By Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing PartnerPublished 4 min read
Dubai makes event travel easy in one way and hard in another. The Metro runs well, and the biggest venues sit far from it. The right choice depends on the venue, the group and the time you leave.
What are your options for getting to a Dubai event?
Five choices cover most trips:
- Metro, with a short walk or taxi at each end.
- Street taxi from a rank, or a booked RTA taxi.
- Ride-hailing, such as Uber or Careem.
- An official event shuttle, where the organiser runs one.
- A car with a driver booked in advance.
Our taxi and ride-hailing comparison covers fares. This page covers which fits which event.
When is the Metro the best choice?
When the venue has a station and your group is small. RTA lists nol fares by zone on a Silver card: AED 3 for one zone, AED 5 for two adjacent zones and AED 7.50 for more. Gold Class is double, AED 6, 10 and 15, and carries a surcharge on the Metro.
Per our Dubai Metro guide, trains run 05:00 to midnight Monday to Thursday and Saturday, 05:00 to 01:00 on Friday and 08:00 to midnight on Sunday. A late concert can finish after the last train, so check the closing time against the finish.
Best fits: Dubai World Trade Centre (its own Red Line station, about 20 minutes by Metro from DXB per the GITEX organiser) and Coca-Cola Arena (Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa station, a few minutes’ walk). See the DWTC parking and drop-off guide for the station and hall layout.
When do taxis and ride-hailing work, and when do they fail?
They work for one-way trips at off-peak times and for two or three people. They fail at closing time, when a whole crowd calls at once.
At The Sevens Stadium the organiser keeps a taxi queue and a separate ride-hailing pickup area. Both fill as the last match ends. Outside Dubai, arrange the return ride before you arrive.
Are official event shuttles worth using?
Use them where they exist, and expect a walk at each end.
| Event | Shuttle | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Emirates Dubai 7s | Free buses home, 7pm to 1.30am, every 15 minutes, to five stops | Buses go home only, not to the stadium |
| ADIPEC, Abu Dhabi | Free Park and Ride shuttles every 20 minutes | No on-site parking for visitors |
| Other events | Not confirmed | Read the organiser’s travel page |
From the 7s shuttle stops you still need a Metro or taxi to your hotel. Our Dubai 7s guide lists the stops.
When does a car with a driver make sense?
- A group. One vehicle keeps six or more people together. Look at our van and group transport and minibus rental pages.
- Several venues in a day. A car with driver by the hour moves you between the hall, the lunch and the dinner.
- Samples, banners or equipment. The driver carries them from the kerb to the entrance.
- A fixed finish. The car waits for your agreed time, not the crowd’s.
- A VIP arrival. A limousine sets down at the right gate.
Read the event day checklist before you book, and the exhibitor team transport plan for a stand team.
Which option suits each venue?
| Venue | Metro | Taxi or ride-hailing | Booked car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai World Trade Centre | Own station, Red Line | Taxi drop-off points at the halls | Useful for teams and samples |
| Coca-Cola Arena, City Walk | Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa, a short walk | Drop-off zone at entrances A, B and C | Useful after a late show |
| The Sevens Stadium, E66 | No station | Separate taxi queue and pickup area | Best for groups and the return |
| ADNEC, Abu Dhabi (ADIPEC) | Not on the Dubai Metro | Taxi points at the venue | Free Park and Ride shuttles replace parking, so a booked car from Dubai avoids a bus change |
For the golf, see our Dubai Desert Classic guide. The tennis stadium has its own visitor guide.
Events outside the city: Al Wathba, Liwa and Yas Island
These trips are 100 to 400 km, so the question is whether you want to drive. The Sheikh Zayed Festival at Al Wathba is about 125 to 160 km each way. The Liwa Festival is about 400 km. Yas Island is the Grand Prix venue, an hour from Dubai. A booked car or van is the practical option, and it waits for the return.
How to book an event chauffeur
Send the date, venue, entrance or hall, pickup address, passengers, bags and return time on WhatsApp, +971 56 684 8148. We reply with a vehicle and a quote. For the full season, see the UAE events calendar, our events chauffeur service, and the chauffeur service overview.
Photos in this guide
A blue Dubai Metro Red Line train arriving at a raised station with the Museum of the Future behindTim Wu / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The long Concourse 1 corridor at Dubai World Trade Centre with signs to Sheikh Saeed Hall 3Hawkeye7 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
A queue of cream and red Dubai taxis waiting outside Dubai International Airport Terminal 2Ravi Dwivedi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The drop-off road and hotel entrance beside Dubai World Trade Centre, with the Downtown skyline beyondHawkeye7 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
