Dubai’s flag-carrier has sounded the alarm on what it expects to be one of the busiest travel weeks since flights resumed after the spring conflict-related disruptions. In a travel advisory issued on 22 May 2026, Emirates said passenger traffic out of Dubai International Airport (DXB) will surge from 24 May as residents take advantage of the four-day Eid Al Adha holiday. The airline is asking all customers to reach the airport at least three hours before departure, clear immigration no later than 60 minutes prior to take-off and be at the gate 45 minutes in advance. It also recommends using online or app check-in, early bag-drop facilities and home check-in for premium tiers to shorten airport dwell time. Passengers who have not tried the carrier’s biometric path are encouraged to enrol in advance so they can pass through immigration and some boarding gates using facial recognition rather than passports.
Getting to DXB could be a bottleneck. Emirates warns that road traffic around the airport will be heavy during the holiday rush and suggests travellers use the Dubai Metro, which operates directly into Terminals 1 and 3, or arrange chauffeur-drive services that have air-side drop-off rights. Customers booked on US-bound flights or those requiring special assistance must still check-in at the airport counters.
![Emirates urges passengers to arrive 3 hours early as Eid Al Adha exodus looms]()
In planning all these details, travelers shouldn't overlook entry documentation. VisaHQ, an online visa and passport services platform, can expedite UAE tourist or business visa applications, track their status and flag any special requirements ahead of the Eid rush. Its dedicated UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) provides up-to-date guidelines and lets customers complete the process entirely online, helping them avoid last-minute surprises at DXB.
Customers booked on US-bound flights or those requiring special assistance must still check-in at the airport counters. The reminder comes as Dubai’s aviation sector stages a fast rebound from February-April missile disruptions that closed UAE airspace on several days. Emirates now flies to 137 destinations in 72 countries—96 per cent of its pre-war network—and management says Eid will be the first real test of that restoration. Business-travel consultants say corporates should warn assignees flying this week to budget extra time for security and potential re-routing. For employers running time-critical project rotations, the practical advice is: reconfirm itineraries, advise staff to check in online the night before and circulate DXB Metro timetables. Failure to clear immigration in time could mean missing flights that are running close to capacity, with rebooking availability limited until early June. The advisory also reminds travellers that those booked between 28 Feb and 31 May can rebook once without penalty if their plans change because of congestion.
Getting to DXB could be a bottleneck. Emirates warns that road traffic around the airport will be heavy during the holiday rush and suggests travellers use the Dubai Metro, which operates directly into Terminals 1 and 3, or arrange chauffeur-drive services that have air-side drop-off rights. Customers booked on US-bound flights or those requiring special assistance must still check-in at the airport counters.
In planning all these details, travelers shouldn't overlook entry documentation. VisaHQ, an online visa and passport services platform, can expedite UAE tourist or business visa applications, track their status and flag any special requirements ahead of the Eid rush. Its dedicated UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) provides up-to-date guidelines and lets customers complete the process entirely online, helping them avoid last-minute surprises at DXB.
Customers booked on US-bound flights or those requiring special assistance must still check-in at the airport counters. The reminder comes as Dubai’s aviation sector stages a fast rebound from February-April missile disruptions that closed UAE airspace on several days. Emirates now flies to 137 destinations in 72 countries—96 per cent of its pre-war network—and management says Eid will be the first real test of that restoration. Business-travel consultants say corporates should warn assignees flying this week to budget extra time for security and potential re-routing. For employers running time-critical project rotations, the practical advice is: reconfirm itineraries, advise staff to check in online the night before and circulate DXB Metro timetables. Failure to clear immigration in time could mean missing flights that are running close to capacity, with rebooking availability limited until early June. The advisory also reminds travellers that those booked between 28 Feb and 31 May can rebook once without penalty if their plans change because of congestion.
