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Emirates highlights extra busy December with over 2.3 million departures and 2.5 million arrivals
Dubai, UAE, 15 November 2025: Emirates is advising all customers of a significant travel surge throughout the month of December. With peak tourist season in full swing, a myriad of local events and recent changes to the KHDA calendar ensuring schools are closed for most of December – Emirates is planning for more than 2.3 million departures over the next few weekends, and more than 2.5 million arrivals.
Emirates strongly recommends that customers plan their travel carefully this December – preparing for the likelihood of additional traffic on the way to the airport, busier carparks, and a bustling airport for the festive season. The airline advises customers to take advantage of an array of options to facilitate a speedier and more seamless travel experience this December.
Emirates’ top 5 ways to minimise waiting times at Dubai International (DXB) this December
1.) Tell everyone the timelines.
Avoid debates and confusion in advance and ensure the whole family or group is aware of the recommended travel times from Emirates.
· During December, you should arrive to the Airport: 3 hours before departure
· Ensure you pass through Immigration: 1.5 hours before departure
· Ensure you reach your correct Boarding Gate: 1 hour before departure
Then, start your trip off in the best way with time to enjoy the array of airside attractions at Dubai International (DXB) from Emirates Lounges to restaurants and cafes, world class shopping and relaxation areas.
2.) Download the Emirates App to check in online and register for Biometrics to breeze through the airport.
Download the Emirates app for flight details at your fingertips and check in 48 hours in advance. Get your digital boarding pass for most destinations and notifications about your flight, check what meals will be served, pre-order your hot meal in Business Class, book a chauffeur drive service and even pre-select and plan what to watch via ice inflight entertainment. Customers can now also use their Emirates app to register to use the Biometrics path at Dubai International (DXB). The registration takes only a few minutes and enables customers to move quickly through the airport using airport smart gates, biometric boarding at Emirates gates and biometric entry to Emirates Lounges.
Customers can also check in on Emirates.com 48 hours ahead of flight departure time.
3.) Check in and drop luggage off at DIFC – Emirates City Check In & Travel Store and get free Skywards Miles.
Save time at the airport and check in at Emirates City Check In and Travel Store in ICD Brookfield Place, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) instead. Conveniently located in the heart of the business district, Emirates customers can avail free parking to check in and drop off luggage as early as 24 hours and up to 4 hours before a flight. Customers who check in and drop luggage at this location between 15 December to 15 January, will be rewarded with 2,500 Emirates Skywards Miles each – including children, meaning that a family of 4 could claim 10,000 miles just by checking in at the state-of-the-art venue. Emirates City Check In and Travel Store is open from 8am to 10pm daily, and from 15 December to 15 January, the opening hours of the venue have been extended to 12 midnight.
Customers can also check in remotely in at the 24-hour Emirates City Check In Ajman, located in Ajman Central Bus Terminal as early as 24 hours and as late as 4 hours before the flight departs.
4.) Drop off your luggage at the airport the day before, or enjoy a stress-free Home Check In.
Emirates customers can make more room in their car and minimise tasks at the airport by dropping off luggage at the airport the night before travel, at no charge. Passengers who are departing from Dubai can check-in early and drop off their bags 24 hours before departure, or 12 hours before departure if flying to the US. Then closer to departure time, customers can proceed directly to the Immigration area at the airport.
Emirates customers can also opt to check in at home in Dubai and Sharjah. Emirates’ Agents complete the quick check-in process at the customer’s home, hotel, or office, and take their bags on to the flight, so that the customers can arrive at a later time with just hand luggage. The service needs to be booked at least 24 hours before a flight and Emirates recommends booking early to avoid disappointment. The Home Check-In service is complimentary for First Class customers and Platinum Skywards members.
5.) Make sure your baggage meets Emirates’ requirements.
Emirates requests that customers are vigilant while packing bags and follow the restricted items procedures. Take note of new rules such as – Emirates customers may only carry one power bank that is under 100 Watt Hours and must have capacity rating information available. Power banks must now be placed in the seat pocket or in a bag under the seat in front of you and are not allowed in checked baggage. Smart bags are allowed in the cabin if the battery is removable, powered off, and within the cabin baggage size and weight limits. E-cigarettes including e-cigars, e-pipes, Electric Portable Incense (Perfume) Burner or other personal vaporizers containing batteries must be individually protected to prevent accidental activation and are only allowed as carry-on luggage.
More tips from Emirates this December
Pre-order your festive shopping.
Customers who wish to save even more time can pre-order their gifts and shopping on EmiratesRED.com and get access to exclusive retail products, which are then delivered to their seat in the air by the cabin crew. The pre-order service is available on most flights, and customers can shop from 21 days up to 40 hours before their flight, providing their flight details during checkout. The Emirates RED Winter 2025 catalogue features more than 300 products from brands like Hermès, Cartier, Tom Ford, Creed and Jo Malone and customers who pre-order can use the code RED10 to save 10%.
Get additional support options on Emirates’ new Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub.
Emirates new Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub on Emirates.com is designed to contain all the information needed for accessible and inclusive travel, featuring accessibility-friendly navigation that allows customers to find information easily and explore the many ways that Emirates can provide travel assistance and support. Services include Book Special Assistance, Prepare for travel with the autism-friendly guide, Explore Dubai Airport (DXB) Map and Sensory guides, Find Emirates Support on Be My Eyes support app for people who are visually impaired, Apply for a Sanad tourist card to access helpful services in Dubai, Travelling with a Wheelchair and Mobility Aids, Family Travel, Medical Travel, Travelling with Children, Travelling during pregnancy, Unaccompanied Minors travel and much more.
Enjoy transport options in the airport.
Once at the airport, you can use an array of transport options to move around seamlessly.
Train – When you arrive to the airport, you enter Concourse B. To reach Concourse A, Emirates customers will use the complimentary train in Terminal 3.
Bus – Emirates also offers a shuttle bus service between Concourse A and Concourse C, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The bus departs every 20 minutes, and the average travel time is also 20 minutes. The Pickup and Drop-off points are at clearly marked connection desks.
Buggie Taxi – First Class customers can also use dedicated Emirates buggies available on request throughout the airport, while Dubai Airport Buggies (also called Dubai Taxi) are available for all types of customers free of charge, with priority extended to the elderly, families with children and People of Determination.
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About Emirates
The Emirates story started in 1985 when we launched operations with just two aircraft. Today, we fly the world’s biggest fleets of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, offering our customers the comforts of the latest and most efficient wide-body aircraft in the skies.
We inspire travellers around the world with our growing network of worldwide destinations, industry leading inflight entertainment, regionally inspired cuisine, and world-class service.
For more information see www.emirates.com/zm and www.emirates.com/zw
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