05 January 2009 23:58 GMT
AirAsia Indonesia starts flights to Singapore
London City goes 'silent' this month
Easyjet to open more routes from Geneva
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Arriving and departing
The following information covers all passengers landing in Dubai airport, whether your final destination is Dubai, you're on a short connection on Emirates and need to stay inside the airport, or you've got a longer stopover and have time to get out into the city.
Staying in the airport for an onward flight
- After leaving your flight to Dubai, short transit passengers on Emirates should follow the signs towards the series of transfer desks located on the Arrivals floor. Due to the ongoing work at the new Emirates terminal, some flights are being bussed from the plane to the terminal. There are two stops, both of which are announced. The first is for transit passengers, and the second is for passengers whose final destination is Dubai.
- If you need to pick up a boarding pass for your next flight, or you think you've missed your connection, simply ask for assistance at the desks.
- Most Emirates passengers should already have onward boarding passes for their next flight. If that's the case, then go straight through the security control next to the transfer desks. This will take you downstairs into the main Departures and Duty Free area, where you can go straight to the Departure gate for your next flight.
Leaving the airport
If you're ending your journey in Dubai, or want to get out of the airport during a long stopover, then follow the signs towards the passport control hall. It’s quite a long walk, but the airport provides a golf buggy-style car for pregnant women, small children, and disabled or elderly passengers. It makes regular shuttles from one end of the passage to the other.
- Passengers with pre-booked Marhaba meet-and-greet services should head to the Marhaba counter, easily visible on the way to the passport control hall (www.marhabaservices.com)
- Emirates First and Business passengers have their own fast-track passport queues, whilst First and Business on other airlines also have their own queue (though watch out – this is sometimes even longer than the normal queues!)
- If you've got a UAE government E-gate card, then head to the right-hand side of the passport control hall and use the entry points. Using an E-gate card can usually save you at least half an hour of waiting time in the passport control queues
- Porterage services are available near the baggage claim belts for a small fee.
- A range of car rental counters and bureaux de change can be found after customs. There are also several ATMs close to the Arrivals Duty Free. As you'd expect, these accept all major international cards and can offer withdrawals in the local currency, the dirham.
- Dubai Duty Free has a sizeable outlet near the baggage claim belts. For those without local alcohol licenses, this is your last chance to stock up before going into the city, where alcohol can only be bought inside certain hotels, restaurants and bars. Click here for our guide to duty free shopping in Dubai's airport.
- There's a left luggage facility just outside the exit of the Arrivals level, right next to the main taxi rank on the left-hand side. Using it costs Dhs 10 ($2.70) per piece of luggage.
- A number of Dubai hotels have reservation counters after customs, whilst the government-run Central Reservations Service has 24-hour access to booking for some 200 hotels and furnished apartments in the UAE if you happen to have arrived without booking accommodation beforehand.
Arriving at Terminal 2
Dubai's Terminal 2 is a fraction of the size of Terminal 1. It's used mainly for charter flights and some smaller airlines flying within the Middle East or to the Far East, although Emirates occasionally uses the terminal for overspill during busy times.
- Passengers transiting between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 should ask for information about a shuttle bus between the two terminals, which are 5-10 minutes apart.
- There is a small Dubai Duty Free shop in arrivals
- Passengers with pre-booked Marhaba meet-and-greet services should head to the Marhaba counter, or look out for the staff who should be waiting as you disembark from your plane.(www.marhabaservices.com for more information)
- Head to our Transport Options section for information on getting to the city from Terminal 2
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