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Route comparison · Verified July 2026
London Heathrow to Dubai: which airline is best?
Dubai is the flagship Gulf route from Heathrow and a straight fight between the two rated carriers: Emirates, with its multiple daily A380s and the strongest in-flight entertainment anywhere, and British Airways, with a daily widebody and the Avios earning UK travellers already collect. Royal Brunei also stops at Dubai on the way to Brunei but sits outside our rated set.
Emirates and British Airways fly non-stop from London Heathrow (LHR) to Dubai International (DXB) — around 7 hours outbound, 8 hours back, roughly 3,414 miles. FlightLogic's pick is Emirates (8.7/10), the highest-rated carrier on the route. Operators verified July 2026.
- Distance
- 3,414 miles
- Flight time
- Around 7 hours outbound, 8 hours back
- Frequency
- Emirates operates several A380 departures a day; British Airways flies the route daily.
- Non-stop carriers
- 2 rated airlines
FlightLogic scores — London to Dubai non-stop
Editorial scores out of 10 from our airline reviews, best first. The tick marks the best score in each column. Tap an airline for its full review.
| Airline | Overall | Customer Service | Seat Comfort | Food & Beverage | In-Flight Entertainment | On-Time Performance | Value for Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emirates EK · 5-star · global #4 | 8.7 | 8.8 | 9.3 | 8.5 | 9.4 | 8.4 | 8.0 |
| British Airways BA · 4-star · global #9 | 7.7 | 7.8 | 8.4 | 7.5 | 7.8 | 7.5 | 7.0 |
Royal Brunei Airlines also flies non-stop between Heathrow and Dubai as a stop on its Bandar Seri Begawan service. FlightLogic does not yet rate Royal Brunei, so it is excluded from the comparison below.
FlightLogic pick: Emirates
Emirates wins comfortably on composite score (8.7 vs 7.7) and on nearly every category: seats (9.3) and in-flight entertainment (9.4) are route-best by a wide margin, and the A380’s onboard bar and quieter upper deck make the seven hours feel shorter. BA claws back ground for Avios collectors and oneworld status holders, and its economy value score is respectable — but on pure product, Emirates is the better way to Dubai in every cabin.
Read our full Emirates review, or compare it head-to-head with any other rated airline.
Cheapest time to fly London to Dubai
A qualitative guide to when fares on this route are usually lower or higher, based on typical travel seasons — not live prices. Actual fares always depend on your dates, demand and how far ahead you book.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
- Lower
- Typical
- Peak
Usually cheapest: The Gulf summer is the traditional value window: May, June and September typically bring the lowest fares as Dubai’s heat deters casual visitors. Hotels discount then too, which can make a hot-weather trip surprisingly good value if you plan around indoor attractions.
Usually priciest: November to March is Dubai’s winter-sun high season, and fares climb accordingly — with February half-term and the Christmas-to-New-Year fortnight the most expensive weeks of all.
When to book: With only two rated carriers on the route, booking three to five months ahead for winter dates is the safest way to dodge the seasonal premium.
Aircraft on the route
Emirates fields the Airbus A380 — with its onboard business-class lounge — on Heathrow rotations; British Airways uses Boeing 777 and 787 widebodies.
London to Dubai FAQ
Which airlines fly non-stop from London Heathrow to Dubai?
Emirates and British Airways both fly Heathrow–Dubai non-stop: Emirates with several daily Airbus A380s, BA with a daily widebody service. Royal Brunei Airlines also operates the route as part of its Heathrow–Bandar Seri Begawan service, though FlightLogic does not yet rate it.
How long is the flight from Heathrow to Dubai?
Around 7 hours flying east to Dubai and roughly 8 hours on the westbound return. The route covers about 3,414 miles.
Is Emirates or British Airways better to Dubai?
On FlightLogic scores Emirates leads clearly — 8.7/10 overall versus BA’s 7.7, with the route’s best seats (9.3) and entertainment (9.4). BA is the pragmatic pick if you’re chasing Avios or oneworld tier points, or if its timings suit you better, but the onboard product favours Emirates in every cabin.
Can I earn Avios flying Emirates to Dubai?
No — Emirates sits outside the global alliances and its Skywards miles can’t be converted to Avios. If Avios earning matters, fly BA (or credit a BA-marketed codeshare). Skywards is still a decent programme in its own right, with miles earned on every Emirates fare brand.