8 Emirates tips to handle an extra busy December at Dubai International Airport
New services and digital tools highlighted for smooth holiday journeys
DUBAI – Dubai is preparing for one of its biggest travel waves of the year as Emirates reports more than 2.3 million departures and 2.5 million arrivals expected in December.
Peak tourist season, major events and extended school holidays following KHDA updates are driving sharp increases across Dubai International.
With fuller roads, busier car parks and heavier footfall throughout the airport, Emirates is advising travellers to follow a detailed set of steps designed to minimise queues and improve movement through the terminal.
Know your timings
One of Emirates’ strongest recommendations for December is ensuring every member of a family or travel group understands the timing requirements before leaving home. The airline stresses that clarity prevents delays, last-minute disagreements and the risk of missing flights during the busiest part of the year.
Customers travelling this month should arrive at the airport three hours before departure, complete Immigration 1.5 hours before departure, and reach their boarding gates one hour before departure. These timings factor in increased traffic on the roads, potential queues at terminal entrances and extra processing time at check-in and security.
Arrivals who follow this schedule will also have the opportunity to enjoy Dubai International’s amenities, including Emirates Lounges, dining choices, retail outlets and quiet zones.
Use the Emirates App
Emirates is encouraging passengers to place digital tools at the centre of their pre-flight preparations. The Emirates App allows customers to check in 48 hours before departure, download digital boarding passes for most destinations, view meals, pre-order Business Class hot dishes, arrange chauffeur-drive bookings and plan entertainment options on ice.
The app now supports Biometrics path registration, which takes only minutes. Once completed, customers can move quickly through the terminal using airport smart gates, biometric boarding lanes and biometric entry points to Emirates Lounges. Notifications also provide live updates, ensuring travellers remain ahead of any schedule changes.
Travellers preferring desktops may also check in on Emirates.com from 48 hours before take-off.
Try City Check-In
To avoid the airport entirely before the day of travel, customers can use the Emirates City Check In & Travel Store at ICD Brookfield Place in DIFC. This location offers free parking and accepts baggage drop-off from 24 hours to 4 hours before a flight. Between 15 December and 15 January, any customer checking in and dropping luggage at this venue receives 2,500 Skywards Miles, with the offer extended to children. A family of four can therefore earn 10,000 Skywards Miles simply by checking in at this location.
The venue operates 8am to 10pm, but during the promotional period remains open until midnight. This option is especially useful for travellers working or staying in Downtown Dubai, DIFC or nearby districts.
For Northern Emirates residents, Emirates maintains a 24-hour City Check-In facility in Ajman, located in Ajman Central Bus Terminal. It also accepts check-ins from 24 hours up to 4 hours before flight time, allowing customers to complete airport formalities close to home.
Drop bags early or check in at home
Passengers departing from Dubai can also reduce airport congestion by using the early baggage drop service. Travellers may check in and drop luggage 24 hours before departure, or 12 hours before departure for flights to the US. This allows customers to walk directly to Immigration on the day of travel, bypassing check-in queues.
Emirates also operates a Home Check-In service in Dubai and Sharjah. An Emirates agent completes the full check-in process at the traveller’s residence, hotel or office and transports the bags separately. This option allows passengers to arrive closer to departure time and enter the airport with hand luggage only. The service must be booked a minimum of 24 hours before the flight, and Emirates advises early booking due to high December demand. The service is complimentary for First Class travellers and Platinum Skywards members.
Pack to Emirates’ requirements
To prevent delays at security and boarding points, the airline is urging all passengers to follow baggage rules precisely. Emirates allows each traveller to carry one power bank under 100 Watt Hours, and it must clearly show its capacity rating. Power banks must remain in the cabin and may not be placed in checked luggage; they must be stored either in seat pockets or in personal bags placed under the seat.
Smart bags are allowed in the cabin only if the battery is removable, switched off and compliant with cabin size and weight limits. E-cigarettes, e-pipes, e-cigars and Electric Portable Incense Burners must be protected to prevent activation and are permitted only as carry-on items. Emirates encourages customers to verify baggage contents before arriving at the airport to avoid unnecessary repacking or delays at security checkpoints.
Pre-order your gifts
To streamline festive shopping, Emirates is promoting its pre-order retail service through EmiratesRED.com. Passengers can browse items from 21 days up to 40 hours before departure, select products, and have them delivered directly to their seat onboard. The Winter 2025 Emirates RED collection includes over 300 luxury items from brands such as Hermès, Tom Ford, Cartier, Jo Malone and Creed. Customers may use the RED10 code to receive a 10% discount on most orders.
This option allows passengers to avoid queues at airport shops and reduces onboard browsing time, ensuring a more relaxed start to the journey.
Explore Accessibility Support
Emirates’ new Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub brings together information and support services for passengers travelling with additional needs. The hub offers accessibility-friendly navigation and includes guides for autism-friendly travel, detailed maps and sensory resources for Dubai International, access to the Be My Eyes support app for visually impaired travellers, and instructions for applying for a Sanad tourist card in Dubai.
The hub also provides guidance for travelling with mobility aids, wheelchairs, medical needs, children, pregnancy and unaccompanied minors. It is designed to help travellers prepare in advance, reducing uncertainty and improving airport movement.
Use the airport transport network
Once inside Dubai International, passengers can use several transport options to move between concourses and terminals. Travellers entering Terminal 3 begin in Concourse B. To reach Concourse A, Emirates customers may board the complimentary airport train. For movement between Concourse A and Concourse C, a shuttle bus runs 24 hours a day and departs every 20 minutes, with travel times of roughly the same duration. Clear signage throughout the terminal indicates pick-up and drop-off locations.
First Class customers may request dedicated Emirates buggies at any point within the airport. Dubai Airport Buggies (or Dubai Taxi buggies) are also available free of charge for all travellers, with priority offered to families, People of Determination and elderly passengers.