Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai Transfer
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Overview
How do you get from Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai? The three options are an airport taxi, public transport and a private transfer, and for most travellers the private transfer wins on price, comfort and time. Haqqi Tours' Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai transfer gives you a driver at the arrivals exit, a clean vehicle with room for your luggage, and a fixed cost confirmed on WhatsApp in advance. The distance is about 19 km and takes about 35 minutes, depending on traffic. Hotel Riu Dubai is a beach resort on Deira Islands, the reclaimed islands off the Deira coast, about 12 km north-west of Dubai Airport.
Highlights
- Private Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai transfer - your own vehicle, no sharing, no stops
- Fixed transfer price agreed on WhatsApp before you fly - no taxi meter, no surprises
- About 19 km, around 35 minutes from Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai via the D93, door to door
- Arrive rested for Beachfront on Deira Islands and Resort pools and Gulf views
- Flight tracking or a fixed pickup time, with up to 60 minutes of waiting (90 at some airports)
- Meet and greet at arrivals with a name board, or at the airport's set meeting point
- Sedan, Minivan - Mercedes, Volkswagen, Ford Transit and Peugeot Traveller vans, all with air conditioning
- A WhatsApp desk in Arabic and English that answers day and night - tell us the driver language you prefer
- Child seats and extra luggage space on request
Full Description
Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai transfer: the easiest way to get there
When you land at Dubai Airport, the last thing you want is to work out how to get from the airport to Riu Dubai. A private airport transfer takes the question away: a Haqqi Tours driver is at arrivals when you walk out, your vehicle is parked minutes away, and the cost of the Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai transfer was fixed on WhatsApp before you left home. There is no airport taxi queue, no meter running in traffic and no negotiating a fare in a language you may not speak.
This page covers everything travellers ask about the Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai route: how far it is and how long it takes, whether an airport taxi, public transport or a private transfer is the better choice, what Riu Dubai in Dubai is like, where to stay and eat, when to travel, where you meet your driver at Dubai Airport, which vehicles we use and how the booking works.
How far is Riu Dubai from Dubai Airport?
The distance from Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai is about 19 km by road, and the transfer usually takes around 35 minutes. Traffic is the only variable - our drivers know the route and the times to avoid, and they choose the fastest way on the day. Because the Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai transfer price is fixed in advance, a slow drive never costs you more, which is the first difference from an airport taxi on the meter.
The fastest road route runs via the D93, and your driver adjusts it on the day for traffic and roadworks.
From the airport the route runs west through Deira along Airport Road and Al Khaleej Road, then crosses the causeway onto Deira Islands.
Travellers often compare the drive with a bus or train connection; with luggage and a family, door-to-door by private car is almost always faster in total than any combination of public transport.
Arriving at Dubai Airport (DXB)
Dubai International (DXB) has three terminals - Emirates uses Terminal 3 - about 15 km from Downtown, 10 minutes from Deira and about 35 km from the Marina.
Whichever hall you come out of, the routine for a Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai transfer is the same: collect your bags, clear passport control, switch on your phone, and follow the meeting instruction from your WhatsApp confirmation. Your driver already knows your flight has landed - every pickup at Dubai Airport is tracked against the live arrival time - so there is no need to call, though a message is always welcome.
Searches for "DXB to Riu Dubai" or "DXB airport transfer" land here for a reason: DXB is the airport code for Dubai Airport, and this is the private-car service that connects it with Riu Dubai.
Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai at a glance
Service: private transfer, your own vehicle from Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai, door to door. Route: about 19 km, around 35 minutes depending on traffic. Vehicles: Sedan (1–3 passengers) and Minivan (1–7 passengers) - Mercedes, Volkswagen, Ford Transit and Peugeot Traveller models, air-conditioned, with room for luggage. Price: fixed for the whole vehicle and agreed on WhatsApp before you travel, tolls and waiting included, nothing to pay the driver on the day. Meeting: at Dubai Airport, at the point named in your confirmation, with flight tracking so a delay moves the pickup. Booking: the form on this page or a WhatsApp message; confirmation in writing within minutes, in Arabic or English.
Taxi or private transfer from Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai?
An airport taxi from Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai means finding the official rank, waiting your turn, and paying whatever the meter shows at the end - more at night, more in traffic, and sometimes more if the driver takes the long way. A private transfer from Haqqi Tours replaces all of that with one agreed price for the whole car, confirmed in writing on WhatsApp before you fly.
For one traveller with a small bag, a taxi or public transport can be a fair choice. For two or more people, a family with children, or anyone with real luggage, a private transfer is normally the cheapest way to get from Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai per person - and by far the easiest. Public transport to Riu Dubai involves changes, tickets and stairs; a private car goes to the hotel door.
There is also the question of trust. Our drivers know the hotels of Riu Dubai, work on a fixed price, and never take a detour or add a "special fare" at the end. Your booking is confirmed by a real person on a WhatsApp desk that works in Arabic and English, and that same desk is reachable throughout your trip.
Public transport to Riu Dubai: is there a bus, train or metro?
The Dubai Metro Red Line runs from DXB Terminals 1 and 3 through Downtown to the Marina and Expo, and it is genuinely useful for a light traveller; with family luggage, or for a villa or hotel off the line, a car door to door is faster and cooler.
So the honest comparison for Riu Dubai is this: public transport is the cheapest option for one person with a cabin bag and time to spare, and a private Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai transfer is the better one for everybody else - two or more travellers, families, older relatives, anyone landing late, anyone with proper luggage. The price is per vehicle, not per person, which is why a family of four often pays less than it would on four bus or train tickets plus the taxi at the end.
About Riu Dubai
Hotel Riu Dubai is a beach resort on Deira Islands, the reclaimed islands off the Deira coast, about 12 km north-west of Dubai Airport. Hotel Riu Dubai is a large beachfront resort on Deira Islands, a newer waterfront development just off the old Deira shoreline. It has its own stretch of sand, several pools and sea views towards the Gulf, giving a resort feel while staying close to the city's historic heart. The Gold Souk, Spice Souk and Dubai Creek's abra crossings are a short drive away, as are Al Mamzar Beach Park and the Al Shindagha heritage district. Its closeness to Dubai International Airport also makes it convenient for short beach breaks.
Around Riu Dubai the areas travellers ask us about most are Jebel Ali and the Expo City side, Downtown Dubai and the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Marina and JBR beach and Palm Jumeirah. Tell us the hotel and the driver takes the best route into that part of Dubai on the day.
Things to do in Riu Dubai
Once you have checked in, Riu Dubai is worth exploring: Beachfront on Deira Islands, Resort pools and Gulf views, Short drive to the Gold and Spice souks, Dubai Creek and abra crossings and Al Mamzar Beach Park. Your driver can point some of them out on the way in, and the WhatsApp desk can arrange a car for a day out if you want to see more.
Where to stay in Riu Dubai
Where visitors stay in Riu Dubai: Deira Islands, Deira Corniche, Al Rigga and Al Mamzar. Our Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai transfer goes to any hotel, apartment or private address there - send the hotel name and, if you have it, a map pin on WhatsApp, and the driver goes straight to the right door.
Deira Islands is still developing and some roads change, so drivers follow the signs to the Riu hotel entrance on the island.
Eating well after the Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai drive
Once the bags are down, Dubai rewards a walk to dinner. Things worth trying near Riu Dubai: Emirati machboos and luqaimat, Friday brunch on the Marina, Lebanese mezze in Jumeirah and karak tea by the road. If you land late and want somewhere open, say so on WhatsApp and the desk suggests a place near your hotel - or ask the driver on the way in from Dubai Airport.
Best time to travel to Riu Dubai
November to March is the pleasant season; summer is very hot and humid, which is when a cool car at the door matters most. Sheikh Zayed Road is slowest on weekday evenings.
None of this changes the price of your Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai transfer - it is fixed for the vehicle whatever the season, the hour or the traffic - but it does change the timing, and that is what your driver plans for. Tell us the flight number and we allow for the real conditions on the day.
Meeting your driver at Dubai Airport
Every airport is laid out differently, and Dubai Airport is no exception: some airports have a fixed meeting point inside the terminal, some have a specific exit where drivers may wait, and at others the driver stands just beyond customs with a sign. Because of that we do not print one rule here. When we confirm your Riu Dubai transfer on WhatsApp, we tell you exactly where your driver will be, with the driver's name and a phone number you can message the moment you land.
Up to 60 minutes of waiting is included (90 minutes at some airports), and if you are delayed at baggage or passport control a quick WhatsApp message keeps your driver informed. On the way back, the driver collects you from the hotel at an agreed time with enough margin for your flight from Dubai Airport.
Our vehicles for the Riu Dubai transfer
For this route we offer Sedan (1–3 passengers) and Minivan (1–7 passengers). The vans are Mercedes, Volkswagen, Ford Transit and Peugeot Traveller models, all recent, air-conditioned and cleaned between journeys, with proper luggage space rather than a crowded boot. Choose the vehicle by how many of you are travelling and how much luggage you bring; the desk will tell you if a larger vehicle would be more comfortable.
All vehicles are insured and driven by professional, licensed drivers who know the Riu Dubai road. Child seats are provided on request, and there is no extra charge for reasonable luggage.
The vehicle is chosen before the confirmation, not at the kerb, so there is no surprise at the door of Dubai Airport: what we agreed on WhatsApp is what is waiting, and if your luggage looks like it needs a bigger vehicle we say so before you pay.
Who books the Riu Dubai transfer
Who uses a private transfer to Riu Dubai? Couples who would rather not start a holiday in a taxi queue; families who need child seats and space for a pushchair; groups of six to thirteen who want to arrive together in one vehicle; business travellers with a meeting the same day; and travellers landing at night, when public transport is thin and a fixed price is worth more than ever. Every one of them books the same way - a WhatsApp message - and gets the same written confirmation.
The transfer is the first thing most guests book with us and rarely the last; day trips from Riu Dubai and the ride back to Dubai Airport are arranged in the same conversation.
How to book your Riu Dubai transfer
Booking is simple: fill in the form on this page or message us on WhatsApp with your flight number, the date, the number of passengers and your hotel in Riu Dubai. A member of our team replies within minutes to confirm the price and the meeting point. Payment is arranged on WhatsApp as well, in whichever way suits you, and your confirmation is written down so nothing is left to memory.
Changes and cancellations are handled through the same WhatsApp conversation. Because the terms depend on conditions such as how close to the pickup time the request is made, our team will explain exactly what applies to your booking when you ask - always before any payment, never as a surprise afterwards.
Good to know before you land at Dubai Airport
DXB and DWC are 60 km apart - check your ticket - and tell us which terminal you land at, since Terminal 1, 2 and 3 have different exits.
Note the terminal or hall your flight uses at Dubai Airport, and if you change flights before travel tell the desk - the pickup is tracked against the flight number we hold.
If you are two households or a group, say how many bags as well as how many people; luggage decides the vehicle more often than passengers do.
Riu Dubai to Dubai Airport: the return transfer
Heading back to Dubai Airport at the end of the stay is just as easy - tell us the flight time and the hotel, and a driver is at the door with time to spare. Many travellers also use the desk for a day trip or an onward transfer from Riu Dubai; everything is arranged in the same WhatsApp chat.
On departure day the desk suggests a pickup time from Riu Dubai based on your flight and the traffic expected at that hour, and confirms it in writing; if you would like to leave earlier for last-minute shopping or a meal near Dubai Airport, that is arranged in the same message.
More transfers from Dubai Airport
The same fixed-price private service runs from Dubai Airport to other places nearby. If your plans include more than one stop, or friends are staying elsewhere, these are the routes travellers most often combine with Riu Dubai:
- Dubai Airport to Hyatt Regency transfer
- Dubai Airport to Deira transfer
- Dubai Airport to Gold Souk transfer
- Dubai Airport to Dubai Creek transfer
- Dubai Airport to Raffles Hotel transfer
- Dubai Airport to Grand Hyatt transfer
Why travellers choose Haqqi Tours for Riu Dubai transfers
Haqqi Tours is a travel company, not a taxi app: the people who confirm your Riu Dubai transfer are the same people you can message at midnight when the flight is late. The price is fixed and written down, the driver is a licensed professional who does this road regularly, the vehicle is what we said it would be, and if anything on the day is not as promised, one message to the desk puts it right.
Pickup options and waiting time
When you book on WhatsApp, you choose one of two pickup options for your arrival:
- Flight tracking: your driver is at arrivals the minute your flight lands and waits for up to 60 minutes. If your flight lands at 2:00 pm, the driver is there at 2:00 pm.
- Fixed time (no tracking): your driver arrives at a time you choose and waits for up to 60 minutes from that time. Send us your flight number and we check its real landing times over the past 10 days to recommend the best pickup time.
At most airports the included waiting time is 60 minutes; at some it is 90 minutes. We confirm the exact waiting time for your airport when you book with us on WhatsApp. After that, the driver cannot wait longer: the fixed price is based on one hour of airport parking and the driver's time, and with more than 30 transfers a day, every booking is scheduled back to back.
With flight tracking, normal delays are covered. If your flight is delayed by more than 5 hours, we cannot guarantee a new pickup at the last minute, because the new arrival time is uncertain and other transfers are already scheduled. Message us as soon as the delay is announced: we always do our best to rearrange, but it depends on the number of bookings that day. With a fixed-time pickup, the time slot is reserved for you and cannot be changed on the day, even if your flight is delayed or something unexpected happens.
Two hours before your flight lands, we send you your driver's name and phone number on WhatsApp. If you are still in the air, the message will be waiting for you as soon as you switch on your phone. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Is this right for you?
Great for
- Arrivals with luggage — a private car from the door to the door
- Families and groups — vehicles for up to 7 travellers
- Late-night and early-morning flights — booked ahead at a fixed price
- First-time visitors who do not know the city
Think twice if
- You travel alone on a tight budget and are happy with public transport
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
Where do I meet my driver at Dubai Airport?
Your WhatsApp confirmation tells you. Airports differ - Dubai Airport may use an indoor meeting point, a set exit or a name board just past customs - so rather than a general rule we send the exact spot for your flight, with the driver's name and number. Walk out, look where the message says, and your driver is there.
How far is Riu Dubai from Dubai Airport, and how long does the transfer take?
About 19 km by road, which usually takes around 35 minutes. Traffic at rush hour or on holiday weekends can add a little; the price of your Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai transfer is fixed in advance, so a slower drive never costs more.
What is Riu Dubai like?
Hotel Riu Dubai is a beach resort on Deira Islands, the reclaimed islands off the Deira coast, about 12 km north-west of Dubai Airport. Hotel Riu Dubai is a large beachfront resort on Deira Islands, a newer waterfront development just off the old Deira shoreline. It has its own stretch of sand, several pools and sea views towards the Gulf, giving a resort feel while staying close to the city's historic heart. The Gold Souk, Spice Souk and Dubai Creek's abra crossings are a short drive away, as are Al Mamzar Beach Park and the Al Shindagha heritage district. Its closeness to Dubai International Airport also makes it convenient for short beach breaks.
Where do visitors stay in Riu Dubai?
The usual choices: Deira Islands, Deira Corniche, Al Rigga and Al Mamzar. Our transfer goes to any hotel or address there at the same fixed price for the vehicle - just send the hotel name on WhatsApp.
What is there to do in Riu Dubai?
The highlights are Beachfront on Deira Islands, Resort pools and Gulf views, Short drive to the Gold and Spice souks, Dubai Creek and abra crossings and Al Mamzar Beach Park. The WhatsApp desk can arrange a car for a day out once you have settled in.
Anything I should know about arriving in Riu Dubai?
Deira Islands is still developing and some roads change, so drivers follow the signs to the Riu hotel entrance on the island.
Which road does the Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai transfer take?
Usually the fastest route via the D93, about 19 km and around 35 minutes in normal traffic. The driver checks traffic and roadworks on the day and takes whichever way is quickest; the price stays the same.
Is a private transfer cheaper than an airport taxi from Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai?
Per person, yes for most groups: the transfer is priced for the vehicle, so a couple pays about what a taxi would and a family pays less, with no meter, no night tariff and no surprise at the door. The booking form on this page shows the fixed price for your vehicle; a taxi from Dubai Airport can only give you an estimate.
What is the best way to get from Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai?
With luggage, a family or after a long flight, a pre-booked private transfer is the easiest and most comfortable way: door to door, no queue, no changes. Public transport can work for a solo traveller with a small bag, but it means tickets, transfers and stairs; an airport taxi means the meter. A private car takes you straight to your hotel in Riu Dubai.
Is there a bus, train or metro from Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai?
The Dubai Metro Red Line runs from DXB Terminals 1 and 3 through Downtown to the Marina and Expo, and it is genuinely useful for a light traveller; with family luggage, or for a villa or hotel off the line, a car door to door is faster and cooler. For most visitors the private transfer is simpler: it starts at the arrivals door and ends at the hotel, and the fixed price covers the whole vehicle.
What happens if my flight to Dubai Airport is delayed?
Normal delays are covered when you choose flight tracking: the driver arrives at your real landing time and waits up to 60 minutes. A delay of more than 5 hours, or a fixed-time booking, cannot be rescheduled at the last minute because other transfers are booked before and after yours - message us early and we do our best.
Do you meet late-night and early-morning flights?
Yes. The Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai transfer runs around the clock, and our WhatsApp desk is answered day and night. Tell us the flight number and we plan the pickup for the real arrival time, whatever the hour.
Which vehicle will I get for the Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai transfer?
You choose when you book: Sedan (1–3 passengers) and Minivan (1–7 passengers). The vans are Mercedes, Volkswagen, Ford Transit and Peugeot Traveller models, air-conditioned and with proper luggage space. If you are unsure, tell us how many passengers and bags you have and we recommend the right one.
Is the transfer private, or shared with other passengers?
Always private. We do not run shared shuttles: the car or van from Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai carries your party only, leaves when you are ready, and goes straight to your address.
Can you provide child seats?
Yes - say the ages of the children when you book and the driver brings the right child seats or boosters at no extra charge. Please mention it in the WhatsApp conversation so the correct vehicle is sent.
Are tolls, parking and waiting time included in the price?
Yes. The fixed price for the Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai transfer covers the vehicle, the driver, fuel, road tolls, airport parking and up to 60 minutes of waiting after your flight lands (90 at some airports). There is nothing to pay the driver on the day unless you have added something to the booking.
Can we stop on the way from Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai?
Usually, yes - a short stop for a shop, a sim card or a photo is no problem if you mention it when booking, and a longer stop or a sightseeing detour is quoted as part of the same transfer. Tell the desk what you have in mind and they confirm it in writing.
How far in advance should I book the Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai transfer?
As soon as you have your flight - it takes a minute on WhatsApp and secures the vehicle you want. Same-day and next-day bookings are often possible too; message the desk with the flight number and they will tell you at once whether a car is available.
How do I book the Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai transfer?
On WhatsApp or through the booking form here. Give the flight number, the date, the number of passengers and bags, and where you are staying in Riu Dubai; the desk replies with a confirmation you can keep, and the same chat handles anything that changes later.
Can I change or cancel my booking?
Yes, through the same WhatsApp conversation. The terms depend on conditions such as how close to the pickup time the change is requested, so our team explains exactly what applies to your booking when you ask - always before any payment.
Which language does the driver speak?
It depends on the country, the city and the time of your transfer, so we do not promise a particular language for the driver on the Dubai Airport to Riu Dubai route. Tell us on WhatsApp which language you would prefer and we do our best to match it. The WhatsApp desk that confirms your booking and stays with you during the trip always works in Arabic and English, at any hour.
Can I book the return trip from Riu Dubai to Dubai Airport as well?
Yes, and most guests do. Give us the departure flight and the hotel, and the desk sets a pickup time from Riu Dubai with enough margin for check-in at Dubai Airport. The return is the same fixed-price service, on the same confirmation if you book both together.
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