Arriving by private jet in the UAE: FBO, customs and your car

Which private terminals operate in Dubai?

The main private aviation building is the Private VIP Terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), in the Dubai South area on the Jebel Ali side of Dubai. It opened in 2016 as a stand-alone terminal for private, business and government flights.

Jetex runs its Dubai FBO there. Jetex lists FBO customs and immigration, 24/7 operations, direct ramp access and crew and passenger transportation. Other operators have been reported in the same building, so confirm who is handling your aircraft.

Our airport transfers for private jet terminals page covers the car side for each terminal.

How does arriving on a private jet work at DWC?

A private arrival skips the public concourse.

1. The aircraft parks on the apron in front of the terminal.
2. Your handler meets you at the aircraft or at the door.
3. Customs and immigration happen inside the FBO.
4. Your bags go straight to the car.
5. The chauffeur drives you to the address.

There is no public arrivals hall to cross. Your flight operator or handler arranges the paperwork, not us. Visa rules for your passport still apply, so check them before you fly.

The experience is also different from the one in our guide to meet and greet at Dubai airport, where a chauffeur waits in a public hall.

Can private jets still use Dubai International?

We could not find a current public source naming a private-jet terminal at DXB. Ask your operator which airport your aircraft will use and the exact FBO. Tell us as soon as you know, because the airport sets the route and the drive time.

Dubai Airports gives DXB to DWC as about 60 km. In free-flowing traffic our routing shows 61 km and about 70 minutes. If your aircraft changes airports, tell us at once.

How far is DWC from Dubai Marina and the Palm?

From DWC to	Road distance	Free-flow drive
Dubai Marina	32 km	38 minutes
Palm Jumeirah	38 km	42 minutes
Expo City Dubai	21 km	31 minutes
Dubai International (DXB)	61 km	70 minutes
Abu Dhabi city	118 km	84 minutes

These are OSRM road figures averaged over both directions. Traffic on the Jebel Ali side and the Marina approach adds time in the morning and evening. The DWC airport guide has more on the roads out of the airport.

Arranging the car: what the FBO and the chauffeur each need

Your FBO or handler needs the aircraft details, the passenger list with passport data and the arrival time. They arrange customs, immigration and ramp access.

Your chauffeur needs a shorter list:

• The airport and FBO name.
• The tail number or flight reference.
• The expected landing time, so the car is there before the aircraft.
• Each passenger’s name, the bags and the drop-off address.
• The car you want, such as a Mercedes S-Class or an SUV.

Ask your handler whether the car’s plate and the driver’s name must be registered for terminal access. We do not assume the rule is the same at every FBO. Vehicle choice is covered in our guide to Maybach versus S-Class. For a delegation, see delegation transport.

Our limousine service and chauffeur service pages show the cars. Companies planning regular flights can set up a corporate account.

Flying privately to Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi has its own executive airport at Al Bateen, separate from the commercial airport at Zayed International (AUH). Read our Al Bateen Executive Airport guide for how a pickup there works.

If your guests arrive on Emirates or Etihad instead, see Emirates and Etihad chauffeur service. For every airport in one place, use the UAE airports guide.