Practical tips
- 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).
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.
- 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.
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.
40–80% off flights to Dubai
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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. Book when you notice a significant drop in price.
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.
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. If you must travel during peak times, book your flight well in advance.
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.
Prime Booking Window
For long-haul flights to Dubai, the best time to book your ticket is around 4–6 months before departure. This 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 a.m.) 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.
Flights to Dubai from 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.
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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.
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.
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).
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Flights to Dubai
from 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.
Flights to Dubai dataset
