Line🔴 Red Line
Station IDR13
ZoneZone 1
Operating Hours05:00–00:00
Nol ZoneZone 1
Accessibility♿ Full Access
Status
Terminal 3 Metro Station platform
Airport Terminal 3 Metro Station, Dubai
Airport Terminal 3 station entrance

About Airport Terminal 3 Metro Station

Airport Terminal 3 Metro Station (R13) is the dedicated underground station serving Emirates Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport (DXB), positioned on the Red Line in Nol Zone 1. This is the primary metro gateway to Dubai's main aviation hub, with the station sitting directly beneath the terminal building and providing a fully covered route between the train platform and both the arrivals and departures halls. Concourses A, B, and C — the three departure wings of Terminal 3 — are all accessible through the underground walkway without stepping outside at any point.

Terminal 3 Metro Station opened in September 2009 as part of the inaugural Dubai Metro Red Line launch, making it one of the first airport-integrated urban metro stations in the Middle East. Dubai International Airport serves approximately 86 million passengers annually, ranking it consistently among the world's busiest airports for international traffic. The metro connection at Terminal 3 was designed to reduce private vehicle demand on Airport Road (E11) and handles a substantial proportion of the airport's surface access — particularly for journeys toward Downtown Dubai, BurJuman, and the Business Bay corridor.

The station sits in the Al Garhoud district of eastern Dubai, directly beneath the terminal building off Airport Road (E11). Terminal 3 spans over 1.7 million square metres, housing Emirates airline operations across three concourses. The station entrance is accessible from the terminal's ground floor arrivals area, with clear blue-and-gold RTA metro signage visible from the baggage reclaim hall. The Emirates Group Headquarters building is visible from the airport access roads approximately 500 metres north of the terminal.

From airport terminal 3 metro station, you can reach Downtown Dubai (Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Station) in approximately 20 minutes, BurJuman interchange in roughly 28 minutes, Mall of the Emirates in about 35 minutes, and DMCC/Jumeirah Lakes Towers in approximately 45 minutes. One stop toward the city centre brings you to Airport Terminal 1 (R14) in just 3–4 minutes, useful for inter-terminal transfers without a shuttle bus. An airport surcharge of AED 5.00 (Silver) / AED 10.00 (Gold) is added automatically to all journeys at this station on top of the standard zone fare.

The station serves a broad mix of travellers — arriving and departing airline passengers, airport and airline staff, transit hotel guests, and business travellers heading to DIFC and the financial district. The dxb t3 metro route is the most cost-effective way into the city: a Silver Nol journey to Downtown costs approximately AED 8.00 including the surcharge, compared to AED 50–70 by taxi during peak hours. For first-time visitors, the key tip is to download the RTA Dubai app before landing — it shows live metro times and Nol Card balance in one place. Note that the metro does not run until 10:00 on Fridays, so book a taxi or ride-hail in advance for early Friday morning flights.

Opened
September 2009
Platform Type
Underground
Platform Doors
Yes
Gold Class
Yes (Car 1)
Women & Children Car
Yes (Car 3)

About Al Garhoud — Airport Terminal 3 Metro Area

Al Garhoud is an established mixed-use district in eastern Dubai, positioned directly south and east of Dubai International Airport. The area contains a blend of residential apartment buildings, villa compounds, mid-range hotels catering to airport travellers, and light commercial strips. Airport Road (E11) and Al Garhoud Road (D89) are the two main arteries that define the neighbourhood, both experiencing heavy traffic during peak flight arrival and departure windows.

Al Garhoud is known to visitors as the location of Festival City Mall, IKEA Dubai, and Dubai Tennis Stadium — all within approximately 2 kilometres of the airport perimeter. The neighbourhood primarily serves aviation industry workers, hotel guests, and residents of the surrounding compounds. Hamarain Centre, a long-established retail mall, is accessible via GGICO Metro Station (R15), one stop from airport terminal 3 metro station toward Deira. Creek Park and the Garhoud Bridge, which crosses Dubai Creek, lie around 2 kilometres south, connecting Al Garhoud to Bur Dubai.

For travellers using the terminal 3 metro station as their entry point to Dubai, Al Garhoud offers practical value. Several business-class hotels on Airport Road sit within 10–15 minutes on foot from the terminal — convenient for early departures or late arrivals that do not warrant a longer city commute. A Carrefour Express on Airport Road is open until midnight, stocking essentials for transit travellers. Taxi ranks and ride-hail pick-up points operate 24 hours from the terminal's ground floor landside area for connections beyond the metro network.

Red Line — Nearby Stations

Adjacent stations on the line.

 Centrepoint R11 Visit →
Emirates R12 Visit →
Airport Terminal 3 R13 ← You are here
Airport Terminal 1 R14 Visit →
GGICO R15 Visit →

Nearby Places

All places are inside Dubai International Airport Terminal 3. Duty Free and lounges are airside (after security).

🍔

Hard Rock Cafe Dubai Airport

Concourse B, Gate 25 · American cuisine · Open 24 hours · Airside

A music-themed American chain restaurant located airside in Concourse B near Gate 25, serving burgers, ribs, and sandwiches around the clock. The airport branch is open 24 hours, making it a reliable option during long layovers or late-night transits. Access requires passing through departure security — allow extra time. Rock memorabilia decorates the interior throughout.

★ 4.7 Airside · T3
🛍

Dubai Duty Free

Departures Terminal 3 · Perfumes, electronics, alcohol, chocolates · Open 24 hours · Airside

One of the world's largest airport retailers, operating across multiple concourses at Terminal 3 with sections dedicated to perfumes, electronics, gold jewellery, spirits, and confectionery. All stores are airside and open 24 hours every day. The Finest Surprise lottery — available at checkout — offers shoppers a chance to win luxury cars and large cash prizes with eligible purchases.

★ 4.5 Airside · T3
🏨

Hotel DXB (Dubai International Hotel)

Inside Terminal 3, Concourses A, B & C · Transit hotel, book by the hour · Open 24 hours

A transit hotel located within the terminal itself, with rooms across Concourses A, B, and C — no airside exit required for transit passengers. Rooms are bookable by the hour (minimum 2 hours) or overnight, ideal for long layovers. Facilities include a swimming pool, gym, and spa. The 24-hour front desk is accessible from both the arrivals level and airside.

★ 4.4 Inside T3
🛋

Plaza Premium Lounge

Concourse A, Gates A2–A3 · Pay-per-use lounge, food, showers · Open 24 hours · Airside

A pay-per-use lounge on Concourse A near Gates A2–A3, open to all passengers regardless of airline or ticket class for an hourly access fee. The lounge provides hot and cold buffet food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, Wi-Fi, and private shower rooms. Open 24 hours. Booking in advance through the Plaza Premium website secures lower rates than walk-in pricing at the door.

★ 4.8 Airside · T3

How to Get to Terminal 3 Metro Station from the Dubai Metro

Follow these four steps to move between the metro and the airport terminal without confusion. The entire process from train to arrivals hall takes under 10 minutes.

  1. Exit the Red Line train at Terminal 3 Metro Station. Doors open on both sides — check the overhead platform signs to confirm you are at the right station before the doors close. The platform is underground and fully air-conditioned.

  2. Tap your Silver or Gold Nol Card at the exit gates. An RTA airport surcharge of AED 5.00 is added automatically to your journey when boarding or alighting at either airport metro station. This is charged once per trip, not per gate tap.

  3. An air-conditioned underground walkway connects the metro station directly to Terminal 3's arrivals and departures halls. Follow the clearly marked signs for "Terminal 3". No outdoor walking is required at any point.

  4. The underground walkway takes approximately 4–6 minutes on foot. Moving walkways and elevators are available throughout. If travelling with heavy luggage use the elevators — they are located at both ends of the walkway and beside every set of gates.

Important for departing passengers: Allow at least 3 hours before international flights and 2 hours before domestic flights. Factor in metro travel time plus check-in, immigration, and security. During peak hours (06:00–09:00 and 17:00–20:00) trains run every 3–4 minutes. The metro saves AED 40–70 compared to an airport taxi for most journeys.

Getting There

🚇

By Metro

Red Line, Station R13. Hours: 05:00–00:00 (Mon–Thu, Sat–Sun); 10:00–01:00 (Friday).

Red Line R13
🚌

By Bus

RTA Airport Express bus routes connect Terminal 3 to key metro interchanges across Dubai. Route X25 runs between Terminal 3 and Union Metro Station (Red/Green Line interchange in Deira), serving Al Garhoud and Deira City Centre along the way, with departures approximately every 30–40 minutes and 24-hour service. Route X23 connects Terminal 3 to Centrepoint (Rashidiya) Metro Station at the eastern terminus of the Red Line. Both routes are air-conditioned and accommodate standard luggage. Bus stops are located on the ground floor of Terminal 3's landside arrivals area.

X25X23Airport Express
🚕

By Taxi / Ride-Hail

RTA metered taxis operate from the dedicated taxi rank on the ground floor of Terminal 3 arrivals, 24 hours a day. Careem and Uber pick-up points are designated in the landside area — use the app to confirm the exact meeting point before arrival. Taxis to Downtown Dubai cost approximately AED 50–70 depending on traffic, compared to approximately AED 8.00 by metro with the Silver Nol Card. During rush hours (07:00–09:00 and 17:00–20:00) the metro is significantly faster than road transport on Airport Road.

Walking Distances from Station

Direct
Terminal 3 Arrivals & Departures
Underground walkway · Landside
Airside
Dubai Duty Free
After security · Open 24 hrs
Airside
Hard Rock Cafe · Concourse B
After security · Gate 25
Inside
Hotel DXB (Dubai International Hotel)
Transit hotel · Book by the hour
~2 min
Airport Taxi Rank
Landside · Ground floor T3

Nol Card Fares from Terminal 3 Metro Station — Zone 1

Terminal 3 Metro Station is in Zone 1 of the Dubai Metro fare system. Your fare depends on how many zones your journey crosses. All fares from this station include the RTA airport surcharge of AED 5.00 automatically added on top of the standard zone fare. The table below shows Silver and Gold Nol Card fares to the most common destinations from this station.

Destination Metro Station Silver Nol Card Gold Nol Card
Airport Terminal 1Terminal 1 (R14)AED 8.00AED 11.00
Deira / Al RiggaAl Rigga (R11)AED 8.00AED 11.00
BurJuman (Red/Green interchange)BurJuman (R20)AED 8.00AED 11.00
Downtown Dubai / Burj KhalifaBurj Khalifa/Dubai Mall (R23)AED 8.00AED 11.00
Mall of the EmiratesMall of the Emirates (R25)AED 10.00AED 15.00
Jumeirah Lakes TowersDMCC (R27)AED 10.00AED 15.00
Expo City DubaiExpo 2020 (R35)AED 11.50AED 18.00

Fares shown are for Nol Card holders. Red Paper Tickets cost approximately 50% more per journey. Children under 5 travel free. A daily spending cap of AED 20 (Silver) and AED 40 (Gold) protects frequent travellers — once you hit the cap all further journeys that day are free. The airport surcharge counts toward your daily cap total.

Best value: A Silver Nol Card costs AED 25 total (AED 6 card fee + AED 19 travel credit) and is available at every metro station vending machine. It works on all RTA transport including metro, bus, tram, and water bus. For stays of 5 or more days it saves significantly over paper tickets.

✦ Visitor Tips

Practical advice for using this station.

💳

Use a Nol Card

Top up your Nol Card at station vending machines (cash or card accepted). Zone 1 applies here — AED 3.00 (Silver) / AED 6.00 (Gold) per single journey. A daily fare cap protects frequent travellers.

✈️

Airport Surcharge Applies

An RTA airport surcharge of AED 5.00 is added automatically when boarding or alighting at either airport metro station, on top of the standard zone fare.

🕐

Operating Hours

Metro runs 05:00–00:00 Monday–Thursday and Saturday–Sunday. On Fridays the service starts late: 10:00–01:00. Plan accordingly for early Friday mornings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Take the Red Line to Terminal 3 Metro Station (R13). The station is underground and connected directly to Emirates Terminal 3 via a covered, air-conditioned walkway. From Downtown Dubai (Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Station), the journey takes approximately 20 minutes.
Terminal 3 Metro Station runs 05:00–00:00 (midnight) Monday to Thursday and Saturday–Sunday. On Fridays, service starts at 10:00 and ends at 01:00. This is critical for travellers: if your flight departs early on a Friday morning, the metro will not be running — use an airport taxi or Careem/Uber instead.
Yes. An airport surcharge of AED 5.00 (Silver Nol) or AED 10.00 (Gold) is automatically added for all journeys that include Terminal 3 (R13) or Terminal 1 (R14). This is on top of the standard zone fare and is charged only once per journey.
Terminal 3 Metro Station (R13) on the Red Line is the nearest — and directly connected — metro station. It sits underground beneath the terminal building. The next closest is Terminal 1 Station (R14), one stop away, approximately 2 minutes by train.
Take the Red Line from Terminal 3 (R13) toward UAE Exchange and ride to BurJuman Station (R29/G12), which is a Red and Green Line interchange. The journey takes around 25–30 minutes and costs approximately AED 8.00 (Silver) including the airport surcharge.
Terminal 3 Metro Station has multiple exits. Check the exit map displayed at the top of the stairs inside the station, or use the RTA Dubai app which shows numbered exit locations on a map. The app will suggest the exit closest to your specific destination. If in doubt, station staff near the gates can advise on the quickest route out.
Yes, passengers are permitted to bring personal luggage including standard suitcases on the Dubai Metro. Each train has designated luggage areas near the doors. Large or oversized items are not allowed during peak hours (06:00–09:00 and 17:00–20:00 on weekdays). Terminal 3 Metro Station has elevators and wide corridors making it suitable for passengers with luggage. Keep bags out of the aisles and do not place them on seats.
The RTA Nol Card daily cap is AED 20 for Silver Card holders and AED 40 for Gold Card holders. Once your spending reaches the cap in a single calendar day all further metro journeys that day are free. The cap resets at midnight. This makes the Nol Card excellent value for people making multiple trips in one day. The cap applies to metro, bus, tram, and water bus journeys combined. You can check your current day spend in the RTA Dubai app or at any ticket machine.
An RTA airport surcharge of AED 5.00 is automatically added to your Nol Card fare when you board or alight at either Dubai International Airport metro station (Terminal 1 or Terminal 3). The surcharge is charged once per trip, not per gate tap. It is added on top of your standard zone fare. The surcharge applies to all Nol Card types including Silver, Gold, and the Blue daily ticket.
Yes. Terminal 1 (Station R14) and Terminal 3 (Station R13) are directly connected by the Red Line — they are adjacent stations, one stop apart. The journey takes approximately 3–4 minutes and costs AED 3.00 with a Silver Nol Card (plus the AED 5.00 airport surcharge). This inter-terminal metro connection is the fastest way to transfer between terminals, significantly quicker than the airport shuttle bus during busy periods.