Some cheap European getaways are back on the cards
Dubai travellers have another reason to start eyeing up their winter escape plans, with Wizz Air set to return to Dubai and bring back a selection of European routes from 25 October 2026.
The low-cost airline has announced that Dubai and Abu Dhabi will be among four Middle Eastern destinations returning to its network this winter, alongside Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Amman in Jordan.
Across the wider relaunch, Wizz Air says there will be 12 routes and 49 weekly flights, with around 470,000 seats available over the winter season.
For Dubai residents, that means more options for getting to Europe without necessarily spending a small fortune on your airfare.
Where can you fly?
This is where things get slightly less straightforward.
Wizz Air’s announcement confirms that Dubai is returning to the network, but the airline had not initially released a full breakdown of which of the 12 routes will operate from each of the four Middle Eastern cities.
For Dubai, details of the individual routes, start dates and frequency had yet to be fully revealed.
So, while the big news for Dubai travellers is that Wizz Air is returning, it is worth checking the airline’s booking system for the latest route and schedule information before making your plans.
The wider comeback is expected to reconnect the region with Wizz Air’s European network, which includes popular destinations such as Budapest, Krakow and other Central and Eastern European cities.
How cheap will the flights be?
The airline is positioning the return as a low-cost option, with fares across the restored network starting from €24.99.
Of course, anyone who has flown with a budget airline knows that the headline fare is only the beginning. Luggage, seat selection and other extras can push up the final price, so check the total cost before booking.
Still, if you’re travelling light and are flexible with dates, those low fares could make a European city break considerably more tempting.
What happened to Wizz Air in the UAE?
The return comes just over a year after Wizz Air Abu Dhabi ended its locally based operations.
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi launched in 2020 as a joint venture between Wizz Air Holdings and Abu Dhabi’s ADQ, building a network connecting the UAE capital with destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa.
However, the locally based airline ceased operations on 1 September 2025 after Wizz Air cited operational challenges and geopolitical instability. Engine reliability issues linked to the region’s hot climate were also highlighted at the time.
That wasn’t quite the end of Wizz Air in the UAE, though. The wider Wizz Air group continued to operate flights to the region using its European airlines.
Now, the airline is making a bigger push back into the Middle East, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi returning alongside Jeddah and Amman.
Dubai is back on the map
For Dubai residents, the timing is particularly handy.
The return comes just as Europe heads into autumn and winter, opening up plenty of possibilities for cooler-weather city breaks, Christmas markets and spontaneous long weekends.
And with 49 weekly flights across the wider Middle East network, Wizz Air’s return should give travellers more choice when planning trips over the coming months.
Time to book?
If you’re already dreaming about European streets, crisp mornings and a suitcase that somehow becomes twice as heavy on the way home, this could be one to watch.
Just don’t get too carried away by that €24.99 headline fare. Check the dates, baggage allowance, extras and final price before hitting book.
But with Wizz Air returning to Dubai and Abu Dhabi and a wider Middle East network of 12 routes and 49 weekly flights coming back, there are likely to be plenty more opportunities for a budget-friendly European escape this winter.
For further information, visit wizzair.com
