Gulf city ranked world’s 'best connected' for travellers

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Dubai has been named the world’s best-connected city for global travellers, topping a new global ranking by ground transportation specialists Mozio. The study, which evaluated airport-to-city access in major travel hubs worldwide, gave Dubai a score of 7.2 out of 10, placing it ahead of European and Asian gateways including Prague, Amsterdam and Singapore.

The UAE city’s strong performance reflects its efficient connections from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to the city centre, supported by frequent public transport and competitive transfer costs. Travellers can reach downtown Dubai in an average of just 24 minutes, faster than any other city in the top 10 except Málaga.

Overall, its 30‑minute transfer time rivals those of Prague and Vienna and compares favourably with destinations such as Sydney and Florence.

Dubai also ranked highly for public transport frequency, with services running around every eight minutes and taxis readily available. Adding to its appeal, three‑star hotel stays average about AED150 per night, making the city more affordable than many other top‑ranked destinations.

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While Dubai leads for airport-to-city access, Madrid has the best rapid transport coverage overall, with 70% of residents living near a metro or rail service, the highest share in the index.

As the world’s busiest international airport, DXB handled more than 70.1 million passengers in the first nine months of 2025, its highest-ever nine‑month total. Over the same period, the city welcomed 17.55 million international visitors, a 5% year-on-year increase and a new 11‑month high, underscoring Dubai’s growing appeal and connectivity.

Mozio rankings of world's best-connected cities for travellers

Transfer times in Dubai are likely to shorten further with the planned 2026 launch of commercial electric air taxi (eVTOL) services linking DXB to Downtown Dubai, Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina. A DXB–Palm Jumeirah trip is expected to take just 10–12 minutes, down from roughly 45 minutes by road at peak hours.

Looking ahead, Dubai’s long-term aviation strategy will see operations gradually shift to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) in Dubai South over the next decade. Once complete, DWC will accommodate up to 260 million passengers annually and integrate metro, bus, taxi, e‑hailing and autonomous shuttle links. The airport will also connect to Downtown Dubai via the new Etihad Rail network, with the high-speed journey expected to take around 20 minutes.

For more information, visit mozio.com