The airline is urging travellers to arrive early and allow extra time
If you’re flying out of Dubai this summer, consider this your friendly reminder to leave earlier than you think you need to.
Emirates has issued a travel advisory ahead of what is expected to be one of the busiest holiday periods of the year, urging passengers to arrive at the airport at least three hours before departure.
Now, before you roll your eyes and think, “Surely that’s excessive,” remember this: summer travel at Dubai International Airport can feel a bit like turning up to a shopping mall on the last day of a major sale.
Everyone has the same idea, everyone arrives at the same time, and queues can appear faster than you’d expect.
The airline is warning travellers to allow extra time for check-in, security screening and immigration procedures, all of which are expected to be busier than usual as schools break up and families head off on holiday.
Passengers are also being reminded to be at their boarding gate at least 60 minutes before departure.
In other words, this is probably not the week to attempt an airport sprint while balancing a coffee, passport and duty-free bag.
Getting to the airport may also take longer than normal, with increased traffic expected around Dubai International Airport.
Emirates is encouraging passengers to make use of early check-in services where possible and consider taking the Dubai Metro to Terminal 3 to avoid road congestion.
The warning comes as Dubai gears up for another huge summer travel season. Last year, Dubai International Airport welcomed 24.2 million passengers between July and September alone, making it the busiest quarter in the airport’s history.
The takeaway is to treat your airport journey like you would a road trip. Give yourself a buffer, expect a few delays, and aim to arrive with time to spare
It’s far better to relax with a coffee at the gate than spend the journey wondering whether you’ll make the flight at all.
For further updates, visit dubaiairports.ae
