United Arab Emirates · DXB
Flights to Dubai
A city where the month you choose changes the trip more than the hotel
Dubai is unusual among long-haul destinations in that the weather does not merely vary by season, it determines whether the outdoor half of the city is usable at all. A trip in January and the same trip in July are barely comparable experiences.
It is also a common stopover on the way to Asia, Africa or the Indian subcontinent, which means a Dubai visit is often worth pricing as a deliberate stopover rather than a separate trip.
Getting to Dubai
Airports
Dubai International (DXB) handles almost all passenger traffic and sits close to the city. Al Maktoum (DWC) is much further out and used by a small number of services, so check which one an itinerary means.
Flight time
Roughly 12 to 13 hours non-stop from New York and around 16 from Los Angeles. Itineraries with a European connection add several hours but sometimes cost noticeably less.
Into the city
The Metro Red Line runs from Terminals 1 and 3 and is quick and cheap, though it does not run through the early hours. Taxis are metered, plentiful and reasonable by US standards.
When to go
Demand rather than price is described here on purpose. Any fare we show you comes from a live search on your own dates, so a fixed figure on this page would be out of date before you read it.
Peak
November to March
Warm, dry and comfortable, which is exactly why it is the busiest and most expensive window. Beaches, terraces and desert trips all work properly in these months.
Shoulder
April and October
Hot but manageable, with softer demand. A reasonable compromise if your dates are fixed by something else.
Cheapest
June to September
Genuinely extreme heat, often above 40°C with high humidity. Fares and hotel rates drop hard, and the trip becomes an indoor one: malls, museums and hotel pools.
Good to know
- Currency
- UAE dirham (AED), pegged to the US dollar
- Language
- Arabic, with English very widely spoken
- Time zone
- Gulf Standard Time, UTC+4, no daylight saving
- Power
- Type G plug, 220V
- Entry for US passports
- A visa on arrival is generally issued for short visits. Requirements differ by nationality and change, so confirm with UAE authorities before booking.
Entry requirements change and we are not an immigration authority. Always confirm the current rules for your nationality with the relevant government before you book or travel.
Worth sorting before you fly
Check whether your dates fall in Ramadan
The dates move each year. Visiting is entirely possible and can be a rewarding time to go, but daytime dining hours change and the atmosphere is different from what most itineraries assume.
The working week is not Monday to Friday
The weekend runs Saturday and Sunday, with Friday a shorter working day. It affects opening hours, traffic and how busy attractions are.
Dress expectations are more relaxed than assumed, but not absent
Beach and pool wear is normal at hotels and beaches; malls and public areas expect shoulders and knees covered. Mosques have stricter requirements.
Price it as a stopover if you are heading further east
If your onward destination is in Asia or the subcontinent, a deliberate multi-day stop is often cheaper than treating Dubai as a separate trip, and it breaks up a very long journey.
Other destinations
FAQ
Dubai — common questions
Airports, timing, and when it is worth talking to an agent.
Is it a bad idea to visit Dubai in summer?
It depends entirely on what you want from the trip. Between June and September the heat genuinely restricts outdoor activity for most of the day, so a beach-and-desert holiday does not really work. If your plans are largely indoors, the savings on both flights and hotels are substantial and the city functions normally. Be honest with yourself about which trip you are booking.
How long is the flight to Dubai from the US?
Roughly 12 to 13 hours non-stop from the East Coast and around 16 from the West Coast, which makes some of these among the longest scheduled flights operating. Connecting itineraries through Europe add hours but can cost less, so it is worth seeing both options side by side before deciding whether the saving is worth the extra travel day.
Can you add a Dubai stopover to a longer trip?
Yes, and it is often the better way to visit. Because Dubai is a major connecting hub, a stop of a few days on the way to or from Asia can cost little more than a straight-through ticket. Pricing that properly means comparing a through-fare with a stopover against two separate bookings, which is a reasonable thing to ask an agent to work through with you.
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