Introduction

Tourism is becoming more and more important in the UAE. In 2022, the travel sector contributed nearly 10% to the country’s GDP. 

For Kenyans, the most visited Emirates are Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah.

Dubai has become one of the most popular destinations among Kenyans. In 2023, Africans contributed 4% to Dubai’s international visitors. There are also more than 50,000 Kenyans living and working in Dubai.

One of the reasons why more Kenyans are traveling to Dubai and the larger UAE is because getting a Visa as a Kenyan is very easy and the fact that the airfare from Kenya to Dubai is quite affordable compared to other destinations.

Flying from Nairobi To Dubai

If you are flying from Nairobi to Dubai, there are only two airlines that will provide a direct flight to Dubai’s International Airport, DXB. They include Emirates and FlyDubai. We’ll talk about FlyDubai later in the article when we discuss flying from Kenya’s coastal city, Mombasa.

Now let’s talk about Emirates and how it will get you to Dubai.

Emirates is Dubai’s main courier and is among the best airlines. In my opinion, it is the best airline. But that’s a story for a different article.

If you have booked an Emirates flight, you will head over to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and head to Terminal 1B. 

How long does it take?

It takes 5 hours and 5 minutes from Nairobi to Dubai’s DXB using Emirates.

Flying From Mombasa to Dubai

However, if you are enjoying the coastal beaches of Mombasa and want to head to Dubai, you do not have to travel to Nairobi to catch a flight. 

You can get a direct flight from Mombasa to Dubai courtesy of FlyDubai, Dubai’s low-cost airline. 

Head to Mombasa International Airport and make your way to Terminal 1, as this is where FlyDubai operates.

Read more on how much a flight costs from Mombasa to Dubai.

How long does it take?

It takes 5 hours 25 minutes from Mombasa to Dubai using FlyDubai.

Flying to Sharjah

There is also another way to get to Dubai. This option, however, involves landing in the Emirate of Sharjah and connecting to Dubai via taxi, or bus.

We (My wife and I) have landed at Sharjah before. We took a taxi to Dubai. It costed about Ksh 3,000 (AED 78 or $23) 

Why do you land in Sharjah? This is because we used Air Arabia, Sharjah’s main low-cost courier. It is cheaper than Emirates but not as comfortable as the Middle Eastern giant.

It takes 5 hours 5 minutes from Nairobi to Sharjah using Air Arabia.