array on offer at the Terminal 1 Sheikh Rashid Departures concourse and the ground level of the Departures hall, while Terminal 2 has a special bulk purchasing desk.
Luggage: There is a baggage relocation system in place, which electronically tags each piece of luggage, in order to make retrieval of lost luggage faster and easier.
Other facilities: There is a 24-hour fully-equipped medical centre, located on the ground level of the Terminal 1 Sheikh Rashid Departures concourse, near gate 13 (tel: +971 (0)4 216 4950). There are also prayer rooms (for either men or women), a lounge for women, a children’s play area and the the G-Force Health Club (tel: +971 (0)4 216 4257) with a swimming pool, gym and massage facilities.
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The Dubai International Airport Hotel (tel: +971 (0)4 216 4300 or 4289), a five-star facility, is located on level three of the Sheikh Rashid Departures concourse; rooms are available on a nightly and hourly base. There are many hotels situation in the vicinity, the closest being Holiday Inn Dubai
, Golden Tulip Aeroplane
, Rimal Rotana Suites
, InterContinental Dubai
, Le Meridien Hotel Dubai
, Sheraton Diera Hotel, Taj Palace Dubai, Four Points Bur Dubai, Sheraton Dubai Hotel, Ramada Dubai and Marriott JW Dubai. Many hotels offer courtesy shuttle buses to/from the airport. Hotel reservations can be made in the Arrivals hall.
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There are desks dedicated to passengers with special needs between rows A and B in the Departures hall. Electric carts are available to transport passengers to/from the new Sheikh Rashid Departures concourse, where disabled passengers can access special lounges near gates 9 and 22; a dedicated lounge for disabled travellers is also available in the Arrivals hall. Assistance is available for those with special needs; passengers should request special assistance from their airline prior to travel. Rooms for disabled passengers are available in the Dubai International Airport Hotel.
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There are two business centres within the Terminal 1 Sheikh Rashid Departures concourse. The Connect Business Centre (tel: +971 (0)4 216 4278), in the Dubai International Airport Hotel, has five meeting rooms, accommodating from six to 18 delegates, and a conference room for up to 60 delegates. There is also a first-rate communications system, eight workstations, and secretarial and office services facilities. Global Link, near gate 16, has six ISD booths, workstations with internet and fax, and secretarial services around the clock. Touch-screen Internet kiosks, which take credit card payments, are located opposite the DCA First Class Lounge (gate 9) and the Irish Village (see above). There are several first- and business-class lounges, many with workstations and internet access, in both Terminal 1 and 2. VVIP and VIP lounges, with private offices and showers, are available for passengers using the Am Majilis facility, which must be booked 24 hours in advance (via the airport’s website).
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