Finding Cheap Flights to Dubai
Dubai is one of the world’s most connected airports and Emirates is one of the largest international airlines — competition on the routes is significant, which works in your favour when looking for deals.
When to Fly to Dubai
Cheapest months: June, July, and August. Fares from London Heathrow can drop to £300–450 return in summer versus £600–1,000+ in December or January.
Peak prices: December (Christmas and New Year), January, and February command the highest fares. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend in November also creates a spike on UAE-bound routes.
Shoulder months: May, September, and October offer reasonable fares and increasingly tolerable weather. October is particularly attractive — fares are lower than November but the weather has already improved significantly.
Main Airlines to Dubai (DXB)
Emirates: The dominant carrier with the most route options, frequent flights, and the best loyalty programme for regular UAE visitors. Baggage allowance is generally generous. From London Heathrow (multiple daily), Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and others.
British Airways: Operates Dubai routes from Heathrow. Good for BA Avios holders. Generally slightly cheaper than Emirates on the same dates.
Virgin Atlantic: Heathrow to Dubai with good premium cabin options.
flydubai: The low-cost subsidiary of Emirates operating from smaller UK and European airports. No frills but competitive fares, particularly from Bristol, Newcastle, and other regional airports.
Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi): Abu Dhabi (AUH) is 90 minutes from Dubai by road. If you can get a significantly cheaper Etihad fare to Abu Dhabi, it is worth considering — the connection adds time but the saving can be substantial.
Qatar Airways (via Doha): Doha is a short connecting flight from Dubai. Good fares from the UK, US, and Australia on routes that naturally pass through Doha.
How to Find Deals
Flight comparison tools: Aviasales, Google Flights, and Skyscanner are the most effective tools for route and date comparison. Set up price alerts for your intended dates.
Flexible dates: Google Flights’ flexible date calendar shows the cheapest days to fly across a month — often flying Tuesday–Thursday midweek saves 10–20% versus weekend flights.
Book early for peak season: December and January flights fill quickly. Book 4–6 months ahead for the best prices on peak dates.
Summer last-minute: Last-minute fares in June–August can be very good if you have flexibility.
Stopover routes: Flying with a Middle Eastern carrier (Etihad, Qatar, Oman Air) via their hubs can be cheaper than direct routes from some origins, with the option to add a short stopover at no extra charge.
Baggage
The UAE has no special baggage restrictions on items entering the country, but local laws prohibit certain items (see our packing guide). Standard airline baggage rules apply.
Arriving at Dubai vs Abu Dhabi
If you are splitting time between Dubai and Abu Dhabi:
- Flying into Dubai (DXB): Generally more route options and competitive fares
- Flying into Abu Dhabi (AUH): Etihad’s hub — sometimes cheaper for those coming via Etihad-partner routes. Abu Dhabi is 90 minutes from Dubai by road.
For a practical flight search, try Aviasales which aggregates prices across airlines and booking platforms.
Routes from the US and Australia
From the US: Emirates operates non-stop flights from New York JFK (approximately 12.5 hours), Dallas Fort Worth, Los Angeles (approximately 16 hours), San Francisco, Washington Dulles, Boston, Seattle, Chicago, and Houston. Return economy fares typically range from USD 600–900 in summer and USD 1,100–1,600 in peak winter season. Etihad offers a competing route via Abu Dhabi from several US cities.
From Australia: Emirates serves Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth. The Perth–Dubai route is one of the longest non-stop commercial flights in operation (approximately 17 hours). Sydney to Dubai runs approximately 14 hours. Return economy fares from approximately AUD 1,200–1,800 in summer, AUD 1,800–2,500 in peak season.
From Canada: Emirates flies from Toronto Pearson (non-stop) and Vancouver (with a stop). Air Canada and British Airways offer connecting itineraries via London. Return economy from approximately CAD 950–1,500 depending on season.
Loyalty Programme Considerations
Emirates Skywards: If you fly Emirates even occasionally, sign up before your flight — miles accumulate quickly on long-haul fares and status benefits begin at the Silver level. Business class upgrades using miles are particularly good value on Emirates.
British Airways Executive Club (Avios): Avios holders should compare BA’s own Dubai route against partner redemptions — a one-way Dubai flight in economy requires approximately 30,000–40,000 Avios depending on availability. Avios also transfer to Flybe and Aer Lingus for domestic positioning flights.
Booking Timing
| Route | Best Booking Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UK–Dubai, peak season | 4–6 months ahead | December fares sold out 3+ months in advance |
| UK–Dubai, summer | 1–3 months or last-minute | Prices soften considerably |
| US–Dubai | 3–5 months ahead | Fewer direct flights mean less flexibility |
| Australia–Dubai | 3–5 months ahead | Competition limited; book early for best fares |
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is the cheapest time to fly to Dubai?
- June through September (summer) offers the lowest fares — typically 30–50% below peak prices. May and October are shoulder months with reasonable prices. December, January, and February (peak tourist season) command the highest fares.
- What is the cheapest airline to fly to Dubai?
- It depends on your origin. From the UK, flydubai (Dubai's low-cost carrier) sometimes offers competitive fares out of smaller UK airports. Emirates has routes from London Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, and others. From the US, Emirates, Etihad (via Abu Dhabi), and sometimes Qatar Airways code-shares offer competitive long-haul fares.
- How long is the flight from London to Dubai?
- Approximately 6.5–7 hours direct on Emirates, flydubai, or British Airways. From New York, the direct Emirates flight is approximately 12.5–13 hours. From Australia (Sydney or Melbourne), approximately 13–14 hours.
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