Quick answer: Dubai gives you reliable winter sun, a seven-hour direct flight and hotels from about £90 a night. November to March is the window; summer is 45°C and pointless.
Cite this page: Atravel.uk, “Dubai from the UK”, updated 12 November 2026. https://atravel.uk/destinations/dubai/
Dubai is the winter sun option with no weather risk at all: 25°C in January, a beach in front of the hotel and a city behind it that behaves like a theme park for adults. It is expensive, unsubtle and very easy.
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When to go
- Best months: November to March, when it is 24–28°C
- Cheapest months: May and September, hot but half the price
- Avoid: June to August, when it is 40°C+ and humid
What it costs
| Return flights from the UK | £380–£700 |
|---|---|
| Beach hotel, per night | £110–£260 |
| Desert safari | £45–£80 |
| Burj Khalifa, level 124 | £35–£45 |
Typical ranges from our partner searches, 2026-11-12. The month and the booking window change these numbers.
Getting there
Direct flights from Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh in 7 to 7h 30m. The metro runs from the airport to the marina for about £1.50, which is the cheapest transfer of any long-haul city.
Flights to Dubai from the UK
7 UK airports have non-stop flights to Dubai, landing at Dubai International (DXB). The full month-by-month fare bands are on the cheapest month page, and a two-night budget is on what a weekend costs.
| From | Flight time | Cheapest month | Returns from |
|---|---|---|---|
| London Gatwick | 7h 00m | January | £325 |
| London Heathrow | 7h 00m | January | £325 |
| Birmingham | 7h 20m | January | £340 |
| Edinburgh | 7h 20m | January | £340 |
| Glasgow | 7h 20m | January | £340 |
| Manchester | 7h 20m | January | £340 |
| Newcastle | 7h 20m | January | £340 |
Indicative return bands from our partner searches, city airport to arrival. The full month-by-month table is on each route page.
All 149 UK flight routes we cover
What to see
- The old creek by abra, for the spice and gold souks
- Burj Khalifa at sunset, booked a week ahead
- A desert safari that ends with dinner, not a quad-bike circus
- Al Fahidi historical district, for the city before the towers
Where to stay
Dubai Marina and JBR for the beach and restaurants, Downtown for the fountain and the mall, Deira for a third of the price and a real city.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dubai good value?
Flights and hotels are not cheap, but taxis, food and the metro are. A week costs £1,200–£2,000 per person depending on the hotel.
Do I need a visa?
No. British passports get a free 30-day visa on arrival.
Can you drink alcohol in Dubai?
Yes, in licensed hotels and restaurants. It is expensive and not sold in shops.
Also worth a look
- Sharm el-Sheikh: The cheapest winter sun with a coral reef at the end of the jetty.
- Antalya: All-inclusive value with a Roman old town attached.
- Istanbul: Two continents, four hours from home.