Travelling from London to Dubai: what you need to know
London has plenty of airports to fly out of. Check out your departure options from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) when organising your flight from London to Dubai. Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY) are the other main bases in the city.
When working out where to land in Dubai, Dubai Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) are the chief entry points.
Jump on a direct London to Dubai flight and you'll be travelling for an average of 7 hours.
Dubai is four hours ahead of London and is in the UTC+4 timezone.
With 68 flights a week between the two airports, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Dubai Airport (DXB) is the busiest route. Hop on the first flight from London to Dubai with Emirates at 09:05. If you prefer to get more out of your day before leaving, the last flight from LHR to DXB is with British Airways at 22:30.
For a stress-free start to your trip, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This will give you enough time to board your London to Dubai flight.
Flying over a peak time such as July? Public holidays and other high seasons can lead to longer lines at check-in and security. Play things extra safe and arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours before a domestic departure.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Dubai
Booking ahead of time is often the key to locking in a cheap London to Dubai flight. Fares tend to rise as seats fill up, so the nearer you get to departure, the more you'll likely spend on your ticket.
The 'Whole month' search tool shows you the cheapest plane tickets from London to Dubai throughout the month. It's a great way to snap up a bargain if your travel dates are flexible.
Stay on top of deals for cheap flights from London to Dubai by setting up a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or notification through the app when fares go down.
Find an affordable London to Dubai flight with the help of our filters. Choose your preferred times, airlines and number of stops, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Flying from London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Set off from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on a nonstop flight from London to Dubai. From LHR, you can travel directly to Dubai Airport (DXB).
Popular carriers that offer direct London to Dubai plane tickets departing from LHR include:
Stopovers are the ideal opportunity to take a travel break — and maybe even tour another city. When browsing London to Dubai flights leaving from London Heathrow Airport, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Here are some popular options to consider:
Brussels Airport (BRU)
Bahrain International Airport (BAH)
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
The journey from central London to LHR takes around 1 hour on public transport. If you drive, ride-share or get a cab, you'll cover the 26 kilometres in 55 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
After a hassle-free start to your trip? Stay near London Heathrow Airport. Whether you're catching an early flight from London to Dubai or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels are ideal:
Of the departures from London Heathrow Airport, 68.18% arrive as scheduled at their destination.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Rather start your trip at London Gatwick Airport (LGW)? This hub offers direct flights from London to Dubai, seamlessly connecting to Dubai Airport (DXB).
From LGW, you can book a direct London to Dubai plane ticket with Emirates.
Split up your London to Dubai flight with a stop so you can freshen up or perhaps go somewhere you've never been before. Top stopovers between London Gatwick Airport and Dubai include:
Hamad International Airport (DOH)
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Geneve Airport (GVA)
With public transport, you can travel from central London to LGW in around 30 minutes. The airport is roughly 40 kilometres away. Driving will take you about 1 hour 20 minutes.
Start your holiday early with an additional night away from home. Before your flight from London to Dubai, kick back in one of these hotels close to London Gatwick Airport:
As far as flight punctuality goes, London Gatwick Airport has an on-time arrival performance of 69.26%.
Stansted Airport (STN)
You can board a direct flight from London to Dubai setting off from Stansted Airport (STN). Book a ticket and fly nonstop to Dubai Airport (DXB).
Prepare for takeoff with Emirates. It offers direct London to Dubai plane tickets from STN.
You can reserve a ticket from London to Dubai with one or more stops leaving from Stansted Airport (STN). These are some of the most popular stopovers between STN and Dubai:
Vienna International Airport (VIE)
J. Paul II International Airport Krakow-Balice (KRK)
Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE)
STN is roughly 48 kilometres from central London. Driving from the city centre to the airport takes about 1 hour. If you're thinking about using public transport, you can expect a journey of around 1 hour 25 minutes.
Make taking an early London to Dubai flight one of the easiest parts of your trip. Book a room at one of these accommodation options close to Stansted Airport and get to the check-in counter with plenty of time to spare:
Airports have an on-time performance rating that measures how often flights reach their destinations when they should. At STN, that rate is 64.73%.
Arriving in Dubai
Dubai Airport (DXB)
Dubai Airport (DXB) is approximately 10 kilometres from central Dubai. If you're catching a cab or a ride-share, the drive takes roughly 15 minutes.
It usually takes 50 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
If you're coming in on a late flight from London to Dubai, nothing beats the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your luggage from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing soon after at one of these accommodation options near DXB:
Follow your own route with a Dubai Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from AMEX, Autostrad Rent A Car or Quicklease Car Hire and see more of Dubai and beyond.
To get the lowest price, book your ride from Dubai Airport around three weeks in advance of your London to Dubai flight.
Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC)
The centre of Dubai is located around 40 kilometres from Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). After your flight from London to Dubai has hit the runway and you've made your way to arrivals, expect a drive of about 45 minutes.
If you travel by public transport, the ride to the centre takes 2 hours 5 minutes or so.
After your flight from London to Dubai, tuck yourself in at a hotel close to DWC. These are some comfortable accommodation options that'll help you slip into relaxation mode:
Quicklease Car Hire, Quick Drive and Golden Key Car Hire make collecting a Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport rental car easy and quick. These trusted providers are located in or around the terminal and will have you on your way in a heartbeat.
Avoid last-minute price surges. Booking your ride three weeks ahead of your arrival at DWC will help you save.
Best time to go to Dubai
April is the quietest month for flights from London to Dubai, while January is the most popular. Pick the best time to go to Dubai based on whether you prefer a bustling atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.
The warmest month in Dubai is July, with temperatures ranging between 30ºC (86ºF) and 42ºC (108ºF). Lock in your London to Dubai ticket then if this is the type of weather you enjoy.
Search for cheap flights from London to Dubai in January if you want to travel in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 14ºC (57ºF) and 25ºC (77ºF) on average.
More about Dubai
After booking your flight from London to Dubai, take your pick from prime hotels that put you close to the action. Make one of these options your base for exploring Dubai:
All great journeys should include some sightseeing. Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall Heart and Desert safari tourism are essential stops on your Dubai itinerary.
Explore more of United Arab Emirates
You've visited Dubai, now it's time to discover other corners of United Arab Emirates. Journey around 23 kilometres north-east to Sharjah to check off its top attractions. From Al majaz waterfront to Petrofac and Al Montazah Park, there's plenty to keep you on the go.
If you're eager to discover another major destination in United Arab Emirates, consider Abu Dhabi, roughly 121 kilometres south-west of Dubai. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Emirates Palace, Dubai and Qasr Al Watan are among the biggest draws.