Emirates gives you two ways to break up a connection through Dubai. Dubai Connect provides a free hotel, meals and transfers for passengers stuck with a long layover on an eligible fare, while the paid Dubai Stopover lets you add discounted hotel nights to see the city. Rules and prices change, so confirm the current offer on emirates.com.
Dubai Connect is for passengers with a long connection in Dubai, often eight hours or more in economy and a shorter window in premium cabins, on a qualifying Emirates itinerary. When you are eligible, Emirates provides a complimentary hotel room, meals and airport transfers, and arranges the transit visa. It is designed for awkward overnight connections rather than a planned holiday.
If you want to choose your hotel and spend real time in the city, the Dubai Stopover lets you add discounted nights at a range of hotels to your Emirates booking. You pick the property and length of stay, which turns a connection into a proper short break.
Eligibility depends on flying Emirates through Dubai, your connection length and your fare. Dubai Connect is offered automatically to qualifying passengers, while the Dubai Stopover is added during or after booking. Check the conditions for your specific ticket.
Dubai is built for a stopover. Our Dubai layover guide covers what is realistic to see in a few hours or a night, from the Burj Khalifa and the fountains to the old town and the souks.
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Dubai Connect is arranged by Emirates rather than something you book at your departure airport. When your connection through Dubai qualifies, the entitlement is usually added to your booking automatically and shown on your itinerary. If it does not appear, ask at the Emirates connection desk in Dubai International once you land. Staff there confirm eligibility, issue the hotel voucher and arrange the transfer. Keep your onward boarding pass and passport ready, and allow time for the hotel shuttle. Passengers travelling on separate tickets or on the cheapest Special fares are often excluded, so check your fare conditions before you rely on it.
| Dubai Connect | Dubai Stopover | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Paid, from a set nightly rate |
| Who arranges it | Emirates, based on your connection time | You, when booking or through Emirates Holidays |
| Hotel choice | Assigned by Emirates | You choose from a list |
| Typical use | Long or overnight connections with no better flight | Turning a connection into a proper visit to Dubai |
| Meals and transfers | Included | Varies by package |
Yes, for eligible passengers with a long enough connection on a qualifying fare, Dubai Connect provides a complimentary hotel, meals and transfers. The separate Dubai Stopover is a paid upgrade.
It is typically aimed at connections of around eight hours or more in economy, with a shorter threshold in premium cabins. Confirm the exact rules for your fare with Emirates.
Dubai Connect is a free hotel for awkward long connections, while Dubai Stopover is a paid option that lets you choose your hotel and spend time in the city.
Many nationalities can enter the UAE visa-free or on arrival, and Emirates arranges transit visas for Dubai Connect. Check your own requirements before planning to leave the airport.
If your Dubai connection qualifies, Emirates usually adds it to your booking automatically. If it does not appear, ask at the Emirates connection desk in Dubai after you land and staff will confirm eligibility and issue your hotel voucher.
Emirates assigns the hotel, so you cannot choose it. It is normally a comfortable airport or city hotel with meals and transfers included. If you want to pick your own hotel, the paid Dubai Stopover is the option that lets you do that.