Dubai Flights
Flying from all major UK airports on all major airlines, we have loads of discounted flights to Dubai, so simply use our search box below to book the cheapest available Dubai flight.
Search flights
- Grand Moov Hotel - 4* - Dubai
from £75 - Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort and Spa
Dubai from £1049 - Habtoor Grand Resort & Spa - 5* - Dubai
from £220 - Stay at the world renowned Jumeirah Beach Hotel with free access to Wild Wadi Water Park
Dubai from £1329 - Jormand Hotel Apartments Sharjah - 3* - Dubai
from £52
- Flights to Dubai from Birmingham International Airport
- Flights to Dubai from Cardiff
- Flights to Dubai from Edinburgh
- Flights to Dubai from Glasgow International Airport
- Flights to Dubai from London Gatwick Apt
- Flights to Dubai from London Heathrow Apt
- Flights to Dubai from Manchester International Apt
Dubai first grew as a hub on the ancient trading route between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley and, by the 19th century, a small fishing village had taken root on the Shindagha peninsula, at the mouth of Dubai Creek. The village was inhabited by the Bani Yas tribe, who were led by the Maktoum family, the dynasty that still presides over Dubai today. The citys remarkable success story really began in the 1960s. During the process of shaking off the shackles of British colonial rule, oil was struck in 1966 and Dubai has never looked back. Since the 1960s, the population has mushroomed to almost 1.5 million and now an ever-growing number of hotels welcome in the temporary ex-pat workers and tourists who help propel the economy. Indeed, only 22% of the Emirates population, at last count, were actually ethnically Emirati in a population mixture that has to be one of the worlds most cosmopolitan. This diversity discourages any real ethnic tensions and while conflict might rage further north in Iraq, Dubai so far has been trouble-free.
Dubais evolution has been dramatic, with sweeping skyscrapers and gleaming office blocks rising up on the banks of the Creek. Development has been well managed, with a structure and order to the city that demonstrates that the oil wealth has been well handled and channelled. The rulers of Dubai have a penchant for grand projects one year a new extension to the port facilities, the next the worlds tallest purpose-built hotel and now the Palm Islands, a massive project that will bring over 100km (62 miles) of new beachfront, through the creation of the worlds three largest manmade islands, as well as hotels, villas, shopping malls, cinemas and Dubais first marine park. Land-hungry Dubai is increasingly looking to the waters of the Arabian Gulf in search of new land on which to develop, as recently evidenced by yet another outlandish project, The World, which aims to build 300 islands in the shape of the worlds countries. Dubai seems to know no end to its ambition, nor does it have any inhibitions, with new plans, such as those for the Middle Easts largest shopping mall, the new airport at Jebel Ali and the worlds tallest tower in Burj Dubai, constantly on the drawing board. Even the lifeblood Creek itself is not sacrosanct and plans have recently been announced to alter its course and widen it.
The regional instability that has followed the Iraq war and the rise of Al-Qaeda has, however, put a strain on the emirate and still threatens to hit tourism, one of its most successful industries. Tourism currently remains remarkably resilient with more and more tourists flocking to Dubai every year, which is unsurprising really, considering the idyllic climate for much of the year, with constant sunshine and only an average of five days of rainfall annually. During summer, however, the heat is extreme, making trips away from air-conditioned vehicles and buildings unbearable.
The future prospects of the emirates tourist industry and its economic situation as a whole may be increasingly governed by developments in the rest of the Middle East, but for now Dubai is a city on the rise and rise.
- Ski Dubai
Following man-made islands, underwater hotels and rotating restaurants, Ski Dubai is the Emirates' latest extravaganza, bringing an Alpine experience to the middle of Dubai's desert. This monumental indoor snowdome has a capacity of 1500 guests and is one of the largest in the world. - Dubai Shopping Overview
Increasing numbers of shoppers choose Dubai as their favoured destination due to the combination of exoticism, absence of sales taxes, reasonable prices (even before bargaining!) and the variety of products on offer. From traditional souk districts selling gold and spices to modern shopping malls, department stores and exclusive boutiques, Dubai has it all. - Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House
The Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House is one of the oldest in Dubai, as well as one of the best examples of traditional architecture. Built in 1896, the one-time ruler of the city used the house to monitor trade in and out of the country. It was opened as a museum in 1986. - Garden Rooftop
Located in Wafi City, the Garden Rooftop is one of Dubai's coolest venues, featuring live music and open-air movies every weekend. - Bastakia District
The Bastakia district, on the waterfront east of the Dubai Souk and Diwan, features a number of traditional wind-tower houses - precursors to air conditioning.
Airport Guide
Dubai International Airport
Airport Information
Country
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Address
Department of Civil Aviation, Dubai International Airport, PO Box 2525, Dubai, UAE
Country Code
971
Telephone
(0)4 216 2525 or 216 6333
Fax
(0)4 224 4067
Via the airport's website
Website
www.dubaiairport.com
Location
The airport is located 4km (2.5 miles) southeast of Dubai
Time Zone
GMT + 4
Number of Terminals
2
Airport News
Construction of Terminal 3 and Concourse 2 and an additional Concourse 3 is underway. Terminal 3 and Concourse 2 will be ready by the end of 2007, while Concourse 3 will be ready by 2008. Work on a Cargo Mega Terminal has begun. This will be built in phases and is scheduled to be completed by 2018.
Transfer between Terminals
Transfer between the terminals takes about 10 minutes using the airport shuttle service. The Terminal 1 Departures concourse (Sheikh Rashid Terminal) is linked to Terminal 1 via a tunnel with travelators. Terminal 2 is used exclusively for business and charter flights.
Driving Directions
The Airport Road runs directly southeast from Dubai city centre on the east side of The Creek (Al-Khor). From locations south of Dubai, cross Al-Khor at Al-Garhoud Bridge and drive north, then turn right at the intersection with Airport Road. Terminal 2 is situated to the north of Terminal 1, accessed from Al Towar Road and Rashidiya.
Car Parking
Both short-term (Car Park A) and long-term (Car Park B) parking facilities are available.
Car Hire
There are several car hire companies available in the Terminal 1 Arrivals hall, including Budget, Hertz, Sixt and Thrifty.
Public Transport
Road: Taxi: Prepaid taxis to the city centre are available 24 hours a day in the Terminal 1 Arrivals hall. Limousine: Limousine hire can be arranged in the Arrivals hall (journey time to the city centre: 10 minutes). Bus: A bus service runs to the city centre. Bus stations are situated opposite both Terminal 1 and 2. Local buses nos.4, 11, 15, 33 and 44 connect with Terminal 1, while bus no.2 connects with Terminal 2. Dubai International Airport Buses provide air-conditioned transport into the city centre and over 80 hotels.
Information and Help Desks
The DTCM Tourist Kiosk (Department of Tourism and Commerce), in the Terminal 1 Arrivals hall, provides tourist information, maps and tours. The travel desk, situated next to the customs X-ray machines, can arrange hotel reservations.
Airport Facilities
Money and communications: The airport has banking services and ATMs in both terminals. There are 24-hour bureaux de change facilities near gates 8, 18 and 22 and a 24-hour post office near gate 18 on the Sheikh Rashid Departures concourse. Dubai Duty Free (website: www.dubaidutyfree.com) also offers foreign exchange, banking and Internet facilities. Eating and drinking: There are some 25 restaurants, cafés and bars in the Sheikh Rashid Departures concourse. The Food Court is located on the upper level, between gates 13 and 15, with outlets including fast food and international cuisine. An Irish Village is located near gate 23. There are also restaurants in Terminal 2. Shopping: There is comprehensive duty-free shopping at the airport. Dubai Duty Free has a massive array on offer at the Terminal 1 Sheikh Rashid Departures concourse and the ground level of the Departures hall, while Terminal 2 has a special bulk purchasing desk. Luggage: There is a baggage relocation system in place, which electronically tags each piece of luggage, in order to make retrieval of lost luggage faster and easier. Other facilities: There is a 24-hour fully-equipped medical centre, located on the ground level of the Terminal 1 Sheikh Rashid Departures concourse, near gate 13 (tel: (0)4 216 4950). There are also prayer rooms (for either men or women), a lounge for women, a children’s play area and the the G-Force Health Club (tel: (0)4 216 4257) with a swimming pool, gym and massage facilities.
Conference and Business Facilities
There are two business centres within the Terminal 1 Sheikh Rashid Departures concourse. The Connect Business Centre (tel: (0)4 216 4278), in the Dubai International Airport Hotel, has five meeting rooms, accommodating from six to 18 delegates, and a conference room for up to 60 delegates. There is also a first-rate communications system, eight workstations, and secretarial and office services facilities. Global Link, near gate 16, has six ISD booths, workstations with Internet and fax, and secretarial services around the clock. Touch-screen Internet kiosks, which take credit card payments, are located opposite the DCA First Class Lounge (gate 9) and the Irish Village (see above). There are several first- and business-class lounges, many with workstations and Internet access, in both Terminal 1 and 2. VVIP and VIP lounges, with private offices and showers, are available for passengers using the Am Majilis facility, which must be booked 24 hours in advance (via the airport’s website).
Disabled Facilities
There are desks dedicated to passengers with special needs between rows A and B in the Departures hall. Electric carts are available to transport passengers to/from the new Sheikh Rashid Departures concourse, where disabled passengers can access special lounges near gates 9 and 22; a dedicated lounge for disabled travellers is also available in the Arrivals hall. Assistance is available for those with special needs; passengers should request special assistance from their airline prior to travel. Rooms for disabled passengers are available in the Dubai International Airport Hotel (see below).
Airport Hotels
The Dubai International Airport Hotel (tel: (0)4 216 4300 or 4289), a five-star facility, is located on level three of the Sheikh Rashid Departures concourse; rooms are available on a nightly and hourly base. There are many hotels situation in the vicinity, the closest being Holiday Inn Dubai, Golden Tulip Aeroplane, Rimal Rotana Suites, InterContinental Dubai, Le Meridien Hotel Dubai, Sheraton Diera Hotel, Taj Palace Dubai, Four Points Bur Dubai, Sheraton Dubai Hotel, Ramada Dubai and Marriott JW Dubai. Many hotels offer courtesy shuttle buses to/from the airport. Hotel reservations can be made in the Arrivals hall.
City
Dubai
Full Airport Name
Dubai International Airport
AU
BE
DE
DK
ES
FR
IE
IT
SE
NO
NZ
UK
US