How Can I Find Cheap Flights to Dubai From Australia in 2026?
How Australians can find cheap flights to Dubai in 2026: which Australian cities have direct Emirates flights, when fares usually rise, how Emirates fare types and baggage change the real price, how Emirates' own Best Price Guarantee and Hold My Fare work, comparing Emirates, Trip.com and Skyscanner on the same flight, and going through ShopBack before you pay.
From Australia in 2026, the cheapest flights to Dubai usually come from flexible dates, avoiding Australian summer school holidays, checking every departure city you can reach, and choosing an Economy fare that matches your luggage. Emirates flies non-stop to Dubai from Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, according to public reference data. Compare the same flight on Trip.com, Emirates and Skyscanner, then go through ShopBack before you pay.
ShopBack Australia is a free app and website that gives you money back when you book or shop online at thousands of stores, including Trip.com, Emirates and Skyscanner. You open the store from ShopBack, book as normal, and part of what you pay comes back to your ShopBack account as cash you can withdraw. New members can join free at shopback.com.au/signup.
How we checked. Baggage allowances, the Best Price Guarantee, Hold My Fare and visa information come from Emirates' Australian website, school holiday dates from the Queensland Department of Education, and route, airport and climate facts from public reference data, in October 2026. We do not quote fares, because they change many times a day.
A cheap flight to Dubai from Australia is mostly about timing, the right departure city, the right fare type and comparing the same flight in two or three places. This guide covers which Australian cities fly direct, when fares usually rise, how Emirates' fare types and baggage change the real price, how Emirates' own Best Price Guarantee and Hold My Fare can help, how Emirates, Trip.com and Skyscanner differ, and how going through ShopBack before you pay lowers what the trip finally costs.
How can I find cheap flights to Dubai from Australia?
The quickest way to find a cheap flight to Dubai from Australia is to look at a window of dates, check every departure city you can reach, compare the same flight in more than one place, and judge each option on the final total. Dubai International Airport is the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic as of 2025, and sits about 4.7 km east of Dubai's city centre, according to public reference data, so it is well served from Australia.
A routine that works from any Australian city:
- Pick the departure city, not just the date. Emirates flies non-stop from Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Perth is the closest of these to Dubai, so its flights are the shortest.
- Search a window of dates. Look at a week or two either side of your ideal day. A day earlier or later can change the fare a lot on long-haul routes.
- Avoid Australian peaks. Summer school holidays, Christmas and New Year usually lift fares on flights leaving Australia.
- Match the fare to your luggage. Emirates' Economy fare types include different checked baggage allowances, so price the trip with the bags you will actually take.
- Compare the same flight in two or three places. Check Emirates, a booking site such as Trip.com and a search site such as Skyscanner for the same flight number and fare.
- Go through ShopBack before you pay. Booking through ShopBack lowers the cost of the trip, and you still book on the site you chose.
Flights to Dubai from Australia in 2026: when fares usually rise
In 2026, fares from Australia to Dubai usually rise around the Australian summer school holidays, Christmas and New Year, and the weeks either side are often better value. As one example, the Queensland Department of Education publishes these dates:
| Period | Dates |
|---|---|
| Queensland school Term 4 | Tuesday 6 October to Friday 11 December 2026 |
| Queensland summer school holidays | Saturday 12 December 2026 to Tuesday 26 January 2027 |
Summer school holidays in other states also usually run through December and January, so demand for flights out of Australia usually builds through December and stays high into January.
Dubai's own seasons matter too. Summer in Dubai lasts roughly from the last week of April to the first week of October, with extremely hot weather, hot winds and high humidity, according to public reference data. Many travellers prefer Dubai's cooler months, so popular dates there can coincide with Australian school holidays. If your dates are flexible and you are happy with the heat, travelling outside the cooler months may give you more choice of fares.
Stopping over on the way to Europe? Many Australians pass through Dubai on the way to Europe. If your trip is really a Europe trip, compare a single ticket through Dubai with separate tickets, and see our guide to finding cheap business class flights from Australia if you are weighing up a cabin upgrade for the long legs.
Flights to Dubai best deals in 2026: where to look
The best deals on flights to Dubai from Australia usually come from the airline's own fare tools, booking sites that compare several airlines at once, and search sites that point you to the cheapest seller.
- Emirates' own tools. Emirates' Australian site lists Featured fares, Special offers and a Best Fare Finder in its booking menu. Its Best Price Guarantee and Hold My Fare, explained below, can also help you lock in a good Economy fare.
- Booking sites. Trip.com shows several airlines on one search, which helps if you are open to a one-stop itinerary instead of a non-stop flight.
- Search sites. Skyscanner compares fares and sends you to an airline or booking site to buy. It is a fast way to see which seller is cheapest for your Dubai dates.
- Your booking route. Before you check out, go through ShopBack to get a post-purchase discount on the order.
Watch the extras. A cheap headline fare can grow once you add a heavier bag, seat selection or a change fee. Price the trip as you will actually fly it.
Emirates fare types and baggage: which is cheapest to Dubai
Emirates' Economy Special fare usually has the lowest headline price, but it also carries the smallest checked baggage allowance, so the right fare depends on what you pack. According to Emirates' checked baggage page at the time of writing, on weight-concept routes (which include flights between Australia and Dubai):
| Economy fare | Checked baggage |
|---|---|
| Economy Special | 20kg |
| Economy Saver | 25kg, or 30kg on journeys starting in Australia or New Zealand |
| Economy Flex | 30kg |
| Economy Flex Plus | 35kg |
Emirates also lists 35kg for Premium Economy, 40kg for Business Class and 50kg for First Class. Under the weight concept you can check in as many bags as you like up to your total allowance, but no single bag can weigh more than 32kg, according to Emirates. Emirates Skywards Silver, Gold and Platinum members may get a higher allowance.
So which fare? For a short Dubai break with a light suitcase, Economy Special can be the cheapest overall. If you are flying out of Australia with a bigger bag, Economy Saver's 30kg allowance from Australia can work out cheaper than Special plus extra baggage. Flex fares cost more but usually suit plans that might change.
Emirates Best Price Guarantee and Hold My Fare
Emirates has two booking tools that can help you pay less: a Best Price Guarantee on eligible Economy fares, and Hold My Fare, which freezes a fare for 24 hours.
Best Price Guarantee. According to Emirates, if you see its Best Price Guarantee icon next to an Economy Class fare on emirates.com and later find the same flight at least USD 20 cheaper on another website where you can book it, Emirates will refund the difference. The main conditions Emirates lists:
- Book on emirates.com and pay in full at the time of booking; a held fare does not qualify.
- Submit the claim form, with a link to the lower fare, by midnight on the same day you booked.
- The flight must be operated solely by Emirates; codeshare flights with four-digit flight numbers are excluded.
- It applies to the flight only, in Economy Class, not to hotels, car hire or insurance.
Hold My Fare. Emirates says you can choose Hold My Fare at checkout to reserve an Economy Class fare for 24 hours for free, so you will not pay more if the fare rises before you book. When you are ready, you pay through Manage your booking. Departures from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Greece, Japan and Mexico are excluded, according to Emirates.
Emirates vs Trip.com for flights to Dubai: 2026 price comparison
Neither Emirates nor Trip.com is always cheaper for a flight to Dubai, so compare the same flight on both. The same Emirates flight can show a different total on the two sites depending on the date, the fare type and any promotion running at the time.
| Emirates | Trip.com | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The airline itself | A booking site covering many airlines |
| Good for | Best Price Guarantee, Hold My Fare, choosing fare type and baggage directly | Comparing Emirates with one-stop options on other airlines |
| Watch for | Fare type and baggage allowance | Fare type and baggage allowance on the listing |
| On ShopBack | Emirates page | Trip.com page |
How to compare fairly:
- Search the same flight number, date and fare type on both.
- Make sure the baggage allowance matches, then compare the final total, not the headline fare.
- Check change and cancellation rules on each.
- Book the cheaper total through its ShopBack Australia page.
Emirates, Trip.com and Skyscanner: which to use for Dubai
Use Skyscanner to see who is cheapest, Trip.com to compare and book across airlines, and Emirates when you already know you want a non-stop Emirates flight.
- Trip.com: a booking site for flights, hotels, trains, car hire and tours. Start from the ShopBack Trip.com page.
- Emirates: the airline's own site, with its fare menu, Best Price Guarantee and Hold My Fare. Go through the ShopBack Emirates page before you pay.
- Skyscanner: a search site that compares fares and then sends you to a partner to book. Open the ShopBack Skyscanner page first.
Other airlines Australians compare for the Middle East include Qantas, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, which you will see on search and booking sites.
Do Australians need a visa for Dubai?
At the time of writing, Emirates' UAE visa page lists Australia among the passports that receive a visa on arrival at Dubai International, so a short tourist visit usually does not need a visa arranged in advance. Entry rules can change, so check Emirates' visa tool and the Australian Government's Smartraveller advice before you fly, and make sure your passport is valid for your whole trip.
How ShopBack lowers the cost of a flight to Dubai
Booking through ShopBack lowers the cost of the trip, and you still book on the site you chose. You start on ShopBack instead of typing the site address, then book as normal.
- Open the ShopBack Australia app or website and sign in.
- Tap Emirates, Trip.com or Skyscanner.
- Check the rate shown on that store's ShopBack page.
- Book your Dubai flight and pay as normal.
- Cashback shows as pending in your ShopBack account soon after you pay, and confirms after your trip. Once it confirms, you can withdraw it.
Before you check out, go through ShopBack to get a post-purchase discount on the order. Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles.
Working out the effective price. Your effective price is what you pay minus the cash ShopBack returns. The live rate is on each store's ShopBack page.
More: how to earn money back on travel bookings.
Promo codes and ShopBack on a Dubai flight
No code needed: go through ShopBack before you pay and part of what you spend comes back as Cashback.
FAQ
How can I find cheap flights to Dubai from Australia?
From Australia, the cheapest flights to Dubai usually come from flexible dates, avoiding Australian summer school holidays, checking every departure city you can reach and picking an Economy fare that matches your luggage. Compare the same Emirates flight on Emirates, Trip.com and Skyscanner, then go through ShopBack Australia before you pay.
Which Australian cities have direct flights to Dubai?
Emirates flies non-stop to Dubai from Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, according to public reference data at the time of writing. Check the schedule for your city on Emirates' site, because frequencies and aircraft can change by season.
When is the cheapest time to fly to Dubai from Australia?
There is no fixed cheapest month, but fares from Australia usually rise in the Australian summer school holidays and over Christmas and New Year. Dubai's summer, roughly the last week of April to the first week of October, is extremely hot, so many travellers prefer the cooler months. Flexible dates outside Australian peaks usually help most.
Is Emirates or Trip.com cheaper for flights to Dubai?
Neither is always cheaper. The same Emirates flight can show a different total on Emirates and on Trip.com depending on the date and fare. Emirates also offers a Best Price Guarantee on eligible Economy Class fares booked on emirates.com. Compare the same flight, fare and baggage on both, then judge the final total.
How much luggage do I get on Emirates Economy from Australia?
According to Emirates, on weight-concept routes Economy Special includes 20kg of checked baggage, Saver 25kg, Flex 30kg and Flex Plus 35kg, and Economy Saver includes 30kg for journeys that start in Australia or New Zealand. Each individual bag must weigh no more than 32kg. Check your booking for the exact allowance.
What is the Emirates Best Price Guarantee?
Emirates says that if you book an Economy Class fare marked with its Best Price Guarantee icon on emirates.com and find the same flight at least USD 20 cheaper on another website, it will refund the difference. You claim by midnight on the day you booked, the fare must be paid in full, and codeshare flights are excluded.
Can I hold an Emirates fare while I compare prices?
Yes, on eligible bookings. Emirates says Hold My Fare reserves your chosen Economy Class fare for 24 hours for free, so the price will not rise while you decide, and you pay later through Manage your booking. It is not offered on departures from a few countries, and Australia is not among them at the time of writing.
Do Australians need a visa for Dubai?
At the time of writing, Emirates' UAE visa page lists Australia among the passports that receive a visa on arrival at Dubai International, so a short tourist visit usually does not need a visa arranged in advance. Entry rules can change, so check Emirates' visa tool and Smartraveller before you travel.
How does ShopBack lower the cost of a flight to Dubai?
Booking through ShopBack lowers the cost of the trip, and you still book on the site you chose. Before you check out, go through ShopBack to get a post-purchase discount on the order: open Emirates, Trip.com or Skyscanner from its ShopBack Australia page and book. The live rate is on each store's ShopBack page.
Can I use a promo code and ShopBack on the same Dubai flight booking?
No code needed: go through ShopBack before you pay and part of what you spend comes back as Cashback.
How do I book an Emirates flight through ShopBack?
Open Emirates from its ShopBack Australia page, then book and pay on emirates.com as normal. Cashback shows as pending in your ShopBack account soon after you pay, and confirms after your trip. Once it confirms, you can withdraw it.
Key takeaways
- Emirates flies non-stop to Dubai from Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney; check every city you can reach.
- Fares out of Australia usually rise over the summer school holidays, Christmas and New Year; flexible dates help most.
- Match the Emirates fare to your luggage: Special 20kg, Saver 30kg from Australia, Flex 30kg, Flex Plus 35kg.
- Emirates' Best Price Guarantee and 24-hour Hold My Fare can help you lock in a good Economy fare.
- Compare the same flight on Emirates, Trip.com and Skyscanner, and judge each on the final total.
- Go through ShopBack before you pay. Your effective price is what you pay minus the cash ShopBack returns.
Related reads
Ready to start?
Open the ShopBack Trip.com page to compare airlines for your Dubai dates, or start from the ShopBack Emirates page if you already know you are flying Emirates.
Disclaimer
The views and recommendations in this article are those of the author. Fares, fare types, baggage allowances, booking guarantees, routes, visa rules and school holiday dates are set by airlines, booking sites, governments and education departments, and can change. Rates on ShopBack vary by store and change often; the current rate is on each store's ShopBack page.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.
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