As much as I love flying to different destinations, I always dread long layovers. They can get quite exhausting plus I always feel icky, which is why I was excited when I learned about Dubai Connect when I booked a flight through Emirates. When I found out I was eligible for it, I grabbed the opportunity and it made my long layover in Dubai a lot more pleasant.

Dubai Connect

If you have a long layover in Dubai, then you may be eligible for it too, whether you're flying economy or business class. Here's a quick guide.

What You Need To Know About Dubai Connect

Dubai Connect is a service offered by Emirates Airlines to passengers with extended layovers in Dubai. It provides complimentary hotel accommodation, meals, ground transportation, and a visa for eligible passengers. This service is typically available to passengers with a layover of 8 to 26 hours in Dubai, regardless of the class. So whether you're flying first class, business class, or economy, you may be eligible.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this service, the connection time between the arrival of your inbound flight to Dubai and the outbound flight departure from Dubai must be more than or equal to 8 hours and less than or equal to 26 hours. To qualify for the offer, you must be booked on the best available connection, that being the one with the shortest transit time in Dubai.

The eligibility for this offer will be determined against the payment of a minimum fare type for your flight, which is indicated during the booking process. This service is only available for passengers 18 years and up as of the date of departure if traveling alone. Up to two passengers below 18 years old may be accommodated when traveling with one adult.

Dubai Connect
spacious hotel room

How To Avail Of Dubai Connect

Availing of this service is pretty easy and straightforward. After booking your Emirates flight, simply log in to your account and go to Manage Booking. If you're eligible, you will see the Dubai Connect offer so just click that and follow the prompts. Take note that you have to do this on a computer because I didn't see this option on the mobile app.

After availing of the service, you'll need to email Emirates so that they can process your visa if your passport doesn't qualify for visa-free entry to the United Arab Emirates. In the email, you have to provide some required information, then attach a copy of your passport's bio page, a digital passport-sized photo, and a screenshot of your flight booking as proof.

You have to avail of this service at least 24 hours before your departure to Dubai. You'll receive your 48-hour U.A.E. transit visa before your flight so make sure to print that out.

What To Expect During Your Layover

On the day of your flight, you'll be given a hotel and transportation voucher at the Emirates check-in counter along with your boarding passes. The name of the hotel, Copthorne Airport Hotel, was printed on the voucher.

Once you arrive in Dubai, you just need to go straight to the immigration desks. You don't need to claim your luggage. At the immigration desk, simply present your passport, transit visa, and boarding pass for your outbound flight from Dubai. They'll take your photo and fingerprints, and then stamp your passport. They'll also give you a free local SIM card with 1 GB of data.

Dubai Connect
voucher and free SIM card

After the immigration screening, go to the Emirates Hotel Desk near the exit. Take note that the Dubai airport is quite big and it's a long walk from the immigration desks to the exit. Once you're at the Emirates Hotel Desk, simply present your voucher and you'll be told to sit and wait for the shuttle going to the hotel.

The hotel is just a five-minute drive from the airport. Once you get there, simply check in and get the key card to your assigned room. You can also request a wake-up call to make sure that you won't miss your next flight. The room that I got was good for two people, and it came with complimentary bottled water, towels, and toiletries, so I got to shower before my next flight.

All meals are free but are served buffet style at specific hours of the day. When I arrived, it was around 11pm and dinner service was still ongoing until midnight so I got to grab a quick bite before going to sleep. There was a good variety of meat, pasta, and vegetable dishes at the dinner buffet. I first got pasta and potatoes, then I went for a second round and got beef rendang with rice.

Dubai Connect
meals are included

The next day, I woke up feeling well-rested and then I showered. I also got to eat breakfast before checking out. There were lots of options but I opted for pancakes, eggs, sausages, yogurt, fruits, and coffee. 

Then I boarded the shuttle. There's one departing every 30 minutes from the hotel and it was a 10-minute drive on the way back to the airport. Once I arrived at the airport, I went about the check-in and immigration process, which was quite smooth, and then I waited to board my next flight.

Dubai
a view of the Dubai skyline with the Burj Khalifa


I had a great experience flying with Emirates and availing of the Dubai Connect service made the whole experience even more pleasant. It was nice getting some sleep in between flights but what's even better is that I got to shower. I also got to save money from buying food at the airport since meals were free at the hotel.

If you have an upcoming flight with Emirates and you have a layover of 8 to 26 hours, then maybe you're eligible for Dubai Connect. Just go to Manage Booking to check.