Features

Getting to Dubai

Direct flights take just under seven hours from the UK.

Emirates: 14 flights a day from six UK airports; Gatwick, Heathrow, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Newcastle.
British Airways: Direct daily flights from Heathrow.
Virgin Atlantic: Direct daily flights from Heathrow.
Silverjet: Direct daily service from Luton.
Biman Bangladesh: Three direct services a week from Heathrow.
Royal Brunei: Daily from Heathrow.
Gulf Air: Daily flights from Heathrow via Bahrain, taking nine hours.

Visas and health

British passport holders do not require a visa. There are no compulsory vaccinations required, however it is worth clients checking with their GP for the latest medical advice including what medicines can be taken to the emirate. It is also recommended to have up to date polio and tetanus vaccinations, as well as hepatitis A and typhoid.

Airports

Dubai International Airport: It’s one of the busiest in the world and is currently being
redeveloped and expanded. Additions will include a new terminal, exclusive to Emirates, and more availability.

Dubai World Central International Airport: A new airport is being developed in the Jebel Ali area. It will have six runways, two terminals and several concourses that will be able to accommodate 120 million passengers a year, as well as the new Airbus A380 super jumbo aircraft. It will form part of Dubai World Central, a new city that
will be dedicated to the needs of the aviation world.

Flight review: Gulf Air economy class, Heathrow to Dubai

Check-in was a fairly smooth process and staff were pleasant. Gulf Air offers a 32-34in seat pitch with personal seat-back entertainment. The seats were quite comfortable and we received a small amenity kit, which consisted of flight socks and an eye mask.

There was a fairly good choice of in-flight entertainment channels. Service was very good with attentive and friendly staff . The food was a little disappointing – I’m vegetarian and my main course was just vegetables with tomatoes over the top, although the food was better on the inbound flight.

The connection in Bahrain would normally have been very smooth with enough time for a wander round the shops and refreshments, but we were unfortunately delayed on the outbound service and missed our original connection.