DWC to DXB: Transferring Between Dubai's Two Airports
Dubai’s two airports anchor opposite ends of the city: DXB by the historic centre and the Creek, DWC out past Jebel Ali in Dubai South. Budget itineraries increasingly split across them, landing at one and departing from the other, and the transfer between the two is a real journey of 60 to 70 kilometres. Below: the road, the rail-and-bus route, and the timing arithmetic.
By taxi or car
A taxi is the direct answer: roughly 40 to 60 minutes terminal to terminal in normal traffic on the E311 or E611, longer in the peaks. Dubai Taxi Company serves both airports from signposted ranks, bookable through the Bolt app, and the fare for the full crossing runs well into three figures in dirhams. Private transfer operators cover the route at fixed prices, worth comparing for families with luggage.
By metro and bus
The public route works, with one change and patience. From DWC, the F55 bus reaches the Expo City metro station about every 30 minutes; the Red Line’s Route 2020 branch then runs the length of the city to the DXB Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 stations. The N55 to Ibn Battuta joins the same Red Line further north. Either way, allow two hours or more door to door and carry a Nol card, since the buses take no cash. With heavy luggage, the taxi earns its fare.
The timing question
Airlines do not through-check baggage between unconnected tickets, and the two airports share nothing but an owner. On separate bookings, collect bags, clear arrivals, cross the city and check in again: four hours between flights is a sensible minimum by taxi, and more by bus and metro or at rush hour. When a tight turnaround is unavoidable, sleeping at the second airport the night before beats gambling: the DWC hotels in this guide put the morning departure a shuttle ride away, and the sleeping-at-DWC guide covers the overnight options in detail.
DWC is also the airport Dubai is building its future around, with a phased expansion meant to take over DXB’s traffic in the 2030s, so this transfer question will only grow more common; for now, plan it like an intercity trip rather than a terminal change.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far apart are DWC and DXB?
About 60 to 70 kilometres by road, diagonally across the whole city. A taxi takes roughly 40 to 60 minutes in normal traffic and longer at peak times.
Can I transfer between DWC and DXB by public transport?
Yes, with a change: the F55 bus from DWC to the Expo City metro station, then the Red Line to the DXB Terminal 1 or Terminal 3 stations, or the N55 to Ibn Battuta and the Red Line from there. Allow two hours or more door to door, with a Nol card for the fares.
How much time should I leave between flights on separate tickets?
Treat the two airports as different cities. With bags to collect and re-check, four hours is a sensible minimum by taxi and more by public transport; separate tickets mean no protection if the first flight is late.
Information last verified: August 29, 2026