The UAE is open to international tourism
The United Arab Emirates is open to travelers from all countries. Vaccinated visitors must present the vaccination certificate, while those who are not fully vaccinated should present a negative result of an RT-PCR test conducted within 48 hours before arrival. Passengers, irrespective of whether they are vaccinated, do not need to quarantine on arrival.
Depending on your nationality, you can get a VoA (Visa on Arrival) or apply for your prearranged Visit Visa from Dubai Immigration before you travel. Nationals of GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia – are allowed to enter the UAE with their national identity card.
Transiting through Emirati airports is permitted. Transiting passengers are not required to present a health certificate (unless it is mandated by their final destination).
Arriving in Dubai
- If you are flying to Dubai from abroad, you will most likely land at its main international airport — Dubai International Airport
DXB(the main airport) or Al Maktoum International AirportDWC(also known as Dubai World Central - a new airport located at Dubai South). - Planning to explore the region? Popular destinations can be easily reached with regional low-cost carriers (LCCs) by the likes of Air Arabia, Air India Express, Cebu Pacific, FlyNas, Flyadeal, FlyDubai, Jazeera Airways, Pegasus Airlines, Saudia, SalamAir, Smartwings, Vistara, and Wizz Air. However, the “no-frills” carrier may not provide free checked baggage allowance, complimentary food, in-flight entertainment systems, and fast customer support. You may not even get to choose your seats, unless you pay extra.
Airports of Dubai
DXB located around 8km from the Dubai City, and Al Maktoum International Airport (also known as Dubai World Central) DWC located in Jebel Ali, 37 km away from Dubai.
What is the best time to book flights to Dubai?
The best time to book flights to Dubai is between 2 to 8 months before your travel date. The prime booking window (the most likely time to find the bargains) for Dubai flights is 4–6 months before takeoff. During this period, you should monitor airfares by setting alerts on popular flight search websites. Book when you notice a significant drop in price.
Why do prices fluctuate?
Airfare prices for Dubai flights fluctuate due to demand, seasonal trends, and competition, causing numerous price drops and increases as your departure date approaches. The airlines use sophisticated revenue management systems to adjust pricing for optimal seat sales. Generally, as seats are sold, prices tend to become more expensive.
Don’t book too early
Most airlines start selling their flights 9–12 months in advance. However, booking a ticket too early in that window can be an expensive mistake – airlines typically start by setting prices at a relatively high level to capture early demand from those willing to pay more to secure their seats
Prime Booking Window
For long-haul flights to Dubai, the best time to book your ticket is around 4–6 months before departure. It is the “Prime Booking Window” – after some seats have already been sold, airlines start dropping prices to stimulate demand. They may also offer promotions and sales. This is the ideal time for bargain hunting.
Fly on weekdays
It makes a difference which day of the week you board the plane. Midweek travel (especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays) is less busy and likely cheaper than flying on weekends. Airlines charge higher prices for weekend travel due to the high demand from people going on short getaways or visiting family and friends.
Opt for early morning flights
To save on airfare, select a late night or early morning (1–5 am) flight. Airlines often offer discounts on their first flight of the morning (up to 15-20%) simply because of lower demand – most people are not willing to go to the airport so early. Moreover, morning flights tend to have fewer delays, and airport queues are usually shorter.
Set alerts
Track flight price fluctuations for your desired routes to Dubai using email alerts on search sites like Google Flights to catch price drops. These drops will be your chance to book the flight at its best price.
Avoid last minute
Avoid booking flights to Dubai less than 30 days before takeoff. Prices spike sharply then, as airlines are taking advantage of any last-minute travelers who have no choice but to pay up (learn more about last-minute pricing).
Peak seasons are expensive
Peak travel seasons are always expensive – due to higher base prices set by airlines for dates they expect to be popular. Try to avoid the high season during summer and major holidays (including holidays in UAE), and check the best time to fly to Dubai. If you must travel during peak times, book a bit earlier – 6 to 8 months in advance.
Join ATC
A useful way to find discounted airfare is to sign up for a deal newsletter such as Air Traveler Club. The ATC team is constantly looking for price drops on popular routes, and we share them with our members free of charge.
Low-cost flights from Dubai
Stay ahead of the game. Fly to popular destinations at a fraction of the regular fare.
Check airfares for Abu Dhabi first
If you are heading to Dubai, you may consider flying to Abu Dhabi (flights are usually cheaper than to Dubai) and then taking a direct bus to Dubai (less than 1.5 hours ride).
The cheapest time to fly to Dubai
Middle East countries, like UAE, are extremely hot from April to September. So, if you have a choice, try visiting Dubai between November and March for cooler weather (the temperates range from 30° C to 12° C). However, as these are the best months for tourists, they see a sharp spike in tourist footfall. Travelers from different parts of the world love to visit Dubai at the end of December and celebrate the new year as well – make sure to reserve your flights, hotels, rental car, etc well in advance.
Use Smart Gates for faster passport checking
Smart Gates installed at the Dubai Airport are a new contactless technology that eliminates the need for physical passport stamping at immigration. Its fast-track biometric system uses face and iris recognition, so there is no need to scan any document – you can pass through the Smart Gates by simply looking at the green light.
Who can use it? If you are UAE/GCC national or Visa-on-Arrival passenger with a biometric passport, you are eligible to use Smart Gates. There’s a requirement to be registered first, however, all passengers who have recently arrived at DXB are likely to have been registered when they entered the immigration touchpoint. If you still need to register, you can do this at the passport control desk.
Home check-in service on Emirates
In Dubai and Sharjah, Emirates partnered with DUBZ to offer a “home check-in.” DUBZ agents complete the check-in process in your home or hotel and take your bags to the airport. You can enjoy the rest of your day and breeze through the airport later. Remember to book the service at least 24 hours before your flight.
The home check-in service is complimentary for First Class passengers.
Promo Radar™ 2023
Ready-to-book promotions, sales and discounts from 100+ airlines
Flight sales and promotions to Dubai
Flight promotions, ticket sales, student discounts, and airline promo codes are your best bet for saving on airfares to Dubai. These special offers can save hundreds of dollars or give you free travel perks like seat upgrades or extra checked baggage.
OTAs miss out on most sales
Airlines flying to Dubai often use sales and promotions as key marketing tools to attract and retain customers while boosting seat occupancy. However, when you search for airfares on popular OTA websites like Expedia, Kayak, or Skyscanner, you won’t find these heavily discounted tickets there. Airlines often reserve the most aggressive or enticing promotions for their own direct sales channels — primarily their websites.
How to find Dubai promotions?
To take advantage of promotional flights to Dubai — including special codes, vouchers, student discounts, and even flights discounted by up to 50% — your best strategy is to check airline websites consistently. You can also follow their social media channels and subscribe to newsletters from leading carriers.
The catch
That being said, finding truly valuable promotions can be tricky, as the uncomfortable details are often hidden in the fine print. Many sales are limited to unpopular routes, with inconvenient layovers or blackout dates. Some promotions come with strings attached or conditions that are difficult to match.
Top promotions from 100+ airlines
That’s where our team steps in. We do all the heavy lifting for you, keeping track of all ongoing sales and promotions from more than 100 airlines! We vet each sale, discount, or promotion and ensure that only quality offers with authentic value make it onto our final list.
Dubai flight promotions can often be found among our list of best airline discounts — emailed weekly to 110,000 Air Traveler Club subscribers.
Flights to Dubai from United States and Canada
- There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Dubai. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Dubai, as do some larger airports in the Middle East – your journey will have at least one stop. Direct flights from Canada (Toronto) to Dubai are operated by three airlines: Air Canada, Emirates, and Etihad Airways, with an average flight time of around 13 hours. If you're looking for a non-stop connection from the US, check out Emirates, Etihad Airways, JetBlue, and United Airlines for the latest offers. They have direct flights to Dubai from the largest hubs in the US, including Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington.
- Dubai is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Dubai with one layover depart from most major North American airports, including Atlanta
ATL, DallasDFW, DenverDEN, ChicagoORD, Los AngelesLAX, Las VegasDFW, MiamiMIA, SeattleSEA, HoustonIAH, New YorkJFK, and San FranciscoSFOin the United States and TorontoYYZ, VancouverYVR, CalgaryLAS, and MontrealYULin Canada. - The best airlines to fly to Dubai from the US and Canada are: Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines. They are top full-service carriers, offering exceptional customer service, in-flight comfort, a generous checked baggage allowance, and reliable customer support channels – all included in the ticket price.
Best aircraft for long-haul flights to Dubai
For long-haul flights, the aircraft type can make a huge difference to your overall comfort on board — especially if you’re flying economy. The best aircraft have comfier seats with more legroom, USB charging ports, WiFi connectivity, superior entertainment systems, and a better passenger experience in every cabin.
When booking a flight to Dubai, it’s worth spending a few minutes researching the type of aircraft you’ll be flying on. Look for airlines that use wide-body planes designed for long-haul flights, such as:
- Airbus A350. Best choice. Known for its advanced air filtration and higher cabin pressure, which enhance overall passenger well-being. Operated by Delta Air Lines, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines.
- Airbus A380. Offers unparalleled spaciousness and amenities like onboard lounges and shower spas in premium classes. Used by non-US airlines such as Emirates, Qantas, Lufthansa, and British Airways.
- Boeing 767. Often features a 2-3-2 seating configuration in economy, reducing the number of middle seats. The largest operators are Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Japan Airlines and ANA.
- Boeing 777. Renowned for its wide cabin, it offers a sense of spaciousness and often includes advanced in-flight entertainment options. Used by American Airlines, United Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Korean Air, and Air France.
- 787 Dreamliner. Celebrated for its larger windows and dynamic lighting, designed to help regulate passengers’ circadian rhythms and reduce jet lag. Operated by Air Canada, American Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines, and Etihad Airways.
Connect to Wi-Fi
Dubai International Airport offers fast, unlimited free Wi-Fi that you can use immediately upon arrival. Use your phone to look for networks, select “DXB Free WIFI” then press “Get online now”.
Check your terminal at DXB airport
If you are transiting via Dubai DXB, double-check which terminal your next flight is from. Dubai International Airport is huge and getting between terminals involves taking a shuttle bus or the metro. Typically, most international flights operated by third-party airlines such as British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, Turkish Airlines, etc depart from Terminal 1, Emirates and some low-cost carriers (Flydubai, Air India Express) use Terminal 2, and most of the full-service airlines (Air Canada, Garuda, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, etc) fly from Terminal 3.
Avoid currency exchange kiosks at airports
Airports are infamous for making an exuberant amount of money from their currency exchanges due to the extremely high margins, and Emirati airports are no exception. Airport kiosks usually charge higher fees which are sometimes hidden within the poorer exchange rates they offer – their business is based on charging extra for being a convenient, last-minute option.
It is always a good idea to bring cash to Dubai. Plan ahead and exchange some money for Emirati dirham at home, or use one of the many ATMs at the airport and in almost every city.
Chill in the Zen Garden
You’ll find it at Terminal 3, between gates B7 and B27. It’s an area that comprises a fish pond, lush trees, and benches – a perfect spot for relaxing or reading a book while listening to the sounds of water. Zen garden also provides a play area for children to keep them occupied.
Flights to Dubai from UK, Germany, France, Netherlands and other countries in Europe
- There are no direct flights from Europe to Dubai — you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in the Middle East or in Asia. Direct flights from Europe to Dubai are just a few hours long (around 6 hours if you fly non-stop from Frankfurt, and just 4 hours 30 minutes from Athens). Most European hubs have a nonstop connection to Dubai — including Amsterdam, Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris, Prague, Warsaw, Vienna, and Zurich. Among the airlines that operate Europe — Dubai routes, you'll find both full-service carriers such as Air France, British Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa, Neos Air, SWISS, Turkish Airlines, and low-budget companies by the likes of Air Arabia, Eurowings, FlyDubai, Pegasus Airlines, Smartwings, and Wizz Air.
- Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Dubai include Air France, British Airways, Condor, Cyprus Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Luxair, SWISS, and Turkish Airlines.
- Consider departure airports in neighboring countries to increase your chance of spotting the best deal. Especially look for large airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines. For example, if you live in Western Europe, check air tickets to Dubai from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Leverage frequent promotions from European budget carriers like RyanAir, EasyJet, and Eurowings to reach a major hub; from there, take a cheaper long-haul flight to your final destination, potentially saving hundreds of euros.
- These major European airports are excellent departure points for trips to Dubai: London
LHRand ManchesterMANin the United Kingdom, FrankfurtFRAand MunichMUCin Germany, ParisCDGand NiceNCEin France, AmsterdamAMSin the Netherlands, MadridMADand BarcelonaBCNin Spain, RomeFCOand MilanoMXPin Italy, BrusselsBRUin Belgium, CopenhagenOSLin Denmark, OsloOSLin Norway, StockholmARNin Sweden, ZurichZRHin Switzerland, LisbonLISin Portugal, ViennaVIEin Austria, WarsawWAWin Poland, PraguePRGin the Czech Republic, and DublinDUBin Ireland.
Dubai flight deals. How to book the best fares?
Our go-to solution for finding and booking the best deals to Dubai is Google Flights. Whenever we send SuperDeals to 110,000 members of Air Traveler Club, we include links to Google Flights so each deal can be secured immediately.
Google Flights’ powerful engine simplifies deal hunting. It searches and compares flight prices available from airlines and online travel agencies (OTAs) such as Expedia, Opodo, or eDreams. However, it doesn’t sell flights directly to travelers—instead, it passes users on to the airline or OTA to book directly with them.
How to know if the Dubai deal we sent you is actually saving you money? One of Google Flights’ standout features is a color-coded bar underneath the booking options. This bar provides a visual representation of the price compared to the typical fare (for the same route, class, and airline)—indicating whether it is lower, average, or higher. If the marker falls within the green zone (“price is low”), don’t hesitate to secure this deal as it is significantly — 40% to 80% — cheaper than average and unlikely to drop further.
If you see that your flight has the marker within the orange zone (“price is typical”) or in the red zone (“price is higher”), it means that the deal has already ‘expired’. Airfare deals often ‘expire’ because airlines frequently move cheaper flights further away from the departure date. This is when the Google Flights Price Graph tool comes in handy:
Using this tool, you can experiment with various dates and trip lengths. This perfect deal to Dubai may still be available — but for different date combinations.
Last-minute flights to Dubai. The real cost of convenience.
Last-minute flights are often touted as a great way to save money, but the reality is far from it. Booking last-minute flights to Dubai almost always never works out. The convenience of being able to book a flight on the fly is a dangerous game of chance, and you will most likely end up paying significantly higher than booking in advance.
The common perception may be that airlines decrease ticket prices to fill empty seats as the departure date approaches. However, the truth is that airfares depend on demand. Based on years of research and current customer data, the airlines know what people are willing to pay for specific flights and dates. They are also well aware that people are willing to pay a premium for flights they need to take immediately. To make the most money, the airline will sell its cheapest fares first and then increase the prices right before the flight to take advantage of business travelers and others who are willing to pay the premium price for late booking.
Occasionally, airlines can put some seats on sale to fill the remaining seats, but these are for unusual times and unpopular places. Popular destinations and dates around peak travel times tend to sell out quickly.
Planning ahead is key to securing a good deal on your flight. Last-minute flight deals are hard to come by, so as soon as you have a tentative travel timeline, book your flight. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to save money. If you are looking for a good deal, the best time to book your flight to Dubai is 2-8 months before the takeoff.
Looking for the best deals for Dubai? Check different departure airports.
Airlines often have varying prices for flights to Dubai from different airports – even if they are in close proximity to one another. So don’t limit yourself to just your nearest airport. The neighboring cities may have lower-priced flights that include a layover at Dubai, or may even have direct flights that are more budget-friendly.
For example, if you’re looking to fly from Paris to Dubai, it may be worth checking prices for flights departing from London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or Rome. Yes, you may have to fly a few hundred kilometers to these hubs, but domestic low-cost airlines like EasyJet, RyanAir, or WizzAir will happily take you there for less than €100.
The same goes for long-haul flights to Dubai from anywhere in the world. By broadening your search to include neighboring airports, you may discover lower-priced options that can save you hundreds of euros!
Domestic flights from Dubai
Most domestic routes in UAE are operated by local carriers. When traveling to popular tourist destinations such as Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah from Dubai Airport and Dubai World Central Airport, you’ll likely fly with one of these domestic airlines: Emirates, Etihad Airways, Air Arabia, FlyDubai, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, Rotana Jet, and Royal Jet.
This is often the best transportation method, providing speed, convenience, and cost-effectiveness. Local airlines often offer multiple daily flights to key destinations, providing flexibility in scheduling and competitive pricing. They also serve smaller regional airports, enabling access to a wider range of Emirati destinations.
Flights to Dubai from Australia and New Zealand
- Australia and New Zealand are well-connected with popular Asian destinations, including Dubai. In addition to domestic airlines – Qantas, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand – routes from Australasia to Asia are operated by large international carriers such as ANA, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways.
Currently, there are no direct flights from Australia or New Zealand to Dubai. You’ll need a layover in one of the major hubs in Asia. - Airfare costs can vary widely depending on the route and the airline’s pricing strategy. To find the cheapest flight to Dubai, compare ticket prices from various international airports in Australia – Sydney
SYD, BrisbaneBNE, MelbourneMEL, PerthPER, AdelaideADL, CairnsCNS, Gold CoastOOL, CanberraCBR, and in New Zealand – AucklandAKL, WellingtonWLG, ChristchurchCHC, QueenstownZQN, and DunedinDUD. - For optimal savings, consider flying from Australia or New Zealand to a key Asian hub, then connect to Dubai via a regional low-cost carrier. Among budget airlines that fly to Dubai are Air Arabia, Air India Express, Cebu Pacific, FlyNas, Flyadeal, FlyDubai, Jazeera Airways, Pegasus Airlines, Saudia, SalamAir, Smartwings, Vistara, and Wizz Air.
For the first leg, use the budget carriers that fly out of Australian airports, leveraging sales and promotions they run frequently: AirAsia (connects with Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore), Cebu Pacific (Manila), Jetstar (Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo), Scoot (Singapore), VietJet Air (Ho Chi Minh City), Bamboo Airways (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Beijing), and Batik Air (Jakarta, Singapore).
“Hot seats” on long-haul flights
Those days seat selection is considered an optional, extra paid service – seats with extra legroom (front and exit rows) are usually priced higher. However, if you’re about to take a long-haul flight to Dubai, those “hot seats” are worth considering – expect to pay $50-$100, which is much less than upgrading to Premium Economy.
If you want to choose your seats, do this early (ideally during the booking) for a more extensive selection of available options.
Booking group flights to Dubai
Flights are cheaper when purchased in bulk rather than as individual tickets. Booking group flights to Dubai can be a cost-effective option for a school trip, family reunion, or corporate group traveling to a conference.
To qualify for the special group rate, the group must usually have at least 10 passengers. Discounts depend on the airline, group size, and travel dates, and typically range from 5% to 20% off the regular airfare.
Airlines and flight search websites typically limit automatic group bookings to 10 passengers. This limit reflects the complexity of managing larger groups, which require personalized service and more time to coordinate. To get the price quote for your group, you’ll need to contact the airline or a travel agent directly.
If you’re open to different airlines or want more personalized service, a travel agent may be a better choice. Travel agents may have access to discounted group rates to Dubai and can help with logistics and scheduling.
Flights to Dubai from Bali, Bangkok, Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, and other major hubs in Asia
- Asia is probably the best continent for short-haul and mid-haul flying. The sheer scale of this most populous region on Earth is reflected in the type of aircraft operating many shorter routes: intra-Asia flyers benefit from comfortable, wide-bodied aircraft by the likes of Boeing 777, 787 or Airbus A350, A330, and A380. When booking your flight to Dubai look for these bigger planes as they will almost always give you the best experience in every cabin, including better seat pitches, higher ceilings, and larger overhead bin space.
- Asia is also home to most of the world’s best airlines. There are only ten airlines that received the prestigious 5-star mark of quality from Skytrax, and all of them are from Asia: ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines. Choosing one of these airlines for your trip to Dubai will guarantee a pleasant journey – delicious meals served during the flight, great in-flight entertainment, and above-average airline customer service.
- Asia is extremely well served by low-cost regional airlines. If you are visiting UAE and want to see several other countries on a tight budget, they often have great sales with rock-bottom prices, while still offering a relatively comfortable flight experience. Among the best Asian budget airlines you can book without hesitation are AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Citilink, FlyDubai, Indigo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, SpiceJet, and VietJet Air. The cons? Being no-frills airlines they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight meals, or onboard entertainment. The departure times may also be quite inconvenient as they try to save money by flying at off-peak hours.
- Most major Asian airports have convenient and frequent flights to Dubai — including Changi (Singapore), Dubai (UAE), Hong Kong (China), Incheon (Seoul, South Korea), Indira Gandhi (New Delhi, India), KLIA (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Narita (Tokyo, Japan), Denpasar (Bali, Indonesia), Soekarno–Hatta (Jakarta, Indonesia), Ninoy Aquino (Manila, Philippines), Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok, Thailand), Taoyuan (Taipei, Taiwan), and others.
Proof of onward travel – a simple hack
Travelers who go on long trips often don’t have a set itinerary and fly on one-way tickets. The problem? For many APAC countries, proof of onward travel is a legal requirement. If you arrive at the airport without an onward ticket (from UAE to another country), you’ll either be forced to buy one online or forbidden from boarding the plane altogether.
The cheapest solution? Renting an onward ticket! Use the websites such as OneWayFly or OnwardTicket to get a flight reservation for a limited amount of time (usually 2 to 14 days). They work by actually booking you on a real flight out of UAE and giving you a confirmable flight reservation with a PNR (Passenger Name Record) under your name. After the time limit, your spot on the flight is automatically canceled. Such “temporary tickets” tend to cost anywhere from $10 to $20.
Fly now, pay later
Book Now Pay Later (BNPL) plans for flights have become a popular trend in the travel industry, allowing travelers to book flights and pay in installments. Among the airlines that offer this option are American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Qantas, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines. They partner with external financial companies to offer their loan services on the checkout page.
The BNPL plans come with varying terms and fees. Some may be interest-free but have fees for late-payments and require forced autoplay on your bank account, while others may have high annual percentage rates (up to 30-40% APR).
When considering BNPL financing for your flight to Dubai, it’s crucial to carefully evaluate the pros and cons, and thoroughly review the terms and conditions.