Flying from Dubai to Istanbul: what you need to know
Get your holiday planning started by considering where you'll take off for your flight from Dubai to Istanbul. Dubai Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) are Dubai's main airports.
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) are Istanbul's primary gateways.
The average duration of a direct Dubai to Istanbul flight is 4 hours 55 minutes.
Istanbul is one hour behind Dubai and is in the UTC+3 timezone.
The busiest route for flights from Dubai to Istanbul is from Dubai Airport (DXB) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST). Take your pick of 62 services every week between these two airports. If you'd like to get going as soon as possible, the earliest flight from DXB to IST is the 02:00 Turkish Airlines service. If you prefer to travel later, the last available departure is at 21:15 with flydubai.
For a stress-free start to your trip, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This ensures you have enough time to board your Dubai to Istanbul flight.
During popular months such as July, it's a good idea to get to the airport earlier than normal. Arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead of an international flight whenever you're flying during high season in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from Dubai to Istanbul
Book two months before you want to travel. Pricing trends show that this is the ideal window for finding cheap Dubai to Istanbul flights.
The best month for picking up cheap plane tickets from Dubai to Istanbul is May. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare all available prices, then choose the dates offering the lowest fares.
Cut down on the time spent looking for cheap flights from Dubai to Istanbul by setting up a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or notification through the app when a new discounted fare appears.
Choose your preferred arrival and departure times, number of stops and airlines by using the filters. Or sort your Dubai to Istanbul flight results by 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest.'
Flying from Dubai
Dubai Airport (DXB)
Begin your trip at Dubai Airport (DXB), which offers multiple direct flights from Dubai to Istanbul. From DXB, you can fly seamlessly to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW).
There are plenty of airlines that offer direct Dubai to Istanbul plane tickets out of DXB. The most popular include:
We make it a cinch to find a Dubai to Istanbul flight with a stopover. To see all the options departing from Dubai Airport, deselect 'Direct flights only.' Then, simply select a flight that has a stop long enough to see the sights of the city of your choice. Major stopovers include:
Kuwait International Airport (KWI)
Queen Alia International Airport (AMM)
Bahrain International Airport (BAH)
Located around 10 kilometres from the centre of Dubai, DXB can be reached in about 15 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey on public transport will take roughly 50 minutes.
In search of a handy hotel close to Dubai Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Dubai to Istanbul, these stays will have you sleeping moments from check-in:
74.31% of flights that depart Dubai Airport make it to their destination on schedule.
Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC)
Get more out of your holiday with a stopover on your Dubai to Istanbul flight. Visit friends or family or tick a new city off your list. Whatever you choose to do, here's where you can stop between Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport and Istanbul:
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)
Vaclav Havel Airport Prague (PRG)
Stuttgart Airport (STR)
You can reach DWC from central Dubai in about 45 minutes by car, depending on traffic conditions. The ride on public transport takes roughly 2 hours 5 minutes to travel the 48 kilometres or so.
Kick off your holiday early with an additional night away from home. Before catching your flight from Dubai to Istanbul, take it easy in one of these hotels near Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport:
Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport has an on-time performance of 57%. This figure reflects how frequently flights that depart from this airport reach their destination on schedule.
Arriving in Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to central Istanbul takes around 50 minutes by car. The centre is roughly 32 kilometres away.
Getting to the centre on public transport takes about 1 hour 45 minutes.
If you have a late flight from Dubai to Istanbul, few things beat the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your luggage from the carousel and then be showered and resting soon after at one of these hotels near IST:
Grab an Istanbul Ataturk Airport rental car and discover Istanbul and beyond with your own wheels. Hit, Avec car rentals and Eren Rent a Car are top outlets you can book with here.
To get the best deal, reserve your vehicle from Istanbul Ataturk Airport about two weeks in advance of your Dubai to Istanbul flight.
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
The centre of Istanbul is approximately 31 kilometres from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW). Once your flight from Dubai to Istanbul has landed and you've made your way out of the airport, the drive should take about 55 minutes.
Public transport will get you there in about 1 hour 30 minutes.
After your flight from Dubai to Istanbul, unwind at a hotel close to SAW. These are some comfortable options that'll help you get into relaxation mode:
No time to waste? The fastest way to get to where you're going is with a Sabiha Gokcen International Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Essence, Eren Rent a Car or 724 Rent and get going in the blink of an eye.
Secure your first choice, not your last resort. Booking your ride from SAW four weeks in advance often means lower prices and a wider selection of vehicles.
Best time to go to Istanbul
April is the busiest month for flights from Dubai to Istanbul. To travel when it's less crowded, visit Istanbul in February.
Before locking in your Dubai to Istanbul tickets, think about the kind of weather forecast you're hoping for. August is the warmest month in Istanbul, with temperatures ranging from 20ºC to 30ºC.
Search for cheap flights from Dubai to Istanbul in January if you want to travel in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 2ºC and 11ºC on average.
More about Istanbul
Start your Istanbul trip right by choosing the ideal place to stay. After booking your flight from Dubai to Istanbul, explore our selection of hotels including:
Topkapi Palace and The Basilica Cistern are just a couple of the leading attractions to put on your Istanbul itinerary. Keep the adventure rolling by checking out Galata Tower.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
You've seen Istanbul, now it's time to explore more of Türkiye (Turkey). Journey around 354 kilometres east to Ankara to check off its leading attractions. From Museum of Anatolian Civilizations to Kocatepe Mosque (Kocatepe Camii) and Genclik Park, you've got a jam-packed schedule ahead.
Izmir is another well-known destination in Türkiye (Turkey) and is around 322 kilometres south-west of Istanbul. No trip is complete without dropping by Kordonboyu, Kadifekale Castle and Konak Square.
