2026 layover guide
Dubai (DXB) connection time
At Dubai International Airport, plan on at least 1 h 15 min for a same-terminal connection, 1 h 30 min if you change terminals outside security. Here's why, step by step.
Verified Oct 17, 2026By Steven MoHow we check Report a correction
Comfortable: 1 h 45 min
By train or airside bus, with another security check
A few changes mean security again
Quick answer
Plan on at least 1 h 15 min for a same-terminal connection at DXB, 1 h 30 min if you change terminals. Some terminal changes mean going through security again.
- Same terminal
- 1 h 15 min (comfortable: 1 h 45 min)
- Changing terminals
- 1 h 30 min by train or airside bus
- Hub airlines
- Emirates
How long a layover do I need?
- Get off the plane and walk to your next gate25 min
- Transfer security screening20 min
- Be at the gate before boarding closes15 min
- Buffer for a small delay15 min
Our estimate, rounded up, not the airline's official minimum connection time. If both flights are on one ticket, the airline will rebook you if a delay makes you miss the second one. How we calculate this
Recommended layovers at DXB
Our estimates for common connections, rounded up. Comfortable times leave room for a late arrival.
| Connection | MinimumRecommended minimum |
|---|---|
Same terminal, no passport control Transfer security where required | 1 h 15 min Comfortable: 1 h 45 min |
Changing terminals, inside security By train or airside bus | 1 h 30 min Comfortable: 2 h |
Changing terminals, outside security Includes another security check | 1 h 30 min Comfortable: 2 h |
Separate tickets with checked bags No protection if you miss it | 2 h 15 min Comfortable: 3 h |
Airlines' official minimum connection times can be shorter: if you booked both flights on one ticket, the airline has already checked that the connection is legal and will rebook you if a delay makes you miss it.
Getting around DXB
Terminals
Terminals 1, 2 and 3 (Emirates, Concourses A, B and C).
Changing terminals
Emirates connections stay within Terminal 3, where a train links Concourse A with Concourses B and C. Transfers to Terminal 1 use airside buses.
Passport control and transfers
International transfers go through transfer security but not UAE passport control.
Tips for connecting at DXB
- •Most Emirates connections never leave Terminal 3.
Plan your trip through DXB
The airport guide, and the bag rules for the airlines you're likely to connect on here.
DXB connection FAQ
Airlines set their own official minimums at DXB and only sell connections that meet them, so a one-ticket itinerary is always "legal". In practice we recommend at least 1 h 15 min for a same-terminal connection and 1 h 30 min when you change terminals.
Other airports
Sources
Last verified Oct 17, 2026. Terminals and connection rules change, so check your airline's connection instructions before a tight layover.
Read how we collect and check this data, or tell us if something's out of date.
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