George Bush Intercontinental to Dubai International
8155 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 16h 48m with 8 airlines operating direct service from George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) to Dubai International (DXB). Cheapest fares are usually in January (around $699 return), with peak prices in August (around $2097). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from George Bush Intercontinental
Houston George Bush Intercontinental is United Airlines' second-largest hub after Newark, with five terminals and a Skytrain people mover connecting them. METRO's bus 102 runs from the airport to downtown Houston in around 50 minutes; light rail does not extend to IAH. International long-haul through Houston is heaviest to Latin America (over 30 destinations) and Europe, with Lufthansa, KLM, Air France and British Airways all operating daily and growing Middle East service via Qatar, Emirates and Turkish.
Arriving in Dubai
Dubai International is 5 km from Downtown Dubai, with the Red Line metro reaching Burj Khalifa in 22 minutes for AED 8. Emirates dominates the US-Dubai corridor with daily flights from JFK, EWR, IAD, ORD, BOS, IAH, DFW, MIA, SFO, LAX and SEA; United and Etihad add capacity. Peak season is November–April; July–September fares are cheapest but city temperatures hit 45°C+.
Who flies IAH to DXB?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| United Airlines | UA | 16h 48m | Economy |
| British Airways | BA | 16h 48m | Economy |
| Lufthansa | LH | 16h 48m | Economy |
| Air France | AF | 16h 48m | Economy |
| KLM | KL | 16h 48m | Economy |
| Qatar Airways | QR | 16h 48m | Economy |
| Emirates | EK | 16h 48m | Economy |
| Turkish Airlines | TK | 16h 48m | Economy |
8 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly IAH→DXB
Synthesised from 12-month price aggregates. Cheapest months in green, peak in red.
Estimated baseline. Prices update on a 30-day cadence as Travelpayouts data refreshes. Cheapest day-of-week typically Tuesday.
Houston to Dubai FAQs
Direct flights from George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) to Dubai International (DXB) take approximately 16h 48m for the 8155-mile journey, plus 30–60 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Total airport-to-airport time depends on cruise winds and air-traffic queueing on approach.
January is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from $699. August is the peak — expect prices 2–3× higher. Book 4–8 weeks ahead for best fares; last-minute prices on this corridor rise sharply inside two weeks of departure.
8 carriers operate direct service from George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) to Dubai International (DXB): United Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM and 3 more. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — United Airlines typically operates the highest weekly count on this corridor.
Visa on arrival — free 30-day tourist visa for US passport holders, extendable to 60 days. Always check travel.state.gov for the latest entry requirements before booking.
Dubai International (DXB) is the primary international airport for Dubai. Allow 30–60 minutes for the ground transfer by train, express bus, taxi or rideshare depending on traffic and time of day. See the airport's official website for current train and shuttle timetables.