London Gatwick to Dubai International
5473 km great-circle distance, typically flown in 7h 14m with 6 airlines operating direct service from London Gatwick (LGW) to Dubai International (DXB). Cheapest fares are usually in January (around £298 return), with peak prices in August (around £738). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from London Gatwick
Gatwick is London's leisure-leaning airport — the home of British Airways' short-haul leisure operation, easyJet's largest UK base and a long lineup of TUI and Norwegian holiday flights. South and central London passengers reach it via the Gatwick Express or Thameslink. The mix is broader than Heathrow on European leisure routes, often cheaper, and you'll see the same destination served three or four times a day across competing airlines — useful when one carrier delays.
Arriving in Dubai
Dubai International is 5 km from Downtown Dubai, with the Red Line metro reaching Burj Khalifa in 22 minutes for AED 8. Emirates dominates the schedule; BA, Virgin Atlantic, Etihad (via Abu Dhabi) and the budget carriers add capacity. Peak season is November–April; July–September fares are the cheapest but city temperatures hit 45°C+. The route is the UK's busiest long-haul corridor by passenger volume.
Who flies LGW to DXB?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| British Airways | BA | 7h 14m | Economy |
| Virgin Atlantic | VS | 7h 14m | Economy |
| Norse Atlantic | N0 | 7h 14m | Economy |
| Emirates | EK | 7h 14m | Economy |
| TUI Airways | BY | 7h 14m | Economy |
| Norwegian | DY | 7h 14m | Economy |
6 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly LGW→DXB
Synthesised from 12-month price aggregates. Cheapest months in green, peak in red.
Estimated baseline. Prices update on a 30-day cadence as Travelpayouts data refreshes. Cheapest day-of-week typically Tuesday.
London to Dubai FAQs
Direct flights from London Gatwick (LGW) to Dubai International (DXB) take approximately 7h 14m for the 5473 km journey, plus 30–60 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Total airport-to-airport time depends on cruise winds and air-traffic queueing on approach.
January is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from £227. August is the peak — expect prices 2–3× higher. Book 4–8 weeks ahead for best fares; last-minute prices on this corridor rise sharply inside two weeks of departure.
6 carriers operate direct service from London Gatwick (LGW) to Dubai International (DXB): British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Norse Atlantic, Emirates, TUI Airways and 1 more. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — British Airways typically operates the highest weekly count on this corridor.
UK passport holders generally do not need a visa for short stays in United Arab Emirates (Schengen-area members allow 90 days in any 180-day window). ETIAS pre-authorisation will apply once live for European destinations. Always check gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/united-arab-emirates before booking.
Dubai International (DXB) is the primary international airport for Dubai. Allow 30–60 minutes for the ground transfer by train, express bus or taxi, depending on traffic and time of day. Most European hub airports sit 10–25 km from their host city centre. See the airport's official website for current train and shuttle timetables.