Cheap flights from the UK to Dubai

Flying from the UK to Dubai: overview

Dubai is one of the easiest long-haul trips you can make from the UK. Non-stop flights take around seven hours, and Emirates alone serves a long list of UK airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh. British Airways also flies from Heathrow. For many people across the UK, a non-stop flight to Dubai is available from an airport within a reasonable drive.

Because there are so many flights, the fare you pay depends heavily on when you travel. Dubai is a winter-sun destination for British holidaymakers, so demand peaks from November to March, especially around Christmas, New Year and February half-term. In the height of summer, when temperatures regularly exceed 40°C, tourist demand drops – though flights still carry large numbers of passengers connecting to Asia, Africa and Australia.

Dubai International (DXB) is the main airport and is close to the city, but it is not the only option. Dubai World Central (DWC) to the south and Sharjah (SHJ) to the north both handle passenger flights, and depending on where you are staying and which airline you use, one of them may suit you better.

This guide covers the practical side of getting there: which UK airports offer the best options, when to book for winter sun and school holidays, how Ramadan and Eid affect your trip, what to know about DXB, DWC and Sharjah, and whether to treat Dubai as a destination or a stopover.

Quick facts: UK to Dubai

Non-stop or one stop?

For most travellers, a non-stop flight is the obvious choice. At around seven hours, it is a manageable trip, and with Emirates flying from several UK airports and British Airways from Heathrow, you often have a choice of departure times. Timings range from daytime flights that arrive in the evening to overnight flights that land early in the morning, so think about when you want to arrive, especially if your hotel room will not be ready until the afternoon.

One-stop flights can be cheaper, especially in peak periods, when non-stop fares rise. Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, Qatar Airways via Doha, Oman Air via Muscat, Gulf Air via Bahrain and European carriers via their hubs all get you to Dubai with a single connection. The saving has to be weighed against the extra time – a one-stop journey can take 10 hours or more – but for a family of four in the Christmas holidays, it can add up.

If your nearest airport does not have a non-stop flight, compare flying from a bigger airport with connecting via a hub. A drive to Manchester or Birmingham for a non-stop flight can be quicker overall than a two-leg journey from a small regional airport.

Popular stopover hubs for Dubai

Which UK airport to fly from

Fares to Dubai can vary a lot depending on where you start. The table below summarises the main options from around the UK. It is often worth comparing two or three airports within reach — including the cost of getting there.

Cheapest and busiest times to fly to Dubai

Demand, and therefore price, rises and falls through the year. Use this as a guide to when fares tend to be highest and where the better-value windows usually are.

When to book flights to Dubai

For Christmas and New Year, book early – several months ahead is sensible. Dubai is one of the most popular winter-sun destinations for UK travellers, and non-stop flights over the holidays fill up. The same applies to February and October half-terms.

For other winter dates, a few months’ notice usually gives you a good choice. Compare Emirates with British Airways from Heathrow, and check nearby airports – Birmingham, Manchester or Gatwick can be cheaper than Heathrow on the same dates.

In summer, you can often find reasonable fares closer to departure, although UK school holidays still push prices up. If you are happy to handle the heat, this can be the best time for hotel deals.

Package holidays that combine flights and hotels are widely available for Dubai and can be good value, particularly in peak periods. Compare them with booking flights and hotels separately to see which works out cheaper for your dates.

Stopover in Dubai vs flying straight there

Dubai is one of the world’s biggest transit hubs, and many UK travellers pass through it on the way to Asia, Australia or Africa. If you are heading further afield, breaking your journey with a night or two in Dubai can turn a long, tiring trip into two manageable halves – and give you a short city break at the same time.

Emirates has offered stopover packages that include hotel stays and transfers, and booking a multi-city ticket (for example, UK to Dubai, then Dubai to Bangkok a few days later) is often not much more than a straight-through fare. Check the price of both before you book.

If Dubai is your destination, a non-stop flight is usually the way to go. If Dubai is a stopover, think about the time of year – in summer, the heat makes sightseeing hard work, so a short stopover in an airport hotel may be more comfortable than a trip into the city.

• Search multi-city fares to compare a stopover with a straight-through ticket.
• Check whether a Dubai stopover requires a visa for your nationality on GOV.UK.
• In summer, plan indoor activities or keep the stopover short.

DXB, DWC and Sharjah explained

Dubai International (DXB) is the main airport and is close to the city centre, with the Metro Red Line linking it to Downtown, Dubai Marina and other areas. Emirates uses Terminal 3; most other international airlines use Terminal 1, and Terminal 2 is used largely by flydubai and regional carriers. Depending on traffic, a taxi to Downtown Dubai can take around 15 to 30 minutes.

Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) is south of the city near Jebel Ali and Expo City. It is being developed as a much larger airport in the long term, but for now it handles a smaller number of passenger flights. It is further from central Dubai, but can be convenient for Dubai Marina, Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi.

Sharjah (SHJ) is just north of Dubai and is the main base of Air Arabia, which flies to many destinations across the Middle East, Asia and Africa. It is not usually the airport you would fly into from the UK, but it can be useful for onward low-cost flights. Allow plenty of time for the road journey between Sharjah and Dubai, as traffic can be heavy.

Ramadan and Eid in Dubai

Ramadan moves about 10 to 11 days earlier each year, following the lunar calendar. In 2027, it is expected to start around 8 February, with Eid al-Fitr expected around 9–10 March, although the exact dates depend on moon sighting. During Ramadan, daily life in Dubai changes, with different opening hours and expectations around eating, drinking and behaviour in public during daylight hours.

Ramadan can be a good time to visit if you want lower hotel rates and a different experience of the city, but it is worth being aware of local customs. GOV.UK’s travel advice for the UAE includes guidance on Ramadan and local laws.

Eid al-Fitr, at the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha, around two months later, are public holidays in the UAE. Flights in and out of Dubai can be busy around both, as residents travel home or on holiday. Book early if your dates fall around Eid.

Baggage on flights to Dubai

On non-stop flights to Dubai, baggage allowances depend on the airline and fare type. Emirates and British Airways both offer different fare levels, and the cheapest may include less checked baggage – or none. Check the allowance for your specific fare before you book.

Some fares use a weight concept (a total weight across your bags) and others a piece concept (a set number of bags, each with a weight limit). Know which applies so you can pack accordingly and avoid excess fees.

If you are connecting in Dubai to another destination, your baggage allowance is usually set for the whole journey on one ticket. If you book separate tickets – for example, a UK–Dubai flight and a separate low-cost flight onwards – allowances can differ, and you may need to collect and re-check your bags.

For shopping trips, remember that UK customs allowances apply when you return. Check GOV.UK guidance on what you can bring back without paying duty.

Visas and entry requirements

Entry rules can change at short notice and depend on your nationality and passport. Before you book, check the official GOV.UK foreign travel advice for United Arab Emirates for the latest entry requirements, passport validity rules and safety advice. If your journey connects through another country, check whether you need a transit visa for the stopover too.