Dubai: If you’re planning to drop off family and friends at the airport for your summer holidays, make sure your farewell isn’t the last thing you leave at the airport as Dubai International Airport (DXB) is gearing up for the summer travel season, with only ticketed passengers allowed inside the terminal during peak hours.
More than 3.7 million people are expected to travel over the next two weeks, with the Eid public holiday falling just days before the long summer holidays. With the large numbers of expected travelers in mind, DXB has issued guidelines to help travellers navigate the airport efficiently and avoid last-minute hassles.
Summer Travel Tips from DXB
Here are some tips shared by DXB:
1. If you are flying with Emirates, you can avail of Home Check-in, Early Check-in and Self Check-in facilities, including City Check-in option.
2. If you are flying with flydubai, make sure you arrive at least 4 hours before departure.
3. For all other airlines, we recommend checking in online where possible and arriving at DXB at least 3 hours before your scheduled departure.
4. To avoid surprises at the airport and streamline your travel itinerary, prepare your travel documents in advance and weigh your luggage at home.
5. Check your airline’s baggage allowance and packing regulations to avoid last-minute surprises.
6. Don’t forget to pack spare batteries and power banks in your carry-on luggage.
7. Save time at security by being prepared: pack metal objects such as watches, jewelry, mobile phones, coins and belts in your carry-on luggage and follow the indicated guidelines for carrying liquids, aerosols and gels.
8. If you’re travelling with your family, you can use the Smart Gates to speed up immigration if your children are over 12 years old.
9. Be aware of the latest travel regulations for your destination and make sure you have all the necessary documents.
10. During peak hours, only guests will be allowed inside the terminal, so make sure to save your farewells for later at home.
11. To avoid heavy road congestion, use the Dubai Metro to travel to and from the airport and between Terminals 1 and 3.
12. Access to the arrivals halls of Terminals 1 and 3 is restricted to public transport and vehicles authorized by the airport only.
Travel Vaccines
Another important step to take before traveling is to visit a traveller clinic in the UAE to protect yourself against infections and communicable diseases while abroad.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), travel vaccinations are recommended to protect you against diseases that are prevalent in your departure or destination country. Travel vaccinations are intended to protect travelers and prevent the spread of diseases within and between countries.
Some countries require proof of vaccination from travelers wishing to enter or leave the country.
Emirates Health Services (EHS) runs traveller clinics offering medical advice and recommended vaccinations, in line with recommendations from the WHO and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), before travelling to a new country.
Apart from EHS, traveller clinics are also run by other public health authorities, including the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha) and the Outpatient Health Centre run by the Dubai Health Authority.
You can book an appointment online or by calling the Health Department directly. More information on each travel vaccine administered by EHS, Seha and Dubai Health can be found here.
