Compare Dubai flights

This gleaming megacity isn't just a holiday destination; it's also one of the world's busiest aviation hubs. Accordingly, flights to Dubai are easy to find, with non-stop services from several airports across the UK and a good choice of airlines, particularly if you're flying out of London.

This is the largest city in the United Arab Emirates, and when it comes to pure extravagance it is hard to beat. Depending on your approach, you might get a view of Dubai's elaborate skyscrapers and coastal developments as you land, making for a grand welcome to a very grand city.

To find the cheapest Dubai flights, consider some airlines you might not think of and be prepared to accept a stopover. You can find good deals on Ukraine International Air via Kiev, and on Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, but the stopovers can be quite long. In terms of seasonality, March July, August and December are the months to avoid; May, September and November are good bets. And as always with long-haul flights, book as far ahead as you can.

You can expect a direct flight to Dubai to take roughly 7 hours, and often slightly less. Of course, this will vary depending on your departure airport. The shortest direct flight times are from London, and the longest are from Edinburgh. Indirect flight times vary hugely, from under 9 hours to over 24 hours.

Not for comfort reasons, as flights to Dubai are a perfectly manageable 7 hours. But indirect flights can save you money if you're flying from London – and while savings do vary, the difference between the cheapest stopover flights and a direct Emirates flight can be several hundred pounds. Generally, indirect savings are less common and less pronounced from other UK airports. In some cases, direct can even be cheaper.

Potential stopover locations for Dubai include:

• Istanbul: A stopover here will breaks your trip neatly into two halves: roughly 3 hours 50 minutes and 4 hours 20 minutes. If you can fit in some sightseeing, head straight to Sultanahmet, home to the famous Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia basilica.
• Kiev: Flights to Kiev take around 3 hours 20 minutes, and the onward flight to Dubai takes 5 hours 10 minutes. Kiev Pechersk Lavra, a sprawling monastery complex, is the pick of the sights.

Where you choose to stay in Dubai will very much depend on your budget and what you’re hoping to get out of your visit. Deira is a busy area that’s ideal if you’re hoping to explore some of the historic streets in the city and shop in traditional markets. Meanwhile, a more opulent escape awaits in Jumeirah Beach, where upscale resorts and hotels are plentiful. For some more ideas about where to stay and to search for package deals, take a look at our Dubai holiday page.

Hiring a car in Dubai can be a good idea, as the top sights – such as Jumeirah Beach, the Dubai Museum, and the soaring Burj Khalifa skyscraper – are distributed throughout the city. But even if you decide to get by without a vehicle of your own, all the attractions within the city boundaries are easily reachable by taxi.