how to fly to dubai
42% God Save the Points
29% View from the Wing
15% Points Miles and Bling
14% Other
There are many routes and price points you can use to get to Dubai, whether you’re traveling from North America, Europe, or elsewhere.
Direct and Low‑Cost Options from the United States
- United and Air Canada offer round‑trip fares as low as $508–$515 from several U.S. cities (Newark, Washington DC, Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, etc.) with a connection through Toronto View from the Wing View from the Wing .
- These fares require a Saturday‑night stay, have a $300 change fee, and are available for travel between late August‑October or early April‑May View from the Wing View from the Wing .
Indirect Routes Using Fifth‑Freedom Flights
- Emirates runs “roundabout” itineraries that can be cheaper than a direct flight, such as Hong Kong → Bangkok → Dubai or New York → Milan → Dubai, leveraging fifth‑freedom legs for lower cash or points pricing Points Miles and Bling .
Business‑Class Deals from Europe
- From several Euro‑city hubs (Helsinki, Budapest, Paris, Dublin, Rome, etc.) you can find business‑class seats to Dubai starting around €895 (£787) with airlines like KLM, Swiss, and British Airways God Save the Points .
- Swiss and Lufthansa also run competitive business‑class fares out of Paris or Nice, connecting via Zurich or Frankfurt on Airbus A330 aircraft, with no minimum‑stay requirement God Save the Points .
- Finnair now operates direct Helsinki → Dubai A350 service, with round‑trip deals as low as £623 (≈€728) God Save the Points .
Via Etihad Through Abu Dhabi
- Etihad flies from several North‑American airports (including Toronto) to Abu Dhabi; from there you can take a private car (≈ $100–$200 CAD) or Etihad’s bus service to Dubai, a 1.5–2‑hour journey Points Miles and Bling .
Practical Tips for Booking and Travel
- Use airfare‑search engines such as Momondo to locate the advertised low‑fare deals and compare prices View from the Wing View from the Wing .
- For flights departing after August 1 2020, a negative COVID‑19 PCR test certificate was required for entry into Dubai (as noted for Lufthansa’s A330‑300 service) Sam Chui .
These options let you choose the route, airline, and price that best fit your schedule and budget.
Getting to Dubai – Best Flights, Points Redemptions and Insider Tips
Before December 2022, I had never been to Dubai. I was on the fence about visiting the UAE—uncertain if I’d enjoy the culture, or if it was the kind of place I could relax and have fun in. Spoiler alert: I had an incredible time. So incredible, in fact, that I’ve since returned over 10 times for extended stays, not to mention a dozen more layovers under 24 hours—most of them courtesy of a certain A380 that I can’t seem to resist. If you’re curious about making the trip yourself, here’s a breakdown of all the ways—classic and quirky—that I’ve
AMAZING AIRFARE: Several US Cities to Dubai from $515 Roundtrip
United and Air Canada have a fare between several US cities and Dubai that starts at $515 roundtrip. Travel is via Toronto on Air Canada. You can fly from Newark, Washington DC, Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, and possibly other cities as well. Burj Al Arab Here’s an ITA Matrix search showing good pricing but not quite as good as I’m seeing. Most websites will have this starting at $594 but you can get the cheaper pricing using airfare metasearch site Momondo. Visit the Burj Al Arab for tea, get out into the desert to Starwood’s Al Maha, regardless $500 roundtrip to Dubai is a fantastic fare. And it’s available when weather is lovely rather than oppressive. Al Maha Desert Resort (HT: AirfareSpot)
AMAZING AIRFARE: Several US Cities to Dubai from $508 Roundtrip
United and Air Canada have a fare between several US cities and Dubai that starts at $508 roundtrip. Travel is via Toronto on Air Canada. You can fly from Newark, Washington DC (Dulles or National), Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, and possibly other cities as well. Burj Al Arab Here’s an ITA Matrix search showing good pricing but not quite as good as I’m seeing. Most websites will have this starting at $594 but you can get the cheaper pricing using airfare metasearch site Momondo. Visit the Burj Al Arab for tea, get out into the desert to Starwood’s Al Maha, regardless $500 roundtrip to Dubai is a fantastic fare. Al Maha Desert Resort (HT: AirfareSpot)
Lufthansa “Unusual” Business Class Flight To Dubai + Dubai Arrival Procedures
After a spectacular Lufthansa B747-8 flight in First Class from LA, I transited through Frankfurt and waited for the next leg of my journey to Dubai. This flight would be in Business Class and I was eager to see the how the service would differ from First Class, due to the COVID-19 concerns. The First Class Lounge airside at B23 was closed, along with the the First Class Terminal landside. The only First Class Lounge that was open was at A13, which is not available to transiting passengers outside of the Schengen area. So I had no choice but
Amazing Deal: €895+ Business Class Euro Cities To Dubai – Round Trip…
Dubai is the perfect European escape. With minimal jet lag, maximum sunshine and affordable five star hotels at every turn, it’s an easy destination for a long weekend, and if you can stay longer – it gets even better. Thanks to fantastic sales, you can jet off to Dubai in the comfort of fully flat business class, making the journey almost as exciting as the destination! Quite a few airlines are offering some of the best deals of the year for business class to Dubai, starting at just €895 (£787). Not only can you score flat beds for the
Hot Deal: €896+ Business Class Euro Cities To Dubai Round Trip…
Temperature aside, Dubai is hot right now. With minimal jet lag from Europe and infinity pools galore, it’s quite the spot. Airlines throughout the continent are upping their game to compete with Emirates world class business class offerings, and that means flight deals worth shouting about from almost any city! Right now you can fly round trip in the comfort and sophistication of business class starting at €896, or about £769. That’s a total bargain for a bed in the sky. SkyTeam and Star Alliance are offering outstanding prices from cities all over Europe to Dubai. Each deal featured
Hot Euro Cities To Dubai Business Class Deals From £625 Round Trip
Flying in the comforts of flat bed business class is always fun, but it’s even more enjoyable when you get a taste of culture from your comfy seat. Finnair is one of the best airlines in the world in this regard, offering unique regional menus and drinks, including my all time favorite, a spiked blueberry juice, to go along with Marimekko touches and other delights. Swiss isn’t far behind, nor is KLM. All are offering great deals to Dubai right now If you’re thinking about Dubai, and would love to earn some more points while scoring a lot