General Information » Entering United Arab Emirates » Meet & Greet

Two reception services are available at the airport to help people with airport formalities. The Marhaba Service (224 5780) – ideal for children, the elderly and people with disabilities – is run by DNATA and operates mainly at Terminal 1 (plus with a few airlines at Terminal 2), while Ahlan Dubai (216 5030) is run by the Civil Aviation Authority and is at Terminal 2 (both ‘marhaba’ and ‘ahlan’ are Arabic for ‘welcome’).

Ahlan is mainly a customer service and information department, assisting with visa delivery and customer queries. At the moment Ahlan services are free but they may start charging in the near future due to demand. Marhaba staff however, greet new arrivals and guide them through immigration and baggage collection. Through this service, you can also get general information and help with visas. To use Marhaba, a booking has to be made at least 24 hours in advance and passengers are usually met in the arrivals hall before passport control. You can also request to be met by a person who speaks a specific language if new arrivals don’t speak English or Arabic (only certain languages are available; check with Marhaba at the time of booking). The service is also available to departing passengers.

The cost for the Marhaba service varies according to the services required, but is usually Dhs.75 for one passenger from immigration, or Dhs.150 per person from the aircraft door. A family package of Dhs.185 for up to 4 passengers is also available and the party will be met at the arrivals gate. See www.marhabaservices.com for more details. For VIPs, another option is Al Majlis, offering catering, shower facilities, lounges, and dedicated check-in (up to eight hours before your flight, if you wish) immigration, baggage reclaim and travel to Sheihk Rashid Terminal by bus or limousine. The cost of this service will set you back Dhs.1,500 for arrivals and departures and Dhs.2000 for in-transit passengers. The Al Majilis service must be booked 24 hours in advance. For more information and to book online, see the airport website (www.dubaiairport.com).