Dubai (DXB) Stopover Tips

[AFF Editor]

This thread is a place to share tips and recommendations for stopovers at Dubai International Airport (DXB) in the United Arab Emirates. You can discuss things like:

• How to get from the airport to the city
• Things to do (both near the airport and in the city)
• Where to stay/hotel recommendations (both near the airport and in the city)
• Your favourite DXB airport lounges
• Airport facilities such as luggage storage and showers
  
• Any other destination-specific tips or "hidden gems" you've discovered that could be useful for someone stopping over

Do you have a great tip that other travellers might find useful when stopping over in Dubai? Add your suggestions to this thread, and your advice could make it into an AFF Stopover Guide article!

Update: Read the AFF guide here - The Ultimate Dubai Stopover Guide

 

[ramboflyer]

Looking forward to reading some tips here. Mrs ramboflyer and I have about 13 hour layover (daytime) next August in Dubai and will be using the time to take a quick look around.

Will be leaving our luggage at the airport and see if we can use the airport transfers provided by Emirates (J seats). I dont know if we can because we wont have an address to take us to in the city.

 

[RooFlyer]

Unlike Doha, there is a lot to do in Dubai, either on a stay or just a day.

The Metro is a good way to get around, including from the airport. But if your destination is a bit away from a station, consider either a taxi direct or from the station, as Dubai of course can be very hot & humid.

A trip report here. Top things in a day for me were the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall (with aquarium), with fountains show adjacent. The 'Creek' area and the old fort is worth a stroll through.

I haven't done it, but if staying overnight then a tour trip into the desert comes recommended.

 

[philelltt]

We've used the metro to and from the airport and chosen apartment accommodation near the metro stop. That has worked well. We used Baity Apartments as they are huge and well priced. Taxi to the airport is easy and cheap. Be careful about taxi from the airport as you might be directed towards a luxury taxi rather than the normal ones. The fee for using taxis departing the airport is rather high. 20Dirhams.

 

[Milboo]

Have stayed down at Jumeriah Beach Resort area - at the Movenpick and it was a great hotel and location. Easy walk to the metro, and about 20 min ride to Dubai downtown.

Highly recommend a desert safari - thanks to recommendation here we went with Platinum Heritage and had a great time.

 

[kelvedon]

Does anyone have any experience with the airport hotel in T3 at Dubai.? I’m flying EK J with a 9 hour layover from midnight. I don’t think the Dubai Connect will stick, as whilst it appears in the QF MMB as an option, it doesn’t in the EK MMB.

 

[JohnM]

One of my favourite things to do on an overnight stopover in Dubai is to head out to the Jumeirah Beach Hotel for dinner at the outdoor restaurant near the beach at the end closest to the Burj Al Arab. Sitting there slurping a wine or two and partaking of (a good) dinner while looking up at the changing light-show on the Burj's sails I find particularly pleasant.

While I have stayed at the Jumeirah Beach many years ago, it is ridiculously expensive and not worth it in IMO. Better to find somewhere reasonably priced and just take a cab there and back for a stroll around and dinner.

This gives the idea:

 

[Pushka]

One of my favourite things to do on an overnight stopover in Dubai is to head out to the Jumeirah Beach Hotel for dinner at the outdoor restaurant near the beach at the end closest to the Burj Al Arab. Sitting there slurping a wine or two and partaking of (a good) dinner while looking up at the changing light-show on the Burj's sails I find particularly pleasant.

While I have stayed at the Jumeirah Beach many years ago, it is ridiculously expensive and not worth it in IMO. Better to find somewhere reasonably priced and just take a cab there and back for a stroll around and dinner.

This gives the idea:

View attachment 141795

Unless it’s mid summer and Ramadan. We did that once - so freakin hot, we sweated through our meal. No alcohol served until 9pm but we were so exhausted by then anyway we left and escaped back to the coolness of the club at our hotel.

Thinking about Ramadan now, if it occurs in mid Summer, just don’t go. We found the restrictions incredibly difficult in the heat. Despite what TA says, there were no shops open to purchase food or drinks in the main shopping centres - not even water. The place is literally devoid of social interaction other than tourists during the day. At sunset which is quite late, it does come alive but we were too exhausted from heat and dehydration by then. The IC was so deserted we were upgraded to a suite that occupied half the floor. The Club was divided by a large barrier behind which we were allowed to eat and drink.

Dubai in December was fabulous.

 

[kelvedon]

Thanks for that advice but I arrive at midnight and depart at 9.30 am so that’s a bit late in the evening to dine. I’m just looking for somewhere to sleep for a few hours and wondered if anyone had experience of the airport hotel in T3. I’m flying J but, as I mentioned before, I don’t think I’m entitled to the “ Dubai connect” hotel offer as although it’s in my QFF MMB it’s not showing up on my EK MMB.

 

[get me outta here]

If arriving in DXB as a solo woman, get in a 'pink' taxi. Although my female driver was a hoot, she was so aggressive that I worried that I was going to make it to my accommodation.

 

[justinbrett]

I lived in the UAE for a year a couple of years ago.

If you leave the airport and want breakfast, I can’t recommend “Jones the grocer” more highly. Originally an Australian chain, it went bankrupt here but is doing very well over there. The quality of the food and the coffee is outstanding. No pork, but that’s fairly standard. They have a few restaurants in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

 

[danmancs]

Note that the Emirates lounge does not have the same family friendly policy as Qantas lounges do, even when flying as a QFF gold member on a QF coded emirates flight. I had a long 'discussion' regarding what I should do with my 6 year old son at 3am for our 7 hour layover, if only my wife and I could go into the lounge. Ended up paying AUD 75 to get him in the lounge, which we had to negotiate because their system works in 4 hour blocks, and because I was on a QFF no, was considered a non-skywards member, so by their system should have been around AUD 200. Lounge access was one of the main reasons I booked the trip on a QF ticket, but clearly it's not really a 'partnership' between Emirates and Qantas, and pretty poor considering QF don't have a lounge in Dubai.

 

[Pushka]

Note that the Emirates lounge does not have the same family friendly policy as Qantas lounges do, even when flying as a QFF gold member on a QF coded emirates flight. I had a long 'discussion' regarding what I should do with my 6 year old son at 3am for our 7 hour layover, if only my wife and I could go into the lounge. Ended up paying AUD 75 to get him in the lounge, which we had to negotiate because their system works in 4 hour blocks, and because I was on a QFF no, was considered a non-skywards member, so by their system should have been around AUD 200. Lounge access was one of the main reasons I booked the trip on a QF ticket, but clearly it's not really a 'partnership' between Emirates and Qantas, and pretty poor considering QF don't have a lounge in Dubai.

QF no longer fly into Dubai do they?

 

[Annie48]

Thanks for that advice but I arrive at midnight and depart at 9.30 am so that’s a bit late in the evening to dine. I’m just looking for somewhere to sleep for a few hours and wondered if anyone had experience of the airport hotel in T3. I’m flying J but, as I mentioned before, I don’t think I’m entitled to the “ Dubai connect” hotel offer as although it’s in my QFF MMB it’s not showing up on my EK MMB.

We have used Dubai International Airport x 2 in the last 2 years, it’s is a great place to spend time, rooms are so quiet you would never know you are in an airport. If you choose an executive room you get a meet and greet at the gate, food and drinks included in the price.

 

[robinsparkles]

'Old Dubai' is worth a visit as it's not too far from the airport as are the Souks (open air market), ride an Abra across the Creek for approximately 30 Aussie Cents.
Try some Karak tea (strong Indian tea which is loved across the UAE and mistaken for Emirati tea).
Dubai Mall for great views of Burj Khalifa with the water fountain show in the evening.

 

[kelvedon]

An update on the Dubai International Hotel in Terminal 3 (airside). On their website they only seem to quote overnight rates, but if you book through loungebuddy you can select the room in 6 hour blocks.

 

[Pushka]

An update on the Dubai International Hotel in Terminal 3 (airside). On their website they only seem to quote overnight rates, but if you book through loungebuddy you can select the room in 6 hour blocks.

I was going to ask about this. We have an 8 hour break and don’t really want to go into Dubai as we’ve been there a few times. I booked RJ which sadly means no EK F lounge for us as WP and they don’t do arrivals access I was thinking booking into this place for 6 hours, hoping for a gym and nice areas. Do you have any experience?

 

[kelvedon]

Didn’t use any facilities just slept, but there is a spa there I think. The hotels are in terminal 3 ( Emirates flights only I think) in concourse A & B . C concourse hotel is currently closed.

 

[perthjay85]

Hey everyone, it has been a while since I have been here due to work.
Next month we have a stopover in Dubai from 13:10 until 03:30 the next day.

We do have the option of taking up Emirates Chauffeur-drive from and back to the airport. We were thinking about taking the Chauffeur-drive from the airport to the Burj Khalifa, then walking across to the Dubai mall & Aquarium for a few hours. Then catching the Chauffeur-drive back to the airport to get a few hours sleep before our flight to Singapore.

I was wondering if anyone that has stayed at the Burj Khalifa would be able to let us know how chaotic the lobby area is so that we will be able to find the driver for our return trip.

I understand the taxi system in Dubai is pretty good so we always have that as a fallback option available to us.

Cheers,
Jay.

 

[Pushka]

Hey everyone, it has been a while since I have been here due to work.
Next month we have a stopover in Dubai from 13:10 until 03:30 the next day.

We do have the option of taking up Emirates Chauffeur-drive from and back to the airport. We were thinking about taking the Chauffeur-drive from the airport to the Burj Khalifa, then walking across to the Dubai mall & Aquarium for a few hours. Then catching the Chauffeur-drive back to the airport to get a few hours sleep before our flight to Singapore.

I was wondering if anyone that has stayed at the Burj Khalifa would be able to let us know how chaotic the lobby area is so that we will be able to find the driver for our return trip.

I understand the taxi system in Dubai is pretty good so we always have that as a fallback option available to us.

Cheers,
Jay.

There are meeting places outside the shopping mall where they would collect you. We’ve always found people pretty helpful. Taxis are easy too but avoid the cross over times when shift changes occur. That is usually around 2-3.30pm but there’s bound to be an evening change as well.