Dubai has two world-class airports, Dubai International Airport (DXB) and the newer Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) in Dubai South, which is scheduled to become the world's largest airport – five times the size of DXB handling 260 million passengers per year.

The UAE shares land borders with Saudi Arabia and Oman, and residents of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries can drive between them with few formalities. Visitors from outside the GCC need a valid UAE visa when entering the country by land, so please plan accordingly.

Cruise tourism in Dubai is thriving thanks to the Dubai Cruise Terminal, located at Mina Rashid and Dubai Harbour at Dubai Marina. These luxurious ports have onsite tour operators, shuttle buses to sights like Dubai Mall, restaurants and minimarts.

The Metro has two convenient lines – Red and Green – that run from Dubai International Airport (DXB) and through the busiest areas of the city. It is the world’s largest driverless train system, offering comfortable seating and affordable prices, and is fully air-conditioned.

There are plenty of ways to travel around the city by water. Options range from the affordable AED1 wooden abra at Dubai Creek to convenient RTA water taxis and the Dubai Ferry which operates in neighbourhoods like Jumeirah and Dubai Marina.

You can rent a car online or at the airport, a shopping mall or a hotel. There’s also an option of short-term self-drive rental services such as Udrive or eKar in Dubai. To rent a car, you must have an international driving licence or hold a permit from eligible regions and knowledge about local traffic laws.

One of the few public transport systems in Dubai which doesn't use nol cards, the Palm Monorail runs from Al Sufouh Road to Atlantis, The Palm, with stops at many of Palm Jumeirah's most popular attractions, making it a convenient and fun way to explore the island.

Taxis

A range of Dubai taxi services from the RTA are available to grab almost everywhere around the city, or you can order one by phone or via a ride-hailing app such as Careem or Uber. Airport taxis start from AED25 ($6.80), with clear signs pointing you towards the official pick-up area in any terminal.

Dubai Bus

Buses in Dubai run 24 hours a day and are a low-cost option to explore the city. You can hop on a bus at all of Dubai's airport terminals, with routes intersecting every major neighbourhood. Buses only accept payment via nol card, so make sure you have a card with credit on it.

Dubai Tram

The city's tram network operates around the Dubai Marina neighourhood and along Al Sufouh Road, providing a convenient link between Dubai Metro and other locations including Palm Jumeirah via its monorail.

Bicycles

Cycling is a healthy way to get a different perspective on both the city and the desert. Nextbike, Byky and Trek Bikes are popular companies to rent cycles from, while Careem BIKE is the first large-scale bike-sharing initiative in the region.

E-scooter

Motorised scooters and e-scooters are becoming increasingly popular in neighbourhoods across Dubai, including Downtown Dubai and Jumeirah Lakes Towers. To unlock a scooter near you, download a licensed operator’s smartphone app – Careem, Tier, Skurtt, Arnab or Lime – available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

The busiest international air hub in the world, Dubai International Airport (DXB) offers plenty of entertaining pre-flight distractions.

Dubai's public transport system covers the whole city and beyond – learn how you can use it to get around during your visit.

Break up your trip across the world, and turn your journey into a mini-holiday in Dubai – the city is the perfect stopover destination.

From arrival to accommodation and attractions, find a range of helpful information for people of determination travelling to Dubai.