Flying to Dubai: Complete Guide to the World's Busiest Airport
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Flying to Dubai: Complete Guide to the World's Busiest Airport

Feb 8, 2026 8 min read

Everything you need to know about flying to Dubai International Airport, from the cheapest airlines to terminal tips and transit visa information.

Your Complete Guide to Flying to Dubai

Dubai International Airport (DXB) is the world's busiest airport for international passengers, handling over 87 million travelers annually. Whether you are visiting for business, leisure, or using Dubai as a transit hub, this guide covers everything you need to know.

Getting the Best Deals to Dubai

Dubai is served by airlines from every corner of the globe, but these consistently offer the best value:

From Europe:

Emirates — premium service, competitive fares from £350 return
flydubai — Emirates' low-cost sister, from £200 return
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi — ultra-low-cost option (fly to Abu Dhabi, 90 min from Dubai)

From North America:

Emirates — direct from JFK, LAX, SFO, IAH, ORD, BOS, SEA, DFW, MIA
United Airlines — codeshare options via partner hubs
JetBlue — connecting options via London

From Asia:

IndiGo — budget fares from India from $80 one-way
Air India Express — low-cost from Indian cities
flydubai — extensive Asian network

Dubai Airport Terminal Guide

Terminal 1: Home to most international airlines (excluding Emirates)

Terminal 2: Budget carriers including flydubai and charter airlines

Terminal 3: Exclusively for Emirates — the world's largest airline terminal

Transit Tips

Dubai offers free 48-hour transit visas for citizens of many countries, making it an excellent stopover destination. Emirates passengers can also book stopover packages starting from $50/night including hotel and transfers.

Best Months to Visit

MonthWeatherFlight PricesOverall Rating
Nov-FebPerfect (20-25°C)Peak pricesBest weather
Mar-AprWarm (25-35°C)ModerateGood value
May-SepHot (35-45°C)CheapestBudget travel
OctCooling (30-35°C)ModerateShoulder season

Money-Saving Tips for Dubai Flights

  1. 1.Fly midweek — Tuesday and Wednesday flights are 15-20% cheaper
  2. 2.Consider flydubai — same quality terminals, much lower fares
  3. 3.Book Emirates sales — they run major sales in January and June
  4. 4.Use Dubai as a hub — Emirates offers free stopovers on connecting itineraries
  5. 5.Check multi-city options — Dubai + another destination can be cheaper than Dubai alone
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