Dubai Airport – DXB or DWC

Dubai Airport: DXB or DWC?

Dubai has become very popular among tourists in recent years. More and more travellers are choosing Dubai as their holiday destination. This is particularly evident in Poland (and abroad!), where demand for trips to the UAE is growing in travel agencies. Tall skyscrapers, wide sandy beaches, luxury hotels and a variety of attractions attract millions of tourists every year. Customers prefer to choose proven travel agencies, such as Two Continents, where they can book the best attractions in Dubai and accommodation in Dubai in private apartments or budget hotels in one place.

Dubai's airports do not only serve tourist traffic. Dubai International Airport is a huge transfer hub, especially for Emirates, with planes taking off every few minutes to destinations all over the world. Dubai's airport infrastructure is constantly expanding to meet the challenges and handle the crowds of passengers. How many airports does Dubai have? Air transport in Dubai is divided into two airports: Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai Al Maktoum Airport (DWC). How do these airports differ and which one is better to land at?

Dubai International Airport (DXB)

Dubai International Airport (DXB) is the main airport in Dubai and one of the largest airports in the world. DXB is the hub for Emirates, and the airport building itself is one of the largest buildings in the world in terms of floor space. It has three passenger terminals, with Terminal 1 serving all airlines (mainly traditional carriers), Terminal 2 serving mostly low-cost airlines, and Terminal 3 reserved for Emirates.

99% of air traffic in Dubai is handled by Dubai International Airport (DXB). DXB Airport – what connections does it offer? From DXB Airport in Dubai, you can fly to virtually any corner of the world: there are currently 275 destinations in 105 countries worldwide. What amenities are available at DXB Airport? Dubai International Airport is renowned for its modern solutions and amenities for passengers, such as business lounges, airport hotels, duty-free shops and stores selling clothing, electronics, sunglasses and watches, as well as entertainment areas and much, much more.

What is worth knowing before travelling from DXB airport in Dubai? Dubai Airport is a huge transport hub, through which hundreds of thousands of people pass every day. It is worth arriving at the airport earlier than at other airports due to long queues, especially during the tourist season. You don't have to worry about the internet, as DXB Airport has free Wi-Fi, which can be used by all passengers without restrictions.

Dubai Al Maktoum (DWC) – Dubai World Central

Dubai World Central Airport (DWC), also known as Dubai Al Maktoum Airport, is the second airport in Dubai. This huge airport opened in 2010 and began passenger operations in 2013. In the future, it is set to completely replace DXB and become the largest airport in the world, handling up to 250 million passengers a year. At the moment, Dubai Al Maktoum Airport is mainly used for cargo flights and, to a lesser extent, passenger flights. What connections does DWC airport offer? From Dubai Al Maktoum Airport, you can fly to Saudi Arabia, the Czech Republic, Germany, as well as charter flights to Polish cities such as Warsaw, Katowice and Poznań.

Is DXB airport bigger than DWC? Yes, in terms of area, DWC airport is definitely larger than DXB airport. Is DWC Airport more modern than DXB? Yes, although most of its features are not yet available to passengers. Investments worth AED 128 billion are set to make Dubai Al Maktoum Airport the most modern airport in the world in the future.

What amenities are available at DWC Airport? You can find detailed information in our guide to DWC Airport: Dubai Al Maktoum Airport Guide ⬅️ read the guide.

Differences between DXB and DWC airports in Dubai

How do DXB and DWC airports in Dubai differ? Although these two airports are located in the same city, they are very different from each other. If you have a choice between a flight to Dubai International Airport (DXB) and a flight to Dubai Al Maktoum Airport, this comparison and indication of the differences between the airports will help you choose your flight connection. We have compared the airport terminals in Dubai and more: we have also compared the size of the airports, the number of connections, the available amenities and the distance from the centre of Dubai.

Distance from the centre of Dubai:

• DXB Airport – Dubai International Airport is located 5 kilometres north of the centre of Dubai, next to Old Dubai, in the northern part of the city with direct and easy access to the city centre.
• DWC Airport – Dubai Al Maktoum Airport is located 30 kilometres south-west of Dubai, in the modern urban development of Jebel Ali, at the heart of the Dubai South residential, commercial and logistics complex. The closest destinations from DWC Airport are Dubai Marina and the EXPO 2020 area.

Getting to Dubai from the airport:

• DXB Airport – Dubai International Airport has fast and comfortable connections to Dubai. You can reach the city centre by: metro – the red metro line connects DXB Airport with the most important points in the city, such as Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, Dubai Marina and Old Dubai (with the option of changing to the green metro line), by bus – buses stop in front of all three airport terminals and mainly take you to Old Dubai, by taxi – thousands of taxis run daily from Dubai Airport to the city centre. You can order them by phone, via an app or take one of the taxis waiting for passengers at the airport. A higher initial fare of AED 25 applies at the airport.
• DWC Airport – Dubai World Central is slightly less well connected to the centre of Dubai. The airport has no direct metro connection to the city. The best way to get from the airport is: bus + metro – take the F55 bus from the airport to EXP0 2020 station, where you can change to the red metro line to the city centre, taxi – if you do not want to use public transport, you can take a taxi to the nearest city station or your hotel.

Terminal and airport infrastructure:

• DXB Airport – 3 terminals, 2 runways, lots of luxury shops and restaurants, and entertainment venues at the airport. The newest and most modern is Terminal 3, opened in 2008 especially for Emirates. It is open 24 hours a day. It handles both passenger and cargo traffic. The airport terminals are located at a considerable distance from each other, but they are easy to navigate thanks to a smart pedestrian and rail connection system. The international airport is convenient and modern, but there is a noticeable difference in favour of more modern airports in the region, such as Istanbul Airport or Hamad International Airport in Qatar.
• DWC Airport – 2 runways, one of which is in full use. The range of services, shops and restaurants is smaller than at DXB, as Dubai World Central Airport is still under construction. There is one restaurant, a McDonald's and a café. The infrastructure is currently much more modest, but the airport seems intimate and cosy. Once the expansion and investment are complete, Dubai Al Maktoum Airport terminal and airport infrastructure will be the most modern in the world.
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Flights from DXB and DWC airports:

• DXB Airport – Dubai Airport serves over 100 airlines, with the domestic carrier Emirates being the clear leader. From Dubai International Airport, you can fly to almost every continent and almost every corner of the world – with the exception of Antarctica. From DXB airport, you can fly to 275 destinations in 105 countries. The airport is also a huge transfer hub, one of the largest in the world. From Poland, you can fly here with Emirates from Warsaw and flyDubai from Warsaw, Krakow and Poznań.
• DWC Airport – Dubai Al Maktoum Airport offers significantly fewer flight connections. The airport mainly focuses on cargo, charter and low-cost airlines. From Poland, you can fly to DWC Airport from Warsaw, Wrocław and Poznań with Enter Air charter flights.

DXB and DWC airports – which one is better?

Comparing airports in Dubai is not easy. DXB and DWC airports currently serve different functions for the city: DXB airport is a transfer hub and the main passenger airport, while DWC airport handles cargo flights. Dubai Al Maktoum is set to become the most modern and largest airport in the world in the future, but until then, travelling through and to Dubai is more convenient via Dubai International Airport (DXB).

The advantages of DXB airport in Dubai include: a large number of flights to destinations around the world, good transport links to the centre of Dubai, a wide range of restaurants, cafés, shops and passenger amenities, and high ratings from travellers.

The advantages of DWC airport in Dubai include: large airport area, proximity to Dubai Marina, lack of crowds and investments in airport development.

Which airport to choose in Dubai – DXB or DWC?

Travelling from Dubai – DXB or DWC airport? If you are flying to Dubai on holiday, you may ask yourself this question when booking your flight tickets. It doesn't matter whether your flight ticket says DXB or DWC, you will get to Dubai anyway! Which airport in Dubai is better? We have made an expert comparison, looking at topics such as airport services in Dubai, airport terminals in Dubai, flight connections from Dubai, distance from airports to the city centre and transport from airports to the city centre. What did our comparison reveal?

You can fly to Dubai International Airport with traditional airlines by booking your ticket yourself. This airport is better if you value easy and cheaper access to the city centre, especially its northern parts. If you have booked a trip through a travel agency or have a hotel in the south of Dubai, Dubai World Central Airport is the best choice. At DXB airport, you will experience a little more luxury and comfort, and it is also an excellent transfer hub.

Regardless of which airport you choose, if you already have a ticket to Dubai, check out our comprehensive guide to the city – Guide to Dubai. And if you are interested in investing and want to start your adventure with the real estate market in Dubai, visit the website of our real estate agency Estate Two Continents.

Questions and answers (FAQ):

• Which airport to choose in Dubai – DXB or DWC?

From a passenger's perspective, Dubai International Airport (DXB) is the better choice when buying a ticket to Dubai. DXB is served by significantly more airlines, has excellent airport infrastructure and offers quick access to the city centre by metro or taxi. DWC Airport is still under expansion and currently has little passenger traffic.

• What are the differences between DXB and DWC airports?

The biggest differences between DXB and DWC airports are the number of flights offered. Planes from Dubai International Airport fly to 275 destinations in 105 countries, while only a few airlines operate regularly from DWC, e.g. to Saudi Arabia. DXB Airport has more amenities and a wider range of services for passengers, but DWC Airport is larger, more modern and, once its expansion and investment are complete, will be the most modern airport in the world.

• What connections does DXB Airport offer?

Dubai International Airport (DXB) offers 275 flights to 105 countries around the world and is constantly adding new routes. From DXB or with a transfer at Dubai Airport, passengers can reach every corner of the world with convenient flights or fast and comfortable transfers.