Finding low-cost flights to Dubai is about timing, routing and the right low-cost carrier — the cheapest fares land in the low season, on a Tuesday or Wednesday, booked 8 to 12 weeks ahead.Dubai is one of the world's best-served cities for cheap flights, because it is the home base of Emirates and flydubai, and a short hop from the Sharjah hub of Air Arabia and the Abu Dhabi hub of Wizz Air and Etihad. The cheapest months to fly are June to September, the low season, when fares drop sharply because of the heat; the cheapest days are Tuesday and Wednesday; and the cheapest booking window is 8 to 12 weeks ahead for an international flight and 6 to 8 weeks ahead for a regional flight. This guide walks through how to find a low-cost flight to Dubai end to end — the low-cost carriers, the cheapest months, the flexible dates, the fare alerts, and the airport choice — and then covers everything else you need to book the rest of your Dubai trip: hotels, car rentals, eSIMs, bikes and Dubai GetYourGuide tours.
The short version: search a whole-month view to find the cheapest day, set a price alert, and book 8 to 12 weeks ahead. If the fare into Dubai is high, check Sharjah (Air Arabia, a 30-minute taxi from Dubai) or Abu Dhabi (Wizz Air and Etihad, a 90-minute drive). The Dubai-based low-cost carrier flydubai codeshares with Emirates, so you can earn Emirates Skywards Miles on a cheap flydubai ticket. For the broader guide to flying into Dubai, see our Dubai travel guides.
Low-Cost Airlines Flying to Dubai
flydubai is the Dubai-based low-cost carrier and codeshares with Emirates, so a flydubai leg can be booked through an Emirates ticket and can earn Emirates Skywards Miles. Air Arabia flies out of Sharjah, a 30-minute taxi from Dubai, and Wizz Air flies out of Abu Dhabi, a 90-minute drive — both are often much cheaper than a fare into Dubai for the same region. IndiGo has a high frequency from Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad, and Pegasus and SalamAir cover Turkey and Oman. The full-service carriers into Dubai are Emirates, Etihad, Qantas, British Airways, Lufthansa and many others.
Low-Cost Flights to Dubai — Key Facts
Cheapest months to fly to Dubai
June to September (low season)
Best weather months
November to March (high season, higher fares)
Cheapest days to fly
Tuesday & Wednesday (international)
How far ahead to book
8–12 weeks for international, 6–8 for regional
Dubai hub low-cost airline
flydubai (codeshares with Emirates)
Neighbouring low-cost hub
Sharjah (Air Arabia), 30 min from Dubai
Dubai airports
DXB (Dubai Intl) & DWC (Al Maktoum)
Visa for Dubai
Free visa-on-arrival for most nationalities
Airport to city
20 min by metro from DXB, taxi from AED 40
When to Book a Low-Cost Flight to Dubai
Jun–Sep
Cheapest months (low season)
8–12 wks
Ahead to book (international)
Tue & Wed
Cheapest days to fly
The cheapest months to fly to Dubai are June to September, the low season, when the heat is at its peak and the fares drop sharply. The trade-off is the weather: daytime temperatures in summer regularly exceed 40°C (104°F), so most outdoor sightseeing moves to the early morning or the evening, and most of the day is spent indoors in the air-conditioned malls, hotels and attractions. If you can handle the heat, the low season is the cheapest time to fly and to stay — hotel rates also drop by 30 to 50 percent. The shoulder months of October and April are a good compromise, with reasonable weather and fares lower than the peak winter months of November to March. The cheapest days to fly internationally are Tuesday and Wednesday, while Saturday is often the most expensive. Book 8 to 12 weeks ahead for an international flight and 6 to 8 weeks ahead for a regional flight.
Dubai, Sharjah or Abu Dhabi?
Dubai (DXB)
20 min by metro to the city. Home of Emirates and flydubai. The most convenient airport if the fare is reasonable.
Sharjah (SHJ)
30 min taxi from Dubai, around AED 40–60. Base of Air Arabia. Often the cheapest fares in the region.
Abu Dhabi (AUH)
90 min drive from Dubai, taxi AED 250–300. Base of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi and Etihad. Sometimes the cheapest long-haul fares.
If the fare into Dubai is high, check Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. Sharjah (Air Arabia) is a 30-minute taxi from Dubai and the taxi is around AED 40 to 60, so Sharjah fares are often the best value if you can find a route that works. Abu Dhabi (Wizz Air and Etihad) is a 90-minute drive, and the taxi is around AED 250 to 300 (about USD 70 to 85), so you need to factor the transfer cost into the fare — if the fare saving is more than the transfer cost, fly into Abu Dhabi. Fly into Dubai International (DXB) rather than Al Maktoum (DWC) if the fare is similar, because DXB is 20 minutes by metro to the city while DWC is an hour by taxi.
Tips for Finding Low-Cost Flights to Dubai
- The cheapest months to fly to Dubai are June to September, the low season, when fares drop sharply because of the heat — the high season is November to March when fares climb
- The cheapest days to fly internationally are Tuesday and Wednesday, with Saturday often the most expensive — shift your departure by a day or two to save
- Book 8 to 12 weeks ahead for an international flight to Dubai, and 6 to 8 weeks ahead for a regional flight, in the window where the cheapest fare buckets are still open
- flydubai is the Dubai-based low-cost carrier and codeshares with Emirates, so you can book a flydubai leg through an Emirates ticket and earn Emirates Skywards Miles
- Air Arabia flies out of Sharjah, which is a 30-minute taxi from Dubai — Sharjah fares are often much cheaper than Dubai fares for the same region
- Wizz Air Abu Dhabi flies into Abu Dhabi, a 90-minute drive from Dubai, and often has the cheapest fares from Eastern Europe to the UAE
- Use a flight search engine with a whole-month view to find the cheapest day, then set a price alert and book the moment the fare hits your target
- Fly into Dubai International (DXB) rather than Al Maktoum (DWC) if the fare is similar — DXB is 20 minutes by metro to the city, while DWC is an hour by taxi
- A one-stop flight through a Middle East hub is often cheaper than a direct flight to Dubai, especially from Europe and South Asia
- Add a stopover in Dubai on an Emirates or flydubai ticket — Emirates offers free or discounted stopover packages that include a hotel and a desert safari
- Check the baggage allowance on the low-cost fare before you book — a cheap flydubai fare sometimes has a carry-on-only allowance, and adding a bag at booking is cheaper than at the airport
- Use your airline miles to book a low-cost flight — flydubai and Emirates Skywards Miles can be used on flydubai flights, and many other low-cost carriers partner with a frequent flyer program
Dubai in Pictures
A preview of where your low-cost flight lands — a budget airliner taking off from Dubai at sunrise, the Dubai skyline at sunset, the Dubai Mall fountain show at night, Dubai Marina at dusk, the desert dunes at golden hour, and the Burj Al Arab on a clear day.
Dubai Flights
Search live low-cost and full-service fares into Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, with real-time availability on every departure. Compare flydubai, Air Arabia, Wizz Air and the full-service carriers.
Dubai Hotels
Book a hotel in Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, JBR or the Palm — from the Burj Al Arab to budget aparthotels, with the best locations for the Burj Khalifa, the Mall of the Emirates and the beaches.
Book Dubai HotelsDubai Car Rentals
Book a car in Dubai — the easiest way to explore the desert, Abu Dhabi and the UAE's east coast, with pick-up at Dubai Airport or in the city. Note that the UAE drives on the right.
UAE eSIM
Install a UAE eSIM before you fly so you have data, maps and messaging the moment you land at Dubai — no airport SIM queue and no roaming charges on the way to the city. Coverage is excellent on 5G across the UAE.
Get a UAE eSIMRent a Bike in Dubai
See Dubai the active way — ride the Palm Jumeirah crescent, the Dubai Marina promenade, or the Al Qudra desert cycle path. Book a road or mountain bike online ahead of time, and carry water — the heat is real.
Rent a Bike in DubaiDubai Tours & Experiences
Once you land at Dubai, the city opens up. Go up the Burj Khalifa, watch the Dubai Mall fountain show, take a sunset desert safari with dune bashing and a BBQ dinner, sail a traditional dhow on Dubai Marina, shop the gold and spice souks, take a day trip to Abu Dhabi for the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and walk the Palm Jumeirah. Browse and book top-rated Dubai experiences below, all with free cancellation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find low-cost flights to Dubai?
To find low-cost flights to Dubai, use a flight search engine with a whole-month view to find the cheapest day to fly, then set a price alert on that day and book when the fare hits your target. The cheapest months to fly to Dubai are June to September, the low season, when fares drop sharply because of the heat, while the high season is November to March when fares climb. The cheapest days to fly internationally are Tuesday and Wednesday. Book 8 to 12 weeks ahead for an international flight and 6 to 8 weeks ahead for a regional flight. The main low-cost carriers into Dubai are flydubai (the Dubai-based low-cost carrier, which codeshares with Emirates), Wizz Air (which flies into Abu Dhabi, a 90-minute drive from Dubai), Air Arabia (which flies out of Sharjah, a 30-minute taxi from Dubai), Pegasus Airlines (from Turkey), IndiGo (from India) and SalamAir (from Oman). A one-stop flight through a Middle East hub is often cheaper than a direct flight, especially from Europe and South Asia.
What is the cheapest month to fly to Dubai?
The cheapest month to fly to Dubai is usually August, in the middle of the low season (June to September), when the heat is at its peak and the fares drop sharply. June, July and September are also cheap. The trade-off is the weather: daytime temperatures in summer regularly exceed 40°C (104°F), so most outdoor sightseeing moves to the early morning or the evening, and most of the day is spent indoors in the air-conditioned malls, hotels and attractions. If you can handle the heat, the low season is the cheapest time to fly and to stay — hotel rates also drop by 30 to 50 percent. If you want the best weather, book November to March, but expect higher fares and higher hotel rates. The shoulder months of October and April are a good compromise — reasonable weather and fares that are lower than the peak winter months.
Which low-cost airlines fly to Dubai?
The main low-cost airlines that fly to Dubai are flydubai (the Dubai-based low-cost carrier, which codeshares with Emirates and flies from the Middle East, South Asia, East Africa and Eastern Europe), Wizz Air (which flies into Abu Dhabi, a 90-minute drive from Dubai, from Eastern Europe and the Middle East), Air Arabia (which flies out of Sharjah, a 30-minute taxi from Dubai, from the Middle East and South Asia), Pegasus Airlines (from Turkey), IndiGo (from India, with high frequency from Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad) and SalamAir (from Oman). The full-service carriers into Dubai are Emirates (the Dubai-based flag carrier), Etihad (which flies into Abu Dhabi), Qantas, British Airways, Lufthansa and many others. The cheapest fares are usually on the low-cost carriers, but a one-stop flight on a full-service carrier through a Middle East hub is sometimes cheaper than a direct flight, especially from Europe and South Asia.
How far in advance should I book a cheap flight to Dubai?
You should book a cheap flight to Dubai 8 to 12 weeks ahead for an international flight and 6 to 8 weeks ahead for a regional flight, in the window where the cheapest fare buckets are usually still open. Book earlier than that and the airline has not yet released the cheaper fare buckets; book later and the cheaper buckets have sold out. The exception is the low season (June to September), when fares stay low for longer and you can sometimes book as little as 2 to 4 weeks ahead and still get a cheap fare. Set a price alert on your route 3 to 4 months ahead and watch the fare trend — when it drops into your target range, book it. Avoid booking in the 7 to 10 days before departure, when the fares climb sharply because the flight is nearly full and the airline knows business travellers will pay.
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Abu Dhabi?
It depends. Abu Dhabi (AUH) is about a 90-minute drive from Dubai, and flights into Abu Dhabi on Wizz Air Abu Dhabi and Etihad are sometimes much cheaper than flights into Dubai, especially from Europe. The trade-off is the transfer: a taxi from Abu Dhabi to Dubai costs around AED 250 to 300 (about USD 70 to 85), and a bus costs around AED 25, so you need to factor the transfer cost into the fare. If the fare saving is more than the transfer cost, fly into Abu Dhabi. If the fare saving is small, fly into Dubai International (DXB), which is 20 minutes by metro to the city. Sharjah (SHJ), where Air Arabia is based, is a 30-minute taxi from Dubai and the taxi is around AED 40 to 60, so Sharjah fares are often the best value if you can find a route that works.
What is the cheapest day of the week to fly to Dubai?
The cheapest day of the week to fly to Dubai internationally is usually Tuesday, followed by Wednesday, while Saturday is often the most expensive. The difference can be 10 to 20 percent on a long-haul fare. The reason is demand: business travellers fly on Monday and Thursday and return on Friday, while leisure travellers fly on Friday and return on Sunday, so Tuesday and Wednesday are the quietest days and the airlines drop the fares to fill the seats. For a regional flight from within the Middle East or South Asia, the day-of-week effect is smaller, but Tuesday and Wednesday are still usually the cheapest. Use a whole-month view on a flight search engine to see the fare for every day of your month, with the cheapest days highlighted, and shift your departure by a day or two to save.
Do low-cost flights to Dubai include baggage?
It depends on the fare. The cheapest low-cost fares — the 'Lite' or 'Basic' fares on flydubai, Wizz Air, Air Arabia and the others — usually include a carry-on bag only (often 7 kg) and no checked bag. To add a checked bag, you buy a 'Value' or 'Plus' bundle at booking, which is much cheaper than adding the bag at the airport or at the gate. The full-service carriers (Emirates, Etihad, Qantas, British Airways) usually include a checked bag in the standard fare. Before you book a low-cost fare, check the baggage allowance and add any bag you need at booking, not at the airport. Also check the cabin baggage weight limit — some low-cost carriers weigh the carry-on at the gate and charge a fee if it is over the limit.
Can I use airline miles to book a low-cost flight to Dubai?
Yes — flydubai and Emirates Skywards Miles can be used to book flydubai flights, so if you have Skywards Miles you can redeem them on a low-cost flight to or from Dubai. Many other low-cost carriers partner with a frequent flyer program: Wizz Air has Wizz Discount Club (a paid membership that gives fare discounts, not miles), Air Arabia has Air Rewards (points that offset the fare), and IndiGo partners with several international frequent flyer programs. The best value is usually Emirates Skywards on flydubai, because the two programs are integrated and the redemption is one number, one balance. If you have a stash of miles, check the low-cost redemption rate before you pay cash for a cheap flight.
Book Your Low-Cost Dubai Trip
Finding a low-cost flight to Dubai is the first step — use the whole-month view, set a price alert, and book 8 to 12 weeks ahead. Once you know your Dubai dates, the rest is one batch of bookings: the flight into Dubai, a hotel in Downtown or the Marina, a Dubai car rental, a UAE eSIM and any Dubai tours you want to lock in ahead. Start below.