Do I need to collect my bags?

If your flights are on a single booking reference, your bags are checked through to your final destination and you do not need to collect them.

Is the airport easy to walk?

No. Concourse A to B can take 20 minutes of brisk walking. Use the internal trains or moving walkways.

Can I sleep in the terminal?

Yes. There are sleep pods in Terminal 3 and a transit hotel (Dubai International Hotel) located airside if you need a real bed.

Navigating a Layover at Dubai International Airport (DXB)

To navigate a layover at Dubai (DXB), identify your connecting terminal (1, 2, or 3) immediately upon landing. Follow the purple 'Connections' signage, pass through a secondary security screening, and verify your gate at the flight information screens as gates are often assigned only 60 minutes before departure.

Check your terminal. DXB is massive. Emirates flights operate primarily out of Terminal 3 (Concourses A, B, and C). FlyDubai and other airlines use Terminal 2 or Terminal 1. If you are changing terminals, you must follow the 'Inter-terminal' shuttle bus signs; allow at least 90 minutes for this transfer.
Follow the purple signs. Do not follow the 'Arrivals' signs unless you have a visa to enter the UAE and want to leave the airport. Follow the signs labeled 'Connections' or 'Transfer'. They are bright purple and clearly marked.
Clear security. Even if your bags are checked through to your final destination, all connecting passengers must pass through a security screening point. Remove liquids and electronics as you would at any standard airport checkpoint.
Find your gate. DXB screens often display 'Go to Gate' rather than a specific gate number until an hour before boarding. Stay in the main retail hub of your concourse until the screen updates.

Do I need to collect my bags?: If your flights are on a single booking reference, your bags are checked through to your final destination and you do not need to collect them.
Is the airport easy to walk?: No. Concourse A to B can take 20 minutes of brisk walking. Use the internal trains or moving walkways.
Can I sleep in the terminal?: Yes. There are sleep pods in Terminal 3 and a transit hotel (Dubai International Hotel) located airside if you need a real bed.