Dubai International Airport (DXB): Terminal Guide and Flights to Frankfurt
Key facts
| IATA code | DXB |
|---|---|
| Terminals | 1, 2, 3 (Emirates: Terminal 3) |
| Ranking | World's busiest airport for international passengers |
| To the city | Dubai Metro Red Line, taxi (approx. 15–25 min to Downtown) |
| Nonstop to Frankfurt | Emirates (A380) |
| Flight time to FRA | approx. 6.5–7 hours |
| Arrival in Frankfurt | Terminal 3 |
Frequently asked questions
Which terminal is Emirates at Dubai Airport?
Emirates uses Terminal 3, which has three concourses: A (dedicated to the A380 and Boeing 777), B and C. Concourse A is linked to the main building by an automated train. Most other international airlines use Terminal 1, while flydubai operates mainly from Terminal 2 and partly Terminal 3. Check your boarding pass before travelling to the airport.
How do I connect between flights in Dubai?
Follow the purple ‘Connections’ signs to transfer security. Within Terminal 3, trains connect Concourse A with B and C. If you are changing between Terminal 1 or 2 and Terminal 3, use the airside shuttle buses — allow at least 75–90 minutes. Emirates usually sells connections of at least 60–90 minutes.
Is Dubai Airport open 24 hours and busy at night?
Yes, DXB operates 24/7. The busiest periods are often late at night and early morning, when long-haul banks of flights to Europe and Asia depart. Restaurants, duty free and lounges stay open around the clock.
Where can I sleep during a layover at Dubai Airport?
Terminal 3 has the airside Dubai International Hotel with rooms bookable by the hour, sleep pods and quiet zones with recliners. Pay-per-use lounges are available in all terminals. Emirates passengers with long connections may be eligible for a hotel under the ‘Dubai Connect’ programme — check with Emirates.
How do I get from Dubai Airport to Downtown Dubai?
The Dubai Metro Red Line has stations at Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 and reaches Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall in about 30 minutes. Taxis and ride-hailing cars wait outside arrivals; Downtown is about 15–25 minutes away by car outside rush hour.
How long is the flight from Dubai to Frankfurt?
Emirates flies nonstop from Dubai to Frankfurt in about 6.5 to 7 hours, often with the Airbus A380. Germany is 2–3 hours behind the UAE depending on the season. In Frankfurt, Emirates uses Terminal 3, which has no long-distance train station — a pre-booked transfer is the easiest way onward.
How early should I arrive at Dubai Airport?
Emirates recommends arriving about 3 hours before international departures. Online check-in, city check-in and the Smart Gates for eligible passport holders save time, and check-in closes 60 minutes before departure.
I land at Frankfurt Airport from Dubai. How do I get to my hotel?
The easiest way is a pre-booked private transfer. With FlyRide Frankfurt you get a fixed price before booking, your driver monitors your flight from Dubai and waits at the arrivals exit of Frankfurt Airport (Terminal 3 for Emirates) with a name sign. We drive to Frankfurt city, the Messe, Wiesbaden, Mainz, Darmstadt, Heidelberg and anywhere in Germany. Book online, by phone (+49 176 56958737) or via WhatsApp.
Flying from Dubai to Frankfurt
Dubai–Frankfurt is one of the most searched flight routes in Germany. Besides travellers from the UAE, many passengers connect in Dubai from India, Pakistan, Southeast Asia and Australia. Emirates’ arrivals land at Frankfurt Terminal 3, where your FlyRide chauffeur meets you with a name sign and helps with your luggage.
Note: Since 9 June 2026 Frankfurt's Terminal 2 is closed for renovation. Flights use Terminal 1 or the new Terminal 3. Always check your terminal in your airline app.
Flying from Dubai International Airport to Frankfurt? Book your private ride with FlyRide Frankfurt
Your chauffeur tracks your flight from Dubai, waits for you in the Frankfurt Airport arrivals hall with a name sign and drives you door to door to your hotel, office or home — at a fixed price agreed before you book. Mercedes E-Class, V-Class and Vito, free child seats on request, 24/7 by phone and WhatsApp.
- Fixed price — no taximeter
- Flight monitoring & up to 60 min free waiting
- Meet & Greet at Terminal 1 and Terminal 3
- Rhein-Main, all of Germany and Europe
Facts checked October 2026. Airport facilities, opening hours and airline terminals change — please confirm with the airport or your airline before travelling.
Image credits: Dubai International Airport interior of Terminal 3, 2019, 04.jpg — Chris Olszewski (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Dubai International Airport – 2024-10-24 – Andy Mabbett – 51.jpg — Andy Mabbett (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Dubai Airport.jpg — Mhp1255 (CC BY-SA 3.0)
