If you’re flying Emirates, you’ve probably wondered whether you can make a stopover in Dubai before heading to your final destination. The answer is yes. Actually Emirates constantly encourages it, and Dubai itself is worth exploring. Whether you want to spend a few hours or a few days, Emirates offers flexible stopover packages that let you experience the city without complicating your travel plans. Here’s everything you need to know.

1) Can you stop over in Dubai with Emirates?

Yes. Emirates allows (and even encourages) stopovers in Dubai on most connecting itineraries. Because Dubai is Emirates’ hub, you’ll naturally transit there so you can extend that connection into a short stay.

Quick facts

  • Works on most round-trip and one-way tickets that route via DXB.
  • You can add a stopover when booking, or later via Manage Booking or through an agent.
  • A “stopover” usually means 24+ hours in Dubai; anything under 24 hours is treated as a layover but you can still go landside if your visa allows.
  • Fares sometimes price the same with or without a stopover; other times you’ll see a small difference. It’s worth checking both ways.

2) How long can the stopover be?

Emirates is flexible. You can turn that connection into anything from a quick city dash to a mini-vacation.

  • 0–12 hours (short layover): If your passport/visa allows entry, you can leave the airport for a quick look around. Think of amazing places like Dubai Mall + Burj Khalifa area, or a meal at Dubai Marina.
  • 12–24 hours (overnight): Great for a hotel sleep and one or two sights.
  • 24–72 hours (classic stopover): Enough time for old Dubai (souks), modern Dubai (Downtown/Marina), and a desert safari.
  • 3+ days (mini break): Add beach time, a dhow cruise, Abu Dhabi day trip, theme parks, or more museums.

Tip: If you’re aiming for under 24 hours, check arrival/departure times so you actually have usable daylight. If you want a proper stopover, plan 24–48 hours minimum.

3) How to Book a Stopover with Emirates

Booking a stopover with Emirates is quite simple. You can do it in a few different ways, depending on whether you’re booking online yourself or through a travel agent.

If you’re booking on the Emirates website, look for the “Advanced Search” option. Instead of just entering your origin and destination, you can add Dubai as a stopover city. This allows you to spend a day or two in Dubai before continuing to your final destination. I’ve used this option before when flying from Europe to Asia, and it gave me a full 24 hours in Dubai to enjoy the city without buying a separate ticket.

Another way is through the Emirates Dubai Connect service. If your layover is long enough and you qualify, Emirates will even provide a hotel stay, meals, and transfers at no extra cost. This is perfect if your connecting flight is much later and you don’t want to spend all your time at the airport.

When you’re booking a stopover, it’s also worth thinking about your seat. On long-haul flights, the seat you choose can make a huge difference in how rested you feel when you land in Dubai. If you want to learn exactly how Emirates seat selection works, I’ve written a full guide that breaks it all down here. 

4) Emirates Dubai stopover packages

You can DIY your stopover (book hotel/activities yourself) or use Emirates’ Dubai Stopover services, which bundle the essentials:

What the packages can include

  • Hotels across budgets (from city-center 3 star to luxury resorts).
  • Airport transfers or meet-and-assist on arrival.
  • Sightseeing add-ons (desert safari, city tours, Burj Khalifa tickets, dhow cruise, theme parks).
  • Visa assistance for eligible nationalities (fees/rules vary by passport).

Why use a package?

Two main reasons. First, one point of contact, pre-arranged logistics, often good hotel rates near Downtown/Marina. Second, it is ideal for first-timers or very short stays when you don’t want to juggle details.

DIY alternative

  • Book any hotel you like (Downtown Dubai for sights, Marina/JBR for beach vibes, Deira for budget/old souks).
  • Grab taxis or the Metro; Dubai is easy to move around.
  • Pick your own tours. Desert safari, sunset at Burj Khalifa, or a creek dhow cruise are all crowd-pleasers.

Tip: Wondering how to add it? This is what you do. When you book on emirates.com, choose the “Multi-city” option or add a stopover in Manage Booking. An agent can also modify an existing ticket to insert a DXB stop.

Related posts:

Dubai hotel guideWhere to Stay in Dubai: Best Areas for Every Budget (2025 Guide) People gathering near the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall at sunset in Downtown DubaiBritish Student Jailed for Life in Dubai: What Was Her Crime? Passengers boarding an abra boat at Dubai Creek station in front of Dubai’s skylineDubai’s Wooden Boats: Why You Must Ride an Abra and a Dhow Close-up of Dubai chocolate bars filled with green pistachio cream and golden kadayif pastry beside Burj Khalifa illustration.Dubai Chocolate: 10 Fascinating Facts and Where You Can Find It
Kojo Enoch

Traveler. Storyteller. Curious about how people live around the world. I created Explore With Kojo to share real stories from the places I visit and to inspire smart, honest travel.

View all posts by this author