United Arab Emirates Travel Guide

Plan your trip to United Arab Emirates

Choose a city and airport first, then compare airlines and routes.

The United Arab Emirates is in Western Asia, with Abu Dhabi as its capital. Specify the exact airport, arrange local connections according to ticket and service eligibility, and confirm entry documents before travel to Dubai.

Capital
Abu Dhabi
Currency
UAE Dirham / AED
Common language
Arabic is commonly used; confirm available language services with the provider
Time
IANA time zone Asia/Dubai (UTC+4, no daylight saving time); confirm local times on your itinerary

Major airports in United Arab Emirates

Compare location, airlines and ground transport to choose the most convenient airport for your trip.

Airlines for travel in United Arab Emirates

An airline’s hubs can determine whether your trip is nonstop or requires a connection.

Airlines, codes, key hubs and networks for travel in United Arab Emirates
AirlineCodeKey hubsNetwork
EmiratesEKDXB / BKK / ACC / ATH / BCN / CMB / GIG / HKG / JFK / LCA / LUN / MIAEmirates provides route- and cabin-specific baggage guidance; confirm your own ticket’s allowance.
Etihad AirwaysEYAUH / ATH / ADD / AER / AGP / AMD / AMM / AMS / ATL / BAH / BCN / BEYEtihad lists flights from Abu Dhabi (AUH) to London (LHR).
flydubaiFZDXB / CMB / MLE / PEN / ZNZ / JMK / ADD / AER / AHB / AJF / ALA / AMDflydubai lists direct flights from Dubai to Belgrade.
Air ArabiaG9SHJ / RKT / CAI / CCJ / DME / JED / KZN / PEW / SVX / ADD / AER / AHBAir Arabia PJSC states that flights operate from, to or via Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.
Air Arabia Abu Dhabi3LAUH / ALA / AMD / AMM / BAH / BEY / CAI / CCJ / CCU / CGP / CMB / COKAir Arabia Abu Dhabi announced its AUH–Aleppo service.
Turkish AirlinesTKIST / AYT / GRU / JNB / NIM / OUA / ACC / AMM / AQJ / BJL / BKK / BKOTurkish Airlines lists Dubai (DXB) to Istanbul (IST) flights.
AEGEANA3ATH / SKG / HER / RHO / KLX / LCA / JMK / JTR / IST / TLV / BRU / MUCAEGEAN lists flights from Dubai to Athens.
LufthansaLHFRA / MUC / BER / LHR / RUH / ZRH / ABV / AGP / ALA / ALC / AMS / ARNLufthansa lists flights from Dubai (DXB) to Frankfurt (FRA).
SWISSLXZRH / GVA / AGP / ARN / ATH / CPH / DUB / FRA / GOT / GRU / JFK / LGWSWISS lists the DXB–ZRH route.

How to travel around United Arab Emirates by air

What to expect when flying between cities or connecting after an international arrival.

Flying between cities in United Arab Emirates

  • Check coach transfers and flight segments
    Emirates lists its Abu Dhabi–Dubai and Al Ain–Dubai connections as coach services. Check the transport mode shown for each segment; a coach transfer is ground transport, not a domestic flight.

Arriving from another country

  • Check visa eligibility before travel to Dubai
    Dubai Airports advises checking visa eligibility before departure. Confirm requirements for your nationality, passport, status and itinerary with the relevant authorities or mission.

Popular cities to visit in United Arab Emirates

Open an airport guide to compare airlines, nonstop destinations and practical travel information.

International routes to United Arab Emirates

Compare arrival airports and plan for time zones, baggage and onward connections.

Popular international flight routes to United Arab Emirates
RouteArrival airportRegion
LHR to DXBDXBGB
FRA to AUHAUHDE
JFK to DXBDXBUS

Before you fly to United Arab Emirates

Complete these checks before departure.

Identify flight-numbered coach segments in UAE itineraries

Emirates operates flight-numbered ground coach services between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and Al Ain and Dubai; a third-party provider operates the bus journey. Check whether the ticketed segment is a coach or an actual flight, and confirm the listed pickup and drop-off points.

Check cabin baggage by route and class

Emirates states that cabin baggage allowances may vary by route and travel class. Check your ticket and each segment rather than applying another product’s allowance.

Explore United Arab Emirates travel information

Continue to detailed pages for cities, airports, airlines and routes.

United Arab Emirates flight and airport FAQs

Can every traveler simply use Emirates’ coach service?

Do not assume so. Relevant ticket, cabin and advance-booking conditions apply; confirm your eligibility with Emirates before travel.

Do all Emirates routes and cabin classes have the same baggage allowance?

Allowances may vary by route and travel class; check your own ticket and the operating airline’s current guidance.