Private jet to the UAE

The United Arab Emirates are a federation of seven emirates on the southern shore of the Gulf, and for private flyers the country splits into three areas: Dubai with its trade fairs, finance district and winter beaches, Abu Dhabi with the federal government, the sovereign funds and the Formula 1 circuit on Yas Island, and the northern emirates, where Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah offer quieter resorts and mountain roads. Six airports in the UAE take almost all business jets.

From western and central Europe it is 4,200-5,600 km to the Gulf coast, so the choice of aircraft starts with range: a heavy jet flies every European hub non-stop, a midsize jet only from Istanbul, Athens and the Balkans. As a broker, we compare aircraft from operators in Europe and the Gulf, choose the airport by the address of your hotel or first meeting, and arrange the landing permit, the handler and the car at the steps.

Tell us the route, the dates, the number of passengers and the emirate or district in the UAE you are going to. A consultant replies with aircraft, airport and price.

What brings private flyers to the Emirates

Flight times from Europe and the region

Times from the price tables below, non-stop and including taxi, climb and descent:

The figures follow the straight line. European operators keep out of the airspace over Iraq and Iran in line with EASA conflict-zone bulletins and usually route over the Balkans, the eastern Mediterranean and the Arabian Peninsula, which adds distance and time. The westbound flight home runs into the jet stream and takes another 30-40 minutes.

Private jet prices to the UAE

Every price is for the whole aircraft, one way, plus landing permit, handling, airport charges and taxes, and assumes an aircraft available near the departure airport. Rows end at different airports: the distance from Europe to any of them differs by less than 150 km, so the departure city decides the price, not the emirate. The flight time is that of the first aircraft in each row.

From the European hubs

A Challenger 650 costs EUR 55,000 from Vienna. From Milan the price is EUR 58,000 and from London EUR 65,000; the longest row, Madrid - Abu Dhabi, is EUR 66,000. The Falcon 7X adds fuel reserve for detours and winter headwinds, at EUR 75,000 from Milan, and a Global 7500 with a separate bedroom costs EUR 99,000 from London. From Larnaca, 3:14 h away, the heavy jet costs EUR 38,000.

From Istanbul, Greece and eastern Europe

The closer the departure city lies to the Gulf, the smaller the aircraft that flies non-stop:

Istanbul - Abu Dhabi in a Praetor 500 is the cheapest row from Europe at EUR 27,000, Athens - Dubai EUR 29,000. From Warsaw and Prague the midsize jet flies close to its range limit: with every seat taken and a headwind, the operator may plan a fuel stop or propose the Challenger 650, which costs EUR 54,000 from Warsaw.

Within the Gulf and to the Indian Ocean

Gulf capitals are about an hour apart, and the Emirates are a common stop before the Maldives or the Seychelles. See also Doha, Riyadh, Bahrain and Oman:

Doha - Abu Dhabi takes 0:54 h in a Phenom 300 for EUR 9,500, Muscat - Dubai EUR 10,000. The light jet would need a fuel stop from the Seychelles, so that cell is on request.

Flights between two airports in the UAE are domestic and rarely worth it: Sharjah is 60 km from Al Maktoum, Al Bateen 88 km, Ras Al Khaimah 112 km, and the car is faster once the drive to the airport and the checks are counted. A passenger flight between two Emirati airports is flown by an operator based in the country, and we state that in the quote.

On a sector of five to seven hours the price is mostly flight time, and an aircraft that flies out or returns empty to its base is part of the bill. Overflight fees, crew hotels and, with some operators, a war-risk insurance surcharge are added, and from November to March, at Christmas and in big event weeks operators charge more. The departure country adds passenger taxes: France about EUR 1,015 per jet passenger, rising with distance from about EUR 420 within Europe, Italy EUR 200 per passenger on sectors over 1,500 km (the Italian tax applies to flights to and from Italy), Austria EUR 12. Germany and Norway charge departure taxes, and the Netherlands taxes passengers on aircraft of 5.7 t or more. UK Air Passenger Duty does not apply to aircraft under 5.7 t, the higher private-jet rate applies to aircraft of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats, such as the Challenger 650 and the Falcon 7X, and other jets pay the standard rate of their distance band. Charges in the UAE are listed in the quote.

Business jet price per flight hour

Heavy Jets from EUR 8,300 / hour

Light Jets from EUR 3,200 / hour

Ultra Long Range Jets from EUR 12,000 / hour

Super Midsize Jets from EUR 6,300 / hour

Very Light Jets from EUR 2,500 / hour

Long Range Jets from EUR 9,800 / hour

Midsize Jets from EUR 4,500 / hour

Turboprops from EUR 2,000 / hour

Three trips worked through

Price per person

The aircraft is hired as a whole, so the share per seat falls with every passenger. Per-passenger taxes come on top:

Calculator

For a quick estimate to any of the six airports, use the calculator; mention in the comment if the aircraft should wait for the return:

The estimate follows the straight line; the offer adds the routing of the day, overflight fees and the position of the nearest free aircraft.

Airports and business aviation terminals

Six airports cover almost every private flight to the UAE, and each one suits a different part of the coast. All of them have long runways, are airports of entry with passport and customs control, and need a landing permit, which the operator requests with the names and passport numbers of everyone on board. The differences are slots, parking and the drive afterwards.

Other airports in the country

The UAE keeps Gulf Standard Time, UTC+4, all year. The weekend is Saturday and Sunday, and Friday is a short working day because of midday prayers, so meetings with government offices are easiest from Monday to Thursday.

From the aircraft to the address

Which aircraft for the Gulf

From western Europe most bookings settle on the heavy class: non-stop, room for a holiday week's luggage and seats that convert into beds. In summer the heat reduces take-off weight, so flights home are often planned for the night or early morning. The cabins are described in the catalogue sections heavy jets and ultra long range jets.

When to fly: the year month by month

The best months are November to March, with days of 24-29 °C and the full calendar of fairs, races and holidays, which is also when aircraft, slots and parking are hardest to get. April, May and October are the easier compromise. Empty Legs are most frequent from May to September, when Gulf-based aircraft move to and from Europe, and in early January, after the Christmas peak. Ramadan moves about 11 days earlier every year; airports work as usual, but offices keep shorter hours.

Empty Legs between the Emirates and Europe

An Empty Leg is a positioning flight without passengers, sold below the normal charter price. On a five- to seven-hour sector the saving is large, and the Gulf creates many of them:

The operator fixes the date, the time and sometimes the airport, so an Empty Leg suits a window of several days. The landing permit is needed as on any charter, so passport data must be ready. Send the direction and a range of dates to empty-legs@jets.flights.

Taking a dog or cat to the UAE

On a private jet the animal stays in the cabin beside you, if the operator approves it in advance. The UAE is outside the EU, so the EU pet passport alone is not enough:

• Import permit from the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, applied for online before the trip and valid for 30 days.
• Microchip implanted before the rabies vaccination, the vaccination at least 21 days before travel, and a health certificate issued shortly before departure; an antibody test can be required.
• Minimum age of 15 weeks, and no more than two pets per person per year.
• Pit bull types, tosa, cane corso, dogo argentino and their crosses cannot be imported.
• UAE rules require pets to be declared as manifested cargo, also on private jets, although the animal stays in the cabin; the operator and the handler arrange this, and a vet checks the papers on arrival.

Start at least two months ahead and send us the species, breed and weight first.

Documents, permits and customs

The UAE is outside the EU and Schengen, so passports are checked on departure from Europe and again on arrival:

International passenger transport is zero-rated for VAT in the UAE. EU citizens flying on to Britain need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), and visitors to the United States under the visa waiver an ESTA.

Checklist before departure

• Passports valid six months after arrival for every passenger.
• Names, dates of birth and passport numbers for the landing permit, several days ahead.
• The hotel, villa or office address, so we can choose between DWC, DXB, Al Bateen, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.
• Number of passengers who want a bed on board, plus golf bags and bulky luggage.
• A doctor's letter in English for prescription medicines.
• Pet import permit, microchip, vaccination record and health certificate.
• Return date and time, so the crew's rest and the parking can be planned.

How to book

1. Send the departure airport, dates, number of passengers and the address in the Emirates; for a trip covering two emirates, say where you start and where you finish.
2. We choose the arrival and departure airports and compare a heavy jet with a long-range aircraft, including whether it waits in the Gulf or flies home in between.
3. You receive 2-4 offers naming the operator and aircraft, with cabin photos, flight time and price; parking, crew hotel and permits are listed as separate lines.
4. After you sign and pay, the operator files the landing and overflight permits, and we book the handler and the car.
5. On the day, the handler meets you at the private terminal, takes you through passport control and walks you to the car.

Questions about private flights to the Emirates

• • How much does a private jet to the UAE cost?

  • From the European hubs a Challenger 650 costs from EUR 55,000 (Vienna - Dubai) to EUR 66,000 (Madrid - Abu Dhabi) one way for the whole aircraft. From Istanbul a Praetor 500 costs EUR 27,000, and from Doha a light jet EUR 9,500.

• • Is it cheaper to land in Abu Dhabi or Sharjah than in Dubai?

  • Hardly: the distance from Europe is almost the same to all six airports. The difference lies in airport charges, handling and parking, which are listed in the quote.

• • Which Dubai airport should we use?

  • Al Maktoum for the Marina, the Palm, Jebel Ali and longer stays, Dubai International for Downtown and DIFC when the arrival falls outside the peaks. We choose by the address and the slot.

• • Can we land in Dubai and fly home from Abu Dhabi?

  • Yes. The aircraft repositions empty to the other airport and waits there while you drive, about 1:15 h from Al Maktoum to central Abu Dhabi.

• • Can a midsize jet fly non-stop from Europe?

  • From Istanbul, Athens and the Balkans, yes. From central and western Europe the distance is close to or beyond its range, so we quote a heavy or long-range jet.

• • How long is the flight from London?

  • London Farnborough - Dubai takes 7:00 h non-stop in a Challenger 650. The routing around closed airspace can add time, and the flight home is 30-40 minutes longer.

• • Do we need a visa?

  • EU citizens are stamped in for up to 90 days within 180, and UK citizens need no visa in advance. Every passport must be valid for six months.

• • Can we bring alcohol?

  • Up to 4 litres of spirits or two cases of beer per adult. It is served only in licensed venues and is banned in the emirate of Sharjah.

• • Can our dog fly with us?

  • Yes, in the cabin, with a UAE import permit, microchip, rabies vaccination and health certificate, unless the breed is on the banned list. The return to the EU needs no blood test.

• • When are Empty Legs most frequent?

  • Between the Gulf and Europe from May to September, in early January after the holidays and on short Gulf routes all year. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights with the direction and dates.

• • Can we fly there and back on the same day?

  • Two sectors of five to seven hours exceed one crew's duty day, so a same-day return needs a second crew. Usually the crew rests overnight and flies back the next day.

• • How far ahead should we book?

  • The permit needs passenger data several days before the flight. For Christmas, the Formula 1 weekend and the big fairs, book aircraft and parking weeks or months ahead.