From Dubai airport to Downtown Dubai and Business Bay
Dubai International Airport (DXB) is one of the closest major airports to a city centre anywhere. Here is how to reach our hotels in Downtown Dubai and Business Bay, and what each option is best for.
How far is it?
DXB lies east of the Dubai Creek, and our five addresses are in Downtown Dubai, Business Bay and on Sheikh Zayed Road. In a straight line, DAMAC Maison Mall Street is about 10.5 km from the airport and Distinction about 11 km. By road the trip is longer, and DAMAC's own guidance is around 25 minutes by car — more at peak hours, typically weekday mornings and early evenings.
Option 1: chauffeur arranged by the hotel
The simplest arrival, especially with children or after a long-haul flight, is a chauffeur-driven pick-up arranged by our concierge team. Send your flight number when you book, and the driver will meet you in the arrivals hall. It costs more than a taxi but removes every decision at the end of a journey, and the car takes you straight to the door of your residence.
Option 2: airport taxi
Official taxis are regulated by Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and wait in clearly marked ranks outside each arrivals terminal. They are metered, accept cards in most cases, and airport pick-ups carry a higher starting fare than street pick-ups. Tell the driver the hotel name and the area — for example 'DAMAC Maison Canal Views, Marasi Drive, Business Bay' — and keep the hotel phone number handy; all numbers are on our contact page.
Taxis are the best value option for two to four people with luggage. Larger families can request a bigger vehicle at the rank.
Option 3: ride-hailing apps
Careem and Uber operate in Dubai, and the apps show the fare before you confirm. Pick-up points at the airport are signposted. This is useful if you prefer to pay in the app or need a specific car size.
Option 4: Dubai Metro
The Red Line of the Dubai Metro stops at Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 and runs through the city along Sheikh Zayed Road. For Downtown and Business Bay, get off at Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall or Business Bay station. You will need a Nol card, which you can buy and top up at ticket machines and counters in the station.
The metro is fast and inexpensive, and it avoids traffic, but it is less practical with several large suitcases or tired children. From the stations, the last kilometre to our hotels is best done by taxi; Cour Jardin is the closest of our addresses to Business Bay station, at under a kilometre in a straight line.
Arriving at night
Many long-haul flights land in the small hours. Because every DAMAC Maison hotel offers 24-hour check-in, you can go straight to bed whenever you arrive — no waiting in the lobby for an afternoon check-in time. The same applies to departure: 24-hour check-out means a late flight does not cost you an extra night.
Tip: if you land very early, book your apartment from the previous night so that it is ready on arrival. Reception can advise on what makes sense for your flight times.
What to have ready on landing
Keep the full hotel name, the area and the phone number on your phone, not only in an email that needs Wi-Fi to open. A local SIM or an eSIM bought before departure makes ride-hailing and maps easier from the moment you land, and most terminals have free Wi-Fi.
If you are arriving with children, a car seat can be requested in advance with a chauffeur booking. If you are arriving for a long stay with a lot of luggage, a larger vehicle is worth booking ahead rather than finding one at the rank.
Cash is not essential: cards are accepted almost everywhere in Dubai, including most taxis. Still, a small amount of dirhams can be useful for tips and small purchases; there are exchange counters and ATMs in the arrivals halls.
Which hotel is easiest from the airport?
All five are within a similar drive. Choose by what you want around you: Mall Street to walk to The Dubai Mall, Distinction for Burj Khalifa views, Canal Views for the waterfront, Cour Jardin for a quiet courtyard pool and Aykon City for a resort-style stay with a free shuttle. Compare them on the location page or go straight to booking.
Leaving Dubai
For departures, allow more time than you needed on arrival: evening rush hour on Sheikh Zayed Road and around the airport can add substantially to the drive. Ask reception to book your taxi or chauffeur the evening before, and use the 24-hour check-out to keep the apartment until the last moment if your flight is late at night.
