Flights to UAE from UK
Compare cheap fares to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah & more — all major airlines compared
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Based on historical fare data from UK airports to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah combined
Direct and connecting flights from major UK airports — London, Manchester, Birmingham & more
UAE fares from UK surge sharply during winter peak, Dubai Shopping Festival, Ramadan and school holidays
For Christmas, Dubai Shopping Festival and Eid al-Adha, 10–14 weeks ahead is the sweet spot. Emirates A380 business class and premium economy seats fill first. Budget carriers via Istanbul and Doha last slightly longer.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday departures on the UK-Dubai route can be 15–25% cheaper than Friday and Saturday flights. On a popular short-haul route like London to Dubai, that flexibility can save over £100 per person.
For group bookings of 4 or more passengers, calling TripNext directly often unlocks fares not available online. Our team knows the UAE routes inside out — including which carriers have last-minute seat releases and stopover deals.
Everything you need to know before you fly from the UK to Dubai or Abu Dhabi
The UAE — particularly Dubai and Abu Dhabi — has become one of the world's most visited destinations, welcoming over 17 million international tourists annually. UK visitors are the single largest source market, drawn by year-round sunshine, world-class shopping, luxury resorts, theme parks and a remarkable concentration of attractions within a compact area.
From the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the UAE offers extraordinary experiences for families, couples and solo travellers. With direct flights from London taking under 7 hours, it's comfortably within reach for a long weekend, a school holiday or a two-week winter escape.
The UAE is home to a substantial South Asian and broader expat community, with hundreds of thousands of British nationals either living or regularly working in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. UK families visiting relatives benefit from the UAE's generous baggage policies — particularly Emirates at 25–35kg economy — and multiple direct services from regional UK airports including Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Newcastle.
For families with children, Dubai is an exceptionally child-friendly destination with world-class theme parks, water parks and indoor entertainment options that make it ideal year-round. Emirates' generous economy allowance and excellent inflight entertainment make it consistently popular for family travel on this route.
Dubai is the Middle East's leading business and financial hub, hosting the offices of thousands of multinational companies across DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre), Dubai Media City and Abu Dhabi Global Market. The UAE attracts growing numbers of UK business travellers for meetings, trade shows, GITEX, Arab Health and World Future Energy Summit.
Emirates Business Class and Etihad Business Studio are widely regarded as the best business class products on the UK-UAE route. For business travellers based in the North or Midlands, Emirates' direct services from Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Newcastle provide genuine competition to London Heathrow and avoid the transfer to London entirely.
Plan your flights around the UAE’s biggest events, festivals and school holiday periods from the UK — May 2026 to end of 2027
| Event / Season | Approx. Dates (2026–27) | Key Destination(s) | Demand Level | Book By |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) | Jun – Aug 2026 | Dubai (DXB) | Best Value | Book any time — low demand |
| UAE National Day Long Weekend | 2 – 3 Dec 2026 | Dubai, Abu Dhabi | High | 10 weeks ahead |
| Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) | Dec 2026 – Jan 2027 | Dubai (DXB) | Peak | 14–18 weeks ahead |
| UK Christmas & New Year Travel | 23 Dec 2026 – 2 Jan 2027 | Dubai, Abu Dhabi | Peak | 16+ weeks ahead |
| IDEX (International Defence Exhibition) | Feb 2027 | Abu Dhabi (AUH) | High | 10–12 weeks ahead |
| UK February Half-Term | Mid-Feb 2027 | Dubai, Abu Dhabi | High | 10–14 weeks ahead |
| Ramadan (fasting month) | Mid-Feb – Mid-Mar 2027 (approx) | All UAE | Moderate | 6–8 weeks ahead |
| Eid Al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) | Late Mar 2027 (approx) | Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah | Peak | 12–16 weeks ahead |
| UK Easter School Holidays | Apr 2027 | Dubai, Abu Dhabi | High | 12–14 weeks ahead |
| Arab Health Exhibition | Jan 2027 | Dubai (DXB) | High | 8–10 weeks ahead |
| GITEX Global Technology Week | Oct 2027 | Dubai (DXB) | High | 10–12 weeks ahead |
| Eid Al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) | Early Jun 2027 (approx) | All UAE | Peak | 10–14 weeks ahead |
| UAE Low Season (Best Value) | Jun – Aug (annually) | All destinations | Best Value | Book any time |
| Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | Nov 2027 | Abu Dhabi (AUH) | Peak | 14+ weeks ahead |
Not sure when to fly? Call +44 20 7550 8212 for expert UAE route advice from our specialists
Call Now for Best FaresGroup bookings of 4 or more often unlock fares and seat allocations not available online
Whether you’re travelling as a family to Dubai for a holiday, attending a wedding in Abu Dhabi or organising a corporate trip to Dubai for a trade show or conference, booking as a group with TripNext means personalised fare negotiation, seat allocation support and dedicated help from booking through to boarding.
The most commonly asked questions about booking UAE flights from the UK, answered clearly
Which UK airport should you fly from? Compare all departure airports, airlines and routes to Dubai and Abu Dhabi
| UK Airport | Code | UAE Destinations | Airlines | Route Type | Total Flight Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Heathrow | LHR | Dubai, Abu Dhabi | Emirates, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Etihad, Qatar Airways | Direct (DXB/AUH) | 6h 45m – 7h 30m |
| London Gatwick | LGW | Dubai | Emirates, flydubai (connection), Turkish Airlines | Direct (DXB)Connecting | 7h – 11h |
| Manchester | MAN | Dubai, Abu Dhabi | Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines | Direct (DXB/AUH) | 7h 15m – 8h |
| Birmingham | BHX | Dubai, Abu Dhabi | Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways | Direct (DXB/AUH) | 7h 30m – 8h 15m |
| Glasgow | GLA | Dubai | Emirates | Direct (DXB) | 7h 30m – 8h |
| Newcastle | NCL | Dubai | Emirates | Direct (DXB) | 7h 30m – 8h |
| Edinburgh | EDI | Dubai | Emirates, Qatar Airways | Direct (DXB)Connecting | 8h – 10h |
| Bristol | BRS | Dubai | Emirates (via LHR), Qatar Airways (via DOH) | Connecting | 9h – 12h |
Route availability changes seasonally. Call +44 20 7550 8212 for the latest route and schedule information on your preferred departure airport.
Compare airlines on price, baggage, routing and service quality to choose the right one for your trip
| Airline | Route Type | Economy Baggage | From (one-way) | Connects Via | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emirates | Direct | 25–35 kg | £179 | Direct (DXB) | Families, comfort, regional UK airports | |
| British Airways | Direct | 23 kg | £195 | Direct (DXB) | Avios points, Heathrow lounge | |
| Virgin Atlantic | Direct | 23 kg | £189 | Direct (DXB) | In-flight experience, Upper Class | |
| Etihad Airways | Direct | 23–30 kg | £185 | Direct (AUH) | Abu Dhabi visits, business class | |
| Qatar Airways | Connecting | 23–30 kg | £199 | Doha (DOH) | Business class QSuites, on-time record | |
| Turkish Airlines | Connecting | 23 kg | £169 | Istanbul (IST) | Lowest fares, budget-conscious | |
| Air Arabia / flydubai | Connecting | 20 kg | £155 | Various hubs | Budget one-way, Sharjah (SHJ) access |
Prices are indicative. Fares vary by date, class and availability. Baggage allowances are for standard economy class and may differ by fare type. Call +44 20 7550 8212 for live pricing on any of these airlines.
Travelling to the UAE for an extended stay or shopping trip? Here’s what each major airline allows
Entry requirements differ depending on your purpose of visit — check your category below before you book
Entry requirements can change. Always verify the latest visa and entry rules on the official UAE government immigration website (icp.gov.ae) and the UK government’s travel advice page (gov.uk) before booking. TripNext does not provide visa advice — the information above is for general guidance only.
Maximise your savings with our expert timing recommendations for UK to UAE flights
June – August · UAE Summer
Nov – Mar · Christmas · DSF · Eid
Book 6–10 weeks before departure for best rates on UK to UAE routes
Mid-week departures save up to 25% compared to weekends
Hand-picked fares from major UK airports with trusted global airlines
EconomyLondon
Dubai
LHR → DXB
EconomyLondon
Dubai
LHR → DXB
EconomyManchester
Dubai
MAN → DXB
EconomyLondon
Abu Dhabi
LHR → AUH
EconomyBirmingham
Dubai
BHX → DXB
EconomyLondon
Dubai
LHR → DXB
The UAE is more than just Dubai — explore its incredible diversity of airports and destinations
Everything you need to know about flights to UAE from the UK
Call TripNext on +44 7478 061159, send a WhatsApp message to +44 20 3370 6756, or fill in the booking form on this page. Our UAE flight specialists will compare all available fares across Emirates, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Etihad, Qatar Airways and more to find you the best available price — including fares not always visible online.
Yes. Multiple airlines offer direct (non-stop) flights from UK airports to Dubai. Emirates operates direct services from London Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Newcastle and Edinburgh. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic fly direct from Heathrow. Etihad flies direct to Abu Dhabi from Heathrow and Manchester. The London Heathrow to Dubai flight takes around 6 hours 45 minutes.
London to Dubai direct takes approximately 6 hours 45 minutes to 7 hours. Manchester to Dubai takes around 7 hours 15 minutes. Birmingham to Dubai is approximately 7 hours 30 minutes. Connecting flights via Istanbul, Doha, or other hubs add 2–5 hours to total journey time. London to Abu Dhabi direct on Etihad is around 6 hours 45 minutes.
June, July and August are the cheapest months to fly from the UK to the UAE. This is the UAE’s summer season when temperatures exceed 40°C and international leisure demand drops. Avoid November through March (popular winter season), December (Christmas and Dubai Shopping Festival) and the Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha periods. Mid-week departures on Tuesday or Wednesday save an additional 15–25% year-round.
No. UK citizens receive a free 30-day visa on arrival at Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah airports. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry. You may be asked to show proof of accommodation and onward travel. The 30-day visa can be extended for an additional 30 days. For long-term stays, work or the UAE Golden Visa, a pre-arranged visa is required — check icp.gov.ae for the latest information.
Emirates allows 25–35kg in economy depending on the fare class — the most generous on this route. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic allow 23kg. Etihad allows 23–30kg and Qatar Airways 23–30kg. Turkish Airlines allows 23kg. Always confirm your exact allowance at booking. For shopping trips back from Dubai, Emirates’ higher allowance is especially useful.
Book Christmas and New Year flights to Dubai at least 14–18 weeks in advance — ideally by September for December travel. Fares rise sharply from October onwards. December in Dubai coincides with the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), making it the busiest period of the year. Emirates A380 business class and premium economy on this route sell out particularly early. Call TripNext for the best group and festive season fares.
Emirates is the most popular and widely regarded as the best airline on the UK to Dubai route for most travellers. It offers the widest network from UK regional airports, the most generous economy baggage allowance (up to 35kg), the iconic A380 double-deck aircraft on many Heathrow routes, and exceptional in-flight entertainment. For business class, Qatar Airways QSuites and Etihad Business Studio are strong competitors. For lowest fares, Turkish Airlines often beats all carriers on economy pricing.
Expert advice from our UAE travel specialists — read before you fly
Seasonal GuideWhen are fares cheapest? When is the weather best? A complete seasonal guide for UK travellers planning UAE trips in 2026 and 2027, including Dubai Shopping Festival dates.
Airline GuideComparing baggage, price, in-flight comfort and on-time performance across the main airlines operating UK to UAE routes in 2026.
Booking TipsFrom booking windows to mid-week departures, Abu Dhabi vs Dubai routing strategies and fare alert tools — how UK travellers save hundreds on UAE fares.
Explore popular routes and travel pages
Call, WhatsApp or submit the form — our UK-based UAE specialists are ready to find you the best fare to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and beyond.