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R5 014 Find Cheap Flights to Dubai – Compare and Save

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Everything you should know

Cheapest return flight
R9 557
Typical prices: R9 777-R13 317
Kenya Airways
Thu 18/10Tue 23/10
JNB - DXB • 1 stop
Cheapest direct flights
R9 930
Typical prices: R9 989-R13 318
Emirates
Sun 14/10Sun 21/10
JNB - DXB • Direct
Direct flights
You can fly direct with Emirates. Average duration is 8h 38m
FAQs
FAQs
Top airlines
Most flights • 56 per week
Best reviews • 8,1 score
Airline reviews
+1
Airline reviews
+1
Top routes
Cheapest • 27% average savings
Most popular
Insights
Insights
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 23 weeks in advance save around 9% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 9% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
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Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights to Dubai

 
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals to Dubai

Sun, Oct 18 - Fri, Oct 23
Kenya Airways Logo
1:15 - 23:25JNB  Johannesburg OR Tambo-DXB Dubai Intl
20h 10m1 stop Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl
Kenya Airways Logo
0:55 - 10:55DXB  Dubai Intl-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo
12h 00m1 stop Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl
R9 557Kenya Airways
Mon, Oct 19 - Fri, Oct 23
Kenya Airways Logo
12:10 - 5:25JNB  Johannesburg OR Tambo-DXB Dubai Intl
15h 15m1 stop Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl
Kenya Airways Logo
6:45 - 15:50DXB  Dubai Intl-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo
11h 05m1 stop Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl
R9 557Kenya Airways
Mon, Dec 28 - Sun, Mar 28
Qatar Airways Logo
9:15 - 3:50JNB  Johannesburg OR Tambo-DXB Dubai Intl
16h 35m1 stop Doha Hamad Intl
Qatar Airways Logo
13:15 - 4:00DXB  Dubai Intl-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo
16h 45m1 stop Doha Hamad Intl
R9 817Qatar Airways
Fri, Feb 5 - Sun, May 30
Qatar Airways Logo
13:45 - 11:40JNB  Johannesburg OR Tambo-DXB Dubai Intl
19h 55m1 stop Doha Hamad Intl
Qatar Airways Logo
11:45 - 4:00DXB  Dubai Intl-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo
18h 15m1 stop Doha Hamad Intl
R9 817Qatar Airways
Tue, Nov 10 - Wed, Nov 18
Multiple Airlines Logo
13:45 - 3:50JNB  Johannesburg OR Tambo-DXB Dubai Intl
12h 05m1 stop Doha Hamad Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
4:25 - 20:10DXB  Dubai Intl-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo
17h 45m1 stop Addis Ababa Bole
R9 817Multiple Airlines
Wed, Oct 14 - Wed, Oct 21
Emirates Logo
19:10 - 5:25JNB  Johannesburg OR Tambo-DXB Dubai Intl
8h 15mdirect
Emirates Logo
14:25 - 20:35DXB  Dubai Intl-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo
8h 10mdirect
R9 930Emirates
Tue, Oct 20 - Wed, Oct 21
Multiple Airlines Logo
20:55 - 11:40JNB  Johannesburg OR Tambo-DXB Dubai Intl
12h 45m1 stop Doha Hamad Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
17:10 - 3:55DXB  Dubai Intl-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo
12h 45m1 stop Addis Ababa Bole
R9 946Multiple Airlines
Fri, Oct 2 - Fri, Oct 9
Emirates Logo
10:05 - 20:15JNB  Johannesburg OR Tambo-DXB Dubai Intl
8h 10mdirect
Emirates Logo
23:20 - 5:30DXB  Dubai Intl-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo
8h 10mdirect
R10 011Emirates
Sat, Jan 9 - Thu, Jan 14
Ethiopian Air Logo
23:00 - 15:45JNB  Johannesburg OR Tambo-DXB Dubai Intl
14h 45m1 stop Addis Ababa Bole
Ethiopian Air Logo
17:10 - 13:30DXB  Dubai Intl-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo
22h 20m1 stop Addis Ababa Bole
R10 368Ethiopian Air
Sat, Dec 12 - Sat, Dec 19
Ethiopian Air Logo
23:00 - 15:45JNB  Johannesburg OR Tambo-DXB Dubai Intl
14h 45m1 stop Addis Ababa Bole
Ethiopian Air Logo
17:10 - 3:55DXB  Dubai Intl-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo
12h 45m1 stop Addis Ababa Bole
R10 514Ethiopian Air
Booking Insights

Price, demand, and travel trends for South Africa to Dubai flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines, and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights from South Africa to Dubai with more confidence.

What is the cheapest flight to Dubai?

Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Dubai is the cheapest route at R9 557 return, found in the past 5 days on KAYAK. KAYAK data shows this is also the most popular route.

How much is a flight to Dubai?

A return flight to Dubai costs R11 041 on average, based on data over the past 12 months on KAYAK. Return fares from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport average R10 284, while Durban runs a bit higher at R11 956.

What is the cheapest day to fly to Dubai?

Wednesday is the cheapest day to fly to Dubai at R11 050 return on average over the past 12 months on KAYAK. Saturday is the most expensive at R12 023.

What is the cheapest month to fly to Dubai?

•February and November are the cheapest months to fly to Dubai with an average price of R10 028 return.
•December (R12 867) and July (R11 293) are the most expensive.
•Based on KAYAK data over the past 12 months.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to Dubai?

Night flights to Dubai are the cheapest at R10 612 return on average. Evening flights are the most expensive at R12 234.

What is a good deal for flights to Dubai?

Flights under R9 777 are considered a good deal. 25% of KAYAK users found return flights to Dubai at or below these prices, with the lowest fares from:
•Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport R9 674.

When are flights to Dubai the cheapest?

Flights to Dubai are cheapest 23 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 9% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Key details for flights to Dubai

Low season

June

Cheapest flight

R4 998
Best time to beat the crowds (1% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly (17% more expensive on average)
Flights from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Dubai

When to book flights to Dubai

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel to Dubai based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price

Your questions about flights to Dubai, answered

Find helpful route details based on KAYAK data, including flight times, airports, airlines, and booking questions.

  • How do I know if a flight to Dubai is a good deal?

    A good deal on a flight to Dubai is around R9 777 return. This fare is in the lowest 25% of return flight prices searched on KAYAK, averaged across the cities most often searched as origins by KAYAK users.

  • How far is Dubai Intl from Dubai city centre?

    Dubai Intl is 11,0 km from Dubai city centre.

  • How long are direct flights to Dubai from different departure cities?

    Direct flight time to Dubai varies depending on your departure city:

    • from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport: 7h 55m
    • from Durban: 8h 15m
    • from Cape Town: 9h 20m

  • Where can I fly from to get the cheapest fares to Dubai?

    Based on fares booked in the past 5 days, the cheapest flights to Dubai are from:
    • Johannesburg, from R9 557 return

  • How expensive are last-minute flights to Dubai?

    Last-minute fares to Dubai – booked within 2 weeks of departure – run 2% above the average return fare of R11 041.

  • What is the difference between the most popular and the most frequent airline at Dubai?

    Emirates operates the most flights from South Africa to Dubai at 56 per week, and for this route Emirates is also the airline most often selected by KAYAK users searching for flights from South Africa to Dubai. The two are sometimes different because flight volume reflects an airline's schedule, while popularity reflects traveller choice.

  • Which airlines should I consider for flights to Dubai?

  • How many flights serve Dubai?

    Dubai receives 8 flights per day and 56 per week from across the world. Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport has the most flights to Dubai with 28 weekly flights.

  • What other locations does Dubai Airport (DXB) serve?

    When you land in Dubai, not only will you be able to reach the city relatively easily, but you can also get to other locations nearby with ease. For instance, you can drive to Ras Al-Khaimah in about 1h 5min, Al Lisaili in around 35 minutes and Kalba in approximately 1h 20min.

  • How can I get from Dubai Airport (DXB) to the centre of the city?

    Upon arrival at Dubai Airport, it’s easy to travel to the city centre. One of the most convenient options is to take the train, which runs from early in the morning to late at night. This costs around 9 AED (45 ZAR) and takes about 25 minutes. A faster way to travel is to get a taxi, which has a total journey time of around 15 minutes, but is more expensive.

Your guide to booking Dubai flights

From booking to airport arrival, find tips to help you plan your flight with more confidence.
  • For the best chance at a low fare to Dubai, aim to book around 23 weeks before you fly. That window historically saves about 9% versus last-minute pricing based on KAYAK booking data over the last 12 months.
  • For flights to Dubai, recent KAYAK data shows that stronger deals tend to be around R9 777 return. If you see a fare below that threshold, it's a good deal – book before the price climbs back up.
  • If you can choose when to go, aim to travel to Dubai in February. Return fares historically average R10 028 that month – typically the cheapest month to travel based on the last 12 months.
  • Before you book:

    • Check the route's typical price range so you can spot a deal.
    • Confirm baggage fees and seat selection costs on budget carriers.
    • Verify whether you need any travel documents beyond an ID.
    • Pick a departure airport, since your nearest may not be the cheapest origin.
  • Shift your departure to evening to save up to R1 623 per return. Evening flights to Dubai average R10 612 compared to R12 234 for afternoon flights. See the time-of-day chart above for the full breakdown.
  • Bag allowances vary by airline, fare type, cabin class, and route. On flights to Dubai, some airlines may include bags at no extra cost. For example, Emirates includes a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class, while South African includes a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class. Always check the fare details before booking, since bag policies can change by ticket type.
  • Once you arrive in Dubai, a few great places to start are Dubai Mall, Naif Souq, and Gold Souq. These are popular with first-time visitors and can give you a good feel for the area.
  • As the flight to Dubai from South Africa is relatively long, you might want to refresh yourself once you have arrived. You can use the complimentary shower facilities which can be found in Terminal 3 between gates A1 and A24 or B13 and B19. In addition, here are also showers in Terminal 1, between gates C18 and C22.
  • Even though there is a good service from South Africa to Dubai, there might not be a suitable flight for you. It might be more convenient for you to fly to the nearby city of Abu Dhabi, which has many direct flights from South Africa with airlines such as Etihad Airways. From Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH), you can drive to Dubai in about 1h 15min.
  • There are many direct flights from South Africa to Dubai. However, it might be more convenient to fly on an indirect route. This means that a stopover will be required. Common stopover locations include Nairobi Airport (NBO), which is used by Kenya Airways, and Doha Airport (DOH), which is the hub for Qatar Airways.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines flying to Dubai

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with to Dubai? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
8,1
EmiratesOverall score based on 3663 reviews
8,2Entertainment
8,2Boarding
8,4Crew
7,9Food
8,0Comfort
Airline reviews

The staff were fantastic and the food was tasty. My check in experience was good too.

10,0 ExcellentAnonymous, Sept 2026
Read more Emirates reviews

The staff were fantastic and the food was tasty. My check in experience was good too.

The on boarding process at the airport was confusing with no order set in place. So passengers were creating their own lines. Taking the bus to the plane as a bit cumbersome. Once in the plane, the flight attendants were tentative and friendly. Seats were comfortable and food was okay.

There is an issue with A380 when it arrives in Munich, because a business class passengers like me have to wait for the first class passengers to disembark, which takes some time while you are also offloading economy passengers this causes an issue at customs where your business class passengers end up behind a large bulk of economy passengers This is a frustration and the early dislocation should be and is supposed to be a benefit of business class

This was my first time flying with Emirates. Overall, the experience was very good. I thought the seats in economy would have been a bit more comfortable, but, they seem to be on par with other airlines. The food was excellent and very satisfying. If you can afford it, I would definitely suggest upgrading to at lest premium economy seats for long haul flights.

First time and very memorable, the finest flying experience ive ever had

No Vegetarian options onboard, made to wait for a long time for boarding

The internet connection did was not functioning as per normal.

The individual attention the crew gives to passengers is commendable and I find them positively helpful.

For such a long flight I feel the spacing of seats could’ve been better to make it more comfortable for passengers. Very little space to move & stretch legs.

The flight was delayed in Jhb and I could have had some help in Dubai trying to get to my connecting flight to London

This airline has now finally turned the corner and reminiscent of the old day service. Would definitely recommend flying with SAA.

Great experience all-round. From re-checking baggage directly before leaving the arrivals hall (coming from international), to fast and friendly boarding, to complimentary drinks and snacks on board. This was a very pleasant experience - even my luggage was delivered on the belt very quickly and it was a wonderful end to a 28 hour transit.

I had a very good experience from boarding to arrivals.

Boarded almost 48 hrs later after a scheduling change on my initial flight that was not communicated either by kayak of SAA.

I had booked a ticket for a 6:40 am departure in July 2025, but it appears there was a change to 8;00 am, which meant I missed my connecting flight which departed 10 m minutes before I landed. I had seen this problem only the previous day and try to resolve it with South African air, but they are very uncooperative on the phone. All they could say was all flights were fully booked and I ended up buying paying $2,000+ to secure a ticket for my family to ensure we got out of South Africa by Monday, which am currently pursuing with the airline.

South African Airways on the outside, a very old shabby Qatar Airways plane on the inside

The food options were beef or veg, No alternatives for Hindus, that don't eat beef...

Flight was on time Seats ( business class) are terrible- you keep on slipping down as it doesn’t lie flat Food service is like economy class. Meals ( still wrapped in plastic) are just dropped in front of you

On time flight; otherwise not impressed by the check- in- purchased business class and the aircraft was downgraded; no refund given for the difference. Told I could access the lounge due to the above and was questioned by the lounge check- in person who was not friendly

Flight was cancelled with no notification until I reached the check-in desk at the airport. I also got downgraded and they lost my luggage.

Service and food were good. I'm 6'3" and my knees hit the chair in front of me. The 3 hour flight was manageable but the 15 hour flight was torture. There is no comfortable position to sleep and I'm grateful the person in front of me did not lean their seat back.

The crew were fabulous. We travelled Doha to Miami and the crew in board we exceptional too.

Qatar was pretty OK for their services but Arangrant was awful at theirs and frankly lied to me. Qatar offers four business class fares and only three of them allow lounge access. This is a horrible policy when you pay so much for business class and shame on them for denying the simple use of their lounges for this confusion. When I requested my business class ticket with Arangrant I knew this and specifically told them I would only purchase the lowest class business seat that would still permit me lounge access on all legs of my trip. They lied to me and said I did and then I was refused this service on my return flights. I had no less than 4-8 schedule changes and got screwed by a late departure from DCA on my double connection to JNB. I lost nearly a full day on my outbound and then had little to no use of the lounges on my outbound flights. To then be denied access on my return flights made the 27 hour trip home pretty awful. Kayak should no longer work with Arangrant as they are dishonest and liars. Qatar should price all four of their business class fares to include lounge access and stop the insanity they have forced on people. My return trip home nearly ruined my entire trip to South Africa and I blame Arangrant for telling me lies and for Qatar for offering insane rules and regulations on such expensive business class fares. For the money I paid to Qatar, I did not receive the full services I was promised. I will probably never use Arangrant and their ignorant services ever again. I will question whether I ever fly on Qatar Airways again as well. When you pay so much and get such little in return, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Arangrant gives the whole industry a bad name and Qatar is not far behind them. I can honestly say that the wretched service and way I was treated by both have soured me on travel companies and airlines. It is bad enough that we have an idiot, felon, racist and bigoted president and administration to contend with while he has started an illegal war, I did not expect to get screwed over by Arangrant and Qatar as well. Shame on all of you.

Terrible experience resolving missed connection after flight was delayed. 3 hour queue at transit desk, not enough staff, no organisation, worst ever flying experience.

I had to stay in the airport 15 even with a hotel reservation..i was refused to inter to qatar cuz the hotel was outside the airport. They could have offered a solution. It was really exhausting for me and my family.

Doha airport is huge , takes long time to reach gate .

Check in desk people constrained by fear. Obvious typo on Uganda visa, even though approved, caused loss of flight. Something is definitely wrong with this system.

As gold member there is no priority checkin. Meaning you either have to board with your zone or last with business class pax. As economy pax all the baggage bays are filled by the time you arrive

Check-in staff were not very pleasing and sounded to be rude, even though I hold a platinum membership. The aircraft is brand new and good. As it's a short flight no other comments.

Bus from gate to plane waited more than 30 minutes in a freezing temperatures of a/c. Plane temperature was very cold .

The following is a review for a flight from Johannesburg to Washington, DC with a connection at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and refueling landing at Rome, Italy. The flight was provided by Ethiopian Airlines. There were two of us: me and my wife on this flight. Everything was on time. Enough legroom between the seats, I was able to stretch my legs and sleep for at least some time during the 14 hour second flight (19 hours in total for both flights). Very decent meals that included two lunches and one breakfast on the flight from Addis Ababa to Washington and one lunch on the flight from Johannesburg to Addis Ababa. The lunch choices were beef, chicken and fish, I think the vegetarian option was available as well, accompanied with beans. The breakfast was a choice between egg and pancake, accompanied with a fruit salad. The egg breakfast was awesome, it came with a scrambled egg and a sausage. However, my wife mentioned unusual taste of the pancake breakfast meal, by all means those were not pancakes. What wasn't good: Externally initiated commercials on the infosystem screens, you couldn't turn the screen off. These commercials were accompanied by loud and annoying music, transmitted through the entire cabin. Obviously, there was no escape from this music as well. Additional moment: on the flight from Addis Ababa to Washington, DC, we landed at Rome for refueling. This was totally fine and it was in the flight itinerary. But, the flight attendant asked me to straighten the seat while we were at the steady position during the refueling. I can't rationalize this order except that some people just like to be a boss of some kind. Keeping the light lit in the economy cabin while keeping it dimmed in the first class also didn't improve my and my wife's feelings. Overall, the services were very good and the flight, despite its longevity, went on very smoothly.

A bit chaotic boarding flight but over all good experience.

The hygiene was super bad. Smells bad and air refreshment is highly advisable. The crew made some one else sit in my spot and no one is checking seat number and people are jumping to sit on other people’s allocated seat.

Food was really not appealing. There was a blocked sink in the toilet. Toilet is cramped and the wall between the 2 toilets are not secured properly.

Plane was late with no information or announcement … had to walk up n downstairs.., had not communicated this … and ppl had suitcase to carry .

Like: It arrived, Dislike: Boarding was a separate corridor with no counter announcements at the passenger waiting area. Very dirty airplane and toilets, food options were terrible - everything even the vegetarian option was a curry spice. Many other passengers using the toilets would not lock the door and kept door partially open during use - flight attendants would not enforce or direct them to lock it and light turns on, no entertainment options at all, other passengers would be singing and not peaceful. Atrocious flight experience.

Bathrooms were absolutely atrocious. Absolutely third world. Unusable. From non-flushing toilets to poor maintenance - missing toilet paper, dirty with mess, etc. Horrifying. Does Ethiopian Airways expect customers to clean the bathroom before use. For sure inconsiderate passengers don't do anything to clear/clean after use.

My entertainment screen wasn't working and they couldn't fix it.

It is just ok, the sits are very uncomfortable, the temperature too low and there weren’t blankets. The food is mediocre and there are no screens to watch movies.

I've never been served three bread courses in a single meal before. Was really impressed by the novelty of that.

Flight was originally postponed and then delayed further. No communication at boarding gate or via What's ap or SMS to inform you of the new time so you can plan around it.. No explanations or apologies for the delay.

Very terrible airline. The flights were delayed for long hours and the customer service is terrible. Never flying with Kenya Airways again.

Overall good experience but for long distances there really needs to be more room.

Sadly, flights were delayed both ways with no reasons given other than " operational".

The kindness and good humor of all the people who this flight possible was a joy.

Flying portion was fine. Below average comfort. We had 2 canceled flights and got stuck in 2 cities which took us 3 days to get home. Kenya hasn’t done anything or even reached out to us after complaining.

Staff and service on board is always exemplary. Food however could be better.

Flight was delayed for 9 hours. We finally arrived ved at 0435hrs instead of 1950hrs the previous day. No compensation was provided.

It has been 1 week since arriving at my destination and I still have not recieved my kite surfing bags. Office will not communicate properly on location or when my bags will arrive. No advice on what to do on luggage that has not arrived in over a week. Simply not happy with Kenya airways at the moment.

They should improve their time management and how to reschedule flights in order to avoid long stopovers

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