Travelling from San Diego to Dubai: what you need to know
Planning your getaway begins with figuring out where you'll fly out of in San Diego. San Diego International Airport (SAN) is the city's main airport, so check out your options for reserving a flight from San Diego to Dubai departing from here.
Step off your plane in Dubai at Dubai Airport (DXB) or Dubai Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).
The timezone in Dubai is UTC+4, which is 12 hours ahead of San Diego.
To ensure you get on your San Diego to Dubai flight, leave plenty of time for things like baggage drop and finding your gate. Arriving two hours before international departures and an hour before domestic flights is a good rule of thumb.
Travelling over a peak time like August? Public holidays and other high seasons can lead to longer queues and delays at check-in and security. Play it safe and get there up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.
How to find the cheapest flights from San Diego to Dubai
To find cheap San Diego to Dubai flights, book ahead. Airlines typically offer the most competitive fares when tickets first go on sale.
Finding cheap plane tickets from San Diego to Dubai is more likely if you can be flexible with your travel dates. Use the 'Whole month' search tool to see the lowest prices across the month and snap up a sweet deal.
You don't need to check back in every day to see if prices have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll let you know as soon as a better deal is available on cheap flights from San Diego to Dubai.
Pick your preferred arrival and departure times, airlines and number of stops with the filters. Or sort your San Diego to Dubai flight results by 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest.'
Flying from San Diego
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
We make it simple to book a San Diego to Dubai flight with a stopover. To see the options leaving from San Diego International Airport, deselect 'Direct flights only.' Then, simply pick a flight with a stop long enough to tour your chosen city. Major stopovers include:
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Seattle / Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
SAN is about 5 kilometres from central San Diego. If you're driving, catching a taxi or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take you 15 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the travel time to be around 25 minutes.
Want a handy hotel close to San Diego International Airport? If you're catching an early flight from San Diego to Dubai, these accommodation options will have you sleeping moments from check-in:
74% of flights that leave from San Diego International Airport make it to their destination on schedule.
You'll find SAN at N Harbour Dr.
Arriving in Dubai
Dubai Airport (DXB)
The distance from Dubai Airport (DXB) to central Dubai is roughly 5 kilometres. It takes about 20 minutes to reach the centre driving.
It usually takes 35 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
Consider staying in a hotel close to DXB if you have a late flight from San Diego to Dubai. Choose one of these options and skip the long transfer:
Begin your adventure by picking up a Dubai Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from AMEX, Autostrad Rent A Car or Quicklease Car Rental and explore beyond Dubai's main sights.
Lock in the lowest price by booking your ride from Dubai Airport about three weeks in advance of your trip.
Dubai Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC)
As soon as your flight from San Diego to Dubai has touched down, 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 travel by public transport, you'll get to the city centre in 1 hour 20 minutes or so.
You'll find some great places ready to welcome you near DWC. Settle in and get cosy after your San Diego to Dubai flight at any of these perfectly located options:
Quicklease Car Rental, Quick Drive and Golden Key Car Rental make collecting a Dubai Al Maktoum International Airport rental car simple. These suppliers are located around or in the terminal and will get you on your way in no time.
Secure your first choice, not your last resort. Securing your ride from DWC three weeks in advance often means more savings and a greater selection of vehicles.
Best time to go to Dubai
December is the busiest month for flights from San Diego to Dubai. To travel when it's less crowded, head to Dubai in March.
Lock in a San Diego to Dubai ticket departing in July if you want to explore the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Dubai to range from 30ºC to 42ºC.
For cooler conditions, look for a cheap flight from San Diego to Dubai in January when temperatures average between 14ºC and 25ºC.
More about Dubai
When it comes to looking for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the best places to stay in Dubai right here. Browse these options as soon as you've locked in your flight from San Diego to Dubai:
Every great journey has to include a little sightseeing. Burj Khalifa, Dubai Opera and Dubai Gold Souk are must-do's during your Dubai adventure.
Explore more of the United Arab Emirates
Sharjah is just one of the many cities in the United Arab Emirates waiting to be explored after you've experienced Dubai. Around 26 kilometres to the east, top sights here include Sharjah Archaeology Museum, Cultural Palace and Sharjah Science Museum.
Around 129 kilometres southwest of Dubai, Abu Dhabi is another essential stop in the United Arab Emirates. Get a taste of what this destination has to offer at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Zayed The 2nd Mosque and Masjid.