By Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing PartnerPublished 4 min read
Which vehicles suit which group size?
Pick the vehicle by seats and by suitcases. Seats alone mislead: the more seats a van has, the less room is left for bags.
| Group | Vehicle | Passengers | Large suitcases | Supplied by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 6 | Mercedes-Benz V-Class | 6 | about 4 | Assure fleet |
| Up to 6 | Hyundai Staria | 6 | about 2 | Assure fleet |
| 7 to 13 | Mercedes Sprinter, 13 seats | 13 | about 6 | Assure fleet |
| 14 to 19 | Mercedes Sprinter, 19 seats | 19 | about 3 | Assure fleet |
| 20 to 35 | 35-seat coach | 35 | about 15 | Partner network, confirm first |
| 36 to 50 | 50-seat coach | 50 | about 35 | Partner network, confirm first |
These are Assure’s planning figures, not measured loads. Our capacity guide lists every model, and the fleet page has photos. Coaches come from partners, when available. For a group of 8 or more, our van and group transport and minibus rental pages are the place to start. Our guide to bus sizes helps with the in-between sizes.
Where do groups meet at Terminals 1 and 3?
Dubai Airports says there is no pick-up area at arrivals. Every private vehicle waits in the car park, and the group walks to it. So the arrivals hall is where you meet, and the car park is where you board.
| Terminal 1 | Terminal 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Who lands here | Most foreign airlines, D Gates | Emirates, plus some flydubai, United and Air Canada, A, B and C Gates |
| Arrival immigration counters | 45 | 72 |
| Smart gates | 20 | 40 |
| Baggage carousels | 8 | 14, with 4 for oversized bags |
| Walk to the car park | Car Park A, 2 to 3 minutes | 2 to 3 minutes |
Check the terminal on each ticket. flydubai is based at Terminal 2, a separate building. Our guides to Terminal 1 arrivals and Terminal 3 arrivals show the halls.
For the hall, the coordinator stands with a group sign past customs. We send the exact spot on WhatsApp before landing. At Terminal 3, Dubai Airports also runs DXB Greet and Go, a QR code pickup kiosk for licensed operators. Ask whether your group will use it or the name board. Our meet and greet explainer compares them.
Public bus stands at arrivals take Nol card passengers only. They are not a coach pickup.
Guests on different flights: how to handle split arrivals
Split arrivals are the normal case for weddings and conferences. Use these rules:
- List every flight. Number, origin, terminal and scheduled landing time.
- Group by landing hour. Guests landing within about an hour can share a vehicle.
- Keep a coordinator in the hall. One person with a sign and a phone, who sends each wave to the car park.
- Plan a late wave. Delays are routine, so tell the driver who is last.
We track each flight number and time the pickup to the real landing. Our guides to wedding guest airport pickups and the conference delegate transport plan cover the two most common cases.
Group luggage: when do you need a separate vehicle?
When bags outnumber the seats in the vehicle. A 13-seat Sprinter is planned for about 6 large suitcases with all 13 seats full. If 13 people each bring a case, 7 of them need a second vehicle.
Send us the count of large cases, cabin bags and odd items such as golf bags, instruments or pushchairs. We then decide between a bigger vehicle and a luggage car. Terminal 3 has 4 carousels for oversized bags, which helps with sports kit. If your group has children, our child car seats guide lists what to ask for.
Delegations, exhibitions and wedding guests: what organisers send us
Organisers who send the same details get the same plan. We need:
- flight numbers, terminals and landing times
- passenger and bag counts per flight
- the drop-off hotel or venue, with a named contact there
- a coordinator’s mobile number
- any wheelchairs, child seats or guests who need extra time
For repeat business, corporate accounts cover monthly invoicing. For cruise groups, read the Mina Rashid cruise terminal guide.
Group arrival checklist
- Confirm each guest’s terminal, not just the airline.
- Send flight numbers and bag counts to us on WhatsApp +971 56 684 8148.
- Name a coordinator and give us their mobile number.
- Agree the meeting spot in the arrivals hall, past customs.
- Tell guests to switch on their phones and read the WhatsApp message before they exit.
- Share our number with the group in case someone misses the hall.
- Know where to report missing bags: the airline desk first, then our lost property guide.
Our DXB pickup page covers all three terminals, and the overview of UAE airports puts them side by side.
Photos in this guide
A white high-roof Mercedes-Benz Sprinter minibus with tinted passenger windowsEthan Llamas / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Arrivals exit at Dubai International, with signs to the metro and taxisAhmed / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
A white Toyota Hiace Commuter van on a showroom floorCaptainmorlypogi1959 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Information point and shops along a Terminal 3 concourse at Dubai InternationalKgbo / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
