During the 80-day overhaul of Dubai International (DXB), free shuttle bus services will connect passengers from the hub and Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central (DWC), and vice versa every half-an-hour in addition to the bus services currently in place: the F55 and F55A, which connect Al Maktoum International with Ibn Battuta metro and Al Satwa bus stations.
The two airports sit roughly 65 kilometres apart and the shuttle will take about two hours, Dubai Airports estimate.
A taxi between the two airports is likely to cost more than Dh100 — and take roughly one hour.
Baggage transfer
Transiting passengers will have to collect baggage from the terminal they land at, after going through passport control, before manually transporting it to the terminal and airport from which they are departing.
Dubai Airports states that so far 14 airlines have applied for slots at DWC during the programme. Eight airlines that have confirmed their relocation to DWC include flydubai, PAL Express, Jet Airways, Royal Brunei Airlines, Yemenia Airlines, Equatorial Congo Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Ural Airlines.
They will join Wizz Air, Gulf Air, Jazeera Airways, Qatar Airways, East Horizon Airlines and Eastern SkyJets, which already operate from DWC.
Transit visas
Passengers travelling between the two airports may be required to obtain visas. According to Dubai Airports, if a passenger arrives at DWC and needs to connect to another flight departing from DXB, or vice versa, they will need to enter the UAE and clear customs and immigration at both ends, which may require a transit visa.
All passengers coming into the UAE are advised to contact the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs for clarification on visa protocol.
Dubai Airports warns that more than 144 vehicles per peak hour will enter and exit the airport, adding additional traffic to the roads around Dubai International. So allow a little extra time to get to the airport.
