When to book for the cheapest London–Dubai flights
Cheapest flights London to Dubai
Lowest return economy fares currently available. All fares include one checked bag (23kg) and in-flight meals.
| Airline | Departure | Aircraft | Cabin | Price |
| Emirates | STN 13:40 → DXB | Boeing 777 | Economy Saver | £299 |
| Emirates | LGW 09:15 → DXB | Boeing 777 | Economy Saver | £315 |
| British Airways | LHR T5 10:00 → DXB | Boeing 787-9 | World Traveller | £359 |
| Emirates | LHR T3 14:30 → DXB | Airbus A380 | Economy Flex | £389 |
| Virgin Atlantic | LHR T3 20:45 → DXB | Airbus A350 | Economy Classic | £415 |
Who flies London to Dubai?
| Airline | Airports | Duration | Cabin | From | Baggage |
| Emirates | LHR (T3), LGW, STN → DXB | 7h 15m | Saver / Flex / Business / First | £299 | 25kg hold included |
| British Airways | LHR (T5) → DXB | 7h 10m | WT / WT+ / Club / First | £359 | 23kg hold included |
| Virgin Atlantic | LHR (T3), LGW → DXB | 7h 20m | Economy / Premium / Upper | £415 | 23kg hold included |
Three direct carriers with 15+ daily departures. Emirates dominates with A380 service LHR–DXB three times daily (plus daily from LGW, MAN, BHX, GLA and STN 777 service). BA and Virgin use 787/A350. Business £1,800–£3,500; First (Emirates/BA) £4,500–£9,000.
Best time to fly — 12-month heatmap
Cheapest months in green, peak in red. Return economy fares.
🟢 Cheap (£299–£359) 🟡 Average (£359–£550) 🔴 Peak (£550+). Opposite of European routes — Dubai summer is TOO hot (45°C), so fares drop. Christmas/NYE and February half term are peak.
Alternative routes to Dubai
London to Dubai FAQs
Eastbound (LON→DXB) takes 7h 10m–7h 25m depending on routing and aircraft. Westbound (DXB→LON) is slightly longer at 7h 45m–8h due to prevailing headwinds. Emirates LHR–DXB service uses the A380; BA operates 787-9 Dreamliners; Virgin use A350s.
UK passport holders get a 30-day visit visa on arrival free of charge at Dubai International (DXB) — no pre-application needed. Just scan your passport at the e-gate or present at immigration. Passport must be valid for 6 months from entry. Check gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/united-arab-emirates for the latest.
Yes on this route — particularly in Business or First. Showers in First class. 14-abreast in Economy (wider seats than most 777s). Quieter cabin (engines further from fuselage). Two aisles. Onboard bar at the rear in Business/First. LHR–DXB is Emirates' flagship route with the best crew and the newest A380s. If you're paying premium, go Emirates.
Heathrow has the most choice — Emirates x3 daily (A380), BA x3 daily (787), Virgin Atlantic x1 daily (A350). Gatwick has Emirates and Virgin. Stansted has one daily Emirates 777 service. Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow also have daily Emirates direct. For the A380 experience, LHR is the only option from London.
May to September is cheapest — returns from £299 economy. Dubai summer hits 40–45°C and tourism dies, so fares collapse. UAE hotels and malls are aggressively air-conditioned inside, so summer is arguably fine if you're OK moving between indoor venues. Winter (November–March) is peak European tourism season with fares often £600+ return, peaking at Christmas/NYE (£895+) and February half term.
Yes — Emirates offers free Dubai stopovers of up to 96 hours on their LON–DXB–onward tickets (subject to fare class), plus discounted hotel vouchers and "Dubai Experience" packages. Very useful if you're flying onwards to Asia, Australia, the Maldives or Africa via DXB — book the multi-city ticket through Emirates direct to unlock the stopover option.