Travelling from Istanbul to Dubai: what you need to know
There are a couple of main airports you can start your trip from in Istanbul. Check out your options leaving from Istanbul Airport (IST) or Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW) when organising your flight from Istanbul to Dubai.
Hop off your plane in Dubai at Dubai Airport (DXB) or Dubai Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).
The average time for a direct Istanbul to Dubai flight is 4 hours 30 minutes.
The timezone in Dubai is UTC+4, which is one hour ahead of Istanbul.
With 62 weekly flights between the two airports, Istanbul Airport (IST) to Dubai Airport (DXB) is the busiest route. Board the first flight from Istanbul to Dubai with Turkish Airlines at 00:25. If you'd like to make the most of your day before taking off, the last flight from IST to DXB is with Emirates at 23:40.
Give yourself enough time to get on your Istanbul to Dubai flight. As a rule of thumb, arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Travelling over a peak time such as August? School holidays and other popular periods can mean longer queues and delays at check-in and security. Play it safe and arrive up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours before domestic departures.
How to find the cheapest flights from Istanbul to Dubai
At the moment, $224 is the lowest price we've seen for a one-way ticket from Istanbul to Dubai. The cheapest price for a return flight is $452. Remember fares may change due to demand at the time of booking.
Get cheap Istanbul to Dubai flights by booking six months ahead. According to our research, that's the ideal time frame for finding the biggest deals.
Organise your trip for November. That's the best month for landing cheap plane tickets from Istanbul to Dubai. If your travel dates are not set in stone, use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest price across every month.
Locking in a cheap flight from Istanbul to Dubai is a piece of cake with Price Alerts. All you need to do is create one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you when a better deal is available.
Tailor your travel plans using filters. Pick your preferred arrival and departure times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort your results by 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best' Istanbul to Dubai flights.
Flying from Istanbul
Istanbul Airport (IST)
If you're searching for a direct flight from Istanbul to Dubai, you can depart from Istanbul Airport (IST). Travel from IST to Dubai Airport (DXB) in one seamless trip.
Leading carriers that offer direct Istanbul to Dubai plane tickets from IST include:
Stopovers are the ideal opportunity to take a travel break — and maybe even explore a different city. When browsing Istanbul to Dubai flights departing from Istanbul Airport, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Here are some popular options to consider:
Hamad International Airport (DOH)
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)
Kuwait Airport (KWI)
IST is about 32 kilometres from central Istanbul. If you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a taxi from the centre, it'll take you 45 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the travel time to be around 1 hour 10 minutes.
After a relaxed start to your travels? Stay near Istanbul Airport. Whether you've booked an early flight from Istanbul to Dubai or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels are ideal:
Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW)
Prefer to fly from Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW)? This hub offers nonstop flights from Istanbul to Dubai, seamlessly connecting you to Dubai Airport (DXB).
You have a choice of airlines that offer direct Istanbul to Dubai plane tickets from SAW. Take off with any of these carriers and head straight to your destination:
Get the most out of your holiday with a stopover on your Istanbul to Dubai flight. Visit family or friends or tick another city off your list. Whatever you choose to do, check out these stops between Istanbul Sabiha Airport and Dubai:
Bahrain Airport (BAH)
Cologne Airport (CGN)
Baghdad International Airport (BGW)
SAW is about 31 kilometres from central Istanbul. It'll take you 1 hour 5 minutes or so to get to the airport driving from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 1 hour 40 minutes.
It's your holiday, so why not spend an extra night away? Consider checking in to one of these hotels near Istanbul Sabiha Airport the day before your flight from Istanbul to Dubai:
Istanbul Sabiha Airport has an on-time performance rate of 68%. This figure sheds light on how frequently flights departing from this airport land at their destination on schedule.
Arriving in Dubai
Dubai Airport (DXB)
Dubai Airport (DXB) to central Dubai takes around 20 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 5 kilometres away.
It usually takes 35 minutes to get there on public transport.
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from Istanbul to Dubai. Stay at one of these accommodation options near DXB instead:
Travel at your own speed with a Dubai Airport rental car. Book your wheels from AMEX, Autostrad Rent A Car or Quicklease Car Rental and chase adventure across Dubai and beyond.
Reserving your ride from Dubai Airport around three weeks in advance can help you secure the lowest rate.
Dubai Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC)
As soon as your flight from Istanbul to Dubai has hit the runway, you can get to the city centre in about 40 minutes by car. Central Dubai is roughly 48 kilometres from Dubai Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).
If you're travelling on public transport, it'll take approximately 1 hour 20 minutes.
After your flight from Istanbul to Dubai, unwind at a hotel near DWC. These are some comfortable options that'll help you get into relaxation mode:
The quickest way to get to where you're going is with a Dubai Al Maktoum International Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from Quicklease Car Rental, Quick Drive or Golden Key Car Rental and hit the road in a heartbeat.
Lock in the lowest price by securing your ride from DWC three weeks in advance. You can also expect to have a wider range of vehicles.
Best time to go to Dubai
December is the most popular month for flights from Istanbul to Dubai. To steer clear of the crowds, go to Dubai in March.
Book a Istanbul to Dubai ticket departing in July if you want to experience the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Dubai to range from 30ºC to 42ºC.
Look for cheap flights from Istanbul to Dubai in January if you want to travel in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 14ºC and 25ºC on average.
More about Dubai
Start your Dubai trip off on the right foot by choosing the perfect place to stay. As soon as you've booked your flight from Istanbul to Dubai, browse our range of hotels including:
Burj Khalifa and Dubai Opera are just the start of the major attractions to put on your Dubai itinerary. Keep the sightseeing going at Dubai Gold Souk.
Explore more of the United Arab Emirates
Sharjah is just one of the many cities in the United Arab Emirates waiting to be discovered once you've seen the sights of Dubai. Around 26 kilometres to the east, check out popular attractions including Sharjah Archaeology Museum, Cultural Palace and Sharjah Science Museum.
Abu Dhabi is another must-experience destination in the United Arab Emirates and is around 129 kilometres southwest of Dubai. No trip is complete without seeing Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Zayed The 2nd Mosque and Masjid.
