Tips for traveling to Dubai using points and miles in 2024

This series on credit cards, points and miles, and travel budgeting is a collaboration with The Points Guy.

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Whether you’re here for business, adventuring with the family, or stopping over during a bigger trip, Dubai showcases an incredible blend of modern design, technology, and entertainment.

This lively global metropolis offers something for everyone—of all ages, tastes, and budgets—where you can shop till you drop, marvel at the world’s tallest building, and explore the region's history and culture in the Al Fahidi Historic District.

Dubai is an excellent choice for those who are just beginning their journey with points and miles, as there are numerous ways to travel and stay for free by utilizing specific travel credit cards, being mindful of airline partnerships, and optimizing travel rewards whenever possible.

Here’s all you need to know about visiting Dubai using points and miles — along with our top recommendations for activities there.

Getting started with travel points and airline miles

The most affordable award flights to Dubai

Options for nonstop flights from the U.S. are quite limited. United Airlines operates a single route from Newark, while Emirates provides service from cities including Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York, Orlando, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington DC.

For those willing to consider one-stop flights, Air Canada has a nonstop option from Toronto, and numerous connections are available through American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, offering various routes across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

• Lowest economy class fare to Dubai: 60,000 Flying Blue miles round-trip

• Lowest business class fare to Dubai: 104,000 ANA Mileage Club miles round-trip

• Lowest first class fare to Dubai: 195,000 ANA Mileage Plan miles round-trip

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Emirates Skywards

Although it may not have the lowest redemption rates, Skywards miles offer numerous opportunities for nonstop flights from 12 U.S. cities and Toronto. Emirates is also linked to every major flexible rewards credit card loyalty program, making it easy to accumulate points quickly.

Utilize the miles calculator on the Emirates website to enter your preferred cities and fare class, then select “spend” on the results page to see the rates.

Here’s the cost in Skywards miles for flying to Dubai from the U.S.:

• Economy Class: 72,500 to 125,000 miles round-trip (from the East Coast); 82,500 to 142,500 miles round-trip (from the West Coast)

• Business Class: 174,000 to 276,000 miles round-trip (from the East Coast); 198,000 to 315,000 miles round-trip (from the West Coast)

• First Class: 327,000 miles round-trip (from the East Coast); 372,000 miles round-trip (from the West Coast)

Keep in mind that Emirates is partnered with United Airlines, though the recent collaboration has limitations, and the rules for earning and redeeming miles between the two airlines can be quite complex.

Quickly accumulate Skywards miles by transferring points from Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Rewards, or Citi ThankYou Rewards (1:1), or from Marriott Bonvoy (3:1).

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months of account opening. That’s $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. That’s $900 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.

• The Platinum Card® from American Express*: Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 in the first six months of account opening.

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express*: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening.

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months of opening your account.

• Citi Premier® Card: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months of opening your account.

• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Earn 60,000 Bonus Points plus 1 Free Night Award after spending $2,000 within the first 3 months. The Free Night is valued at 50,000 points, with certain hotels charging resort fees.

• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Points after spending $5,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after making $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months of Card Membership.

How to create a travel budget utilizing points and miles

Air France / KLM Flying Blue

Flying Blue provides the most affordable redemption option for one-stop flights to Dubai via Paris on Air France or Amsterdam on KLM. Visit the Flying Blue Rewards page to calculate the required miles.

Here’s how many Flying Blue miles you’ll need to travel from any location in the U.S.:

• Economy Class: 60,000 miles for a round-trip

• Business Class: 125,000 miles for a round-trip

Boost your Flying Blue balance by transferring points from Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, or American Express Membership Rewards (1:1), or from Marriott Bonvoy (3:1).

• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Receive 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening.

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 in the first three months after opening your account.

• Citi Premier® Card: Get 60,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening, which is worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Receive 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 within the first 3 months of account opening, equating to $900 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.

• The Platinum Card® from American Express*: Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 in the first six months of account opening.

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express*: Receive 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

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Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Mileage Plan miles are among the most valuable in the points-and-miles landscape, allowing you to travel with any of Alaska Airlines' 30 partner airlines, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, and Qatar Airways.

The airline has recently adopted a new distance-based award chart for partner redemptions, so use Great Circle Mapper to determine the distance between your chosen airports and find out how many miles you’ll need.

Here’s the Mileage Plan miles required to fly from the U.S. to Dubai with any partner airline, covering routes from the East Coast to the West Coast:

• Economy Class: 70,000 to 85,000 miles round-trip

• Business Class: 140,000 to 170,000 miles round-trip

• First Class: 210,000 to 260,000 miles round-trip

Leverage the attractive welcome bonus from one of Alaska Airlines’ co-branded credit cards, or if your miles are limited, boost your balance by transferring points from Marriott Bonvoy (3:1).

• Alaska Airlines Visa® Card: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days of account opening, plus Alaska’s $99 Companion Fare each year after spending $6,000.

• Alaska Airlines Visa® Business Card: Earn 50,000 bonus miles and Alaska’s $99 Companion Fare (fare plus taxes and fees starting at $23) after spending $3,000 within the first 90 days of account opening.

• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Earn 60,000 Bonus Points and 1 Free Night Award after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months from account opening. The Free Night is valued at 50,000 points, with certain hotels charging resort fees.

• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Points after spending $5,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after making $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after spending $6,000 within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

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American Airlines AAdvantage

Although American Airlines doesn't offer direct flights to Dubai, you can still use AAdvantage miles to book one-stop flights through partners like British Airways via London, Qatar Airways via Doha, Royal Jordanian via Amman, or Royal Air Maroc via Casablanca.

• Economy Class: Starting at 80,000 miles for a round-trip

• Business Class: Starting at 140,000 miles for a round-trip

• First Class: Starting at 230,000 miles for a round-trip

You can transfer points from Bilt Rewards (1:1) or Marriott Bonvoy (3:1) to enhance your balance. Additionally, enrolling in one of American Airlines’ co-branded credit cards allows you to take advantage of generous welcome bonuses.

• Barclays AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after making your first purchase and paying the $99 annual fee within 90 days of account opening.

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 in the first three months of account opening.

• CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®: Earn 65,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first four months of account opening.

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive Mastercard®: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $7,000 in the first three months of account opening.

• Barclays AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after making your first purchase and paying the $99 annual fee within 90 days of account opening.

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 in the first three months of account opening.

• CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®: Earn 65,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first four months of account opening.

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive Mastercard®: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $7,000 in the first three months of account opening.

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Avianca LifeMiles

Leveraging Avianca LifeMiles for flights with Star Alliance partners, such as United Airlines with a direct route to Dubai from Newark or Air Canada from Toronto, offers a fantastic points-and-miles opportunity.

LifeMiles can also be redeemed for one-stop flights with partners like Turkish Airlines (via Istanbul), SWISS (via Zurich), or Lufthansa (via Frankfurt).

Here’s the mileage required for any of these partner flight options:

• Economy Class: 85,000 miles for a round trip

• Business Class: 156,000 miles for a round trip

• First Class: 210,000 miles for a round trip

You can transfer points from Capital One Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, or Bilt Rewards at a 1:1 ratio, or from Marriott Bonvoy at a 3:1 ratio.

This way, you can quickly gather Avianca LifeMiles.

• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Receive 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Get 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 within the first three months of opening your account.

• Citi Premier® Card: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.

• The Platinum Card® from American Express*: Receive 80,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 within the first six months of account opening.

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express*: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after making $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first three months of membership.

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All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club

Similar to LifeMiles, ANA Mileage Club miles can be redeemed for awards with the same Star Alliance partners mentioned earlier, including United Airlines and Air Canada.

Begin by checking for award availability on United’s website, then verify it with ANA. Remember, you can only book round-trip awards (not one-way) and only for yourself or family members.

• Economy Class: 65,000 miles for a round-trip

• Business Class: 104,000 miles for a round-trip

• First Class: 195,000 miles for a round-trip

You can quickly earn ANA Mileage Club miles by transferring points from Marriott Bonvoy (3:1) or American Express Membership Rewards (1:1).

• The Platinum Card® from American Express*: Receive 80,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 within the first six months of account opening.

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express*: Get 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after making $20,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Earn 60,000 Bonus Points plus a Free Night Award after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months; the Free Night is valued at 50,000 points, though some hotels may have resort fees.

• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Special Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Points after spending $5,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months with your Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® credit card.

• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after using your new Card for $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after making $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

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Hotels in Dubai that can be booked using points

Dubai offers a wide range of hotels that accept points, including those affiliated with Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, and World of Hyatt.

You can accumulate points for future stays by enrolling in your favorite brand's hotel credit card to benefit from its welcome bonus or by joining its complimentary loyalty program.

If you prefer Hilton, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire credit card is an excellent option, providing $200 in statement credits for resort fees and other charges during your stays at Hilton properties worldwide.

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World of Hyatt

Dubai boasts numerous World of Hyatt hotels, including affordable choices like the Hyatt Place Dubai Jumeirah (starting at 6,500 points per night) and the Hyatt Regency Dubai (from 9,500 points per night).

Conserve your valuable points to indulge in stays at Dubai's luxurious properties such as the Grand Hyatt Dubai (from 18,000 points per night), Andaz Dubai The Palm (starting at 23,000 points), or the Park Hyatt Dubai (from 29,000 points per night).

The welcome bonus from the World of Hyatt Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Preferred, or Chase Sapphire Reserve provides enough points for two nights at Park Hyatt or Andaz, three nights at Grand Hyatt, six nights at Hyatt Regency, or nine nights at Hyatt Place.

You can transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio to enhance your balance.

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Marriott Bonvoy

Indulge in luxury at Marriott Bonvoy’s exceptional hotels in Dubai, such as The Dubai Edition starting at 85,000 points per night, W Dubai–Mina Seyahi with rates from 77,500 points, and The St. Regis Downtown Dubai with nightly rates starting at 92,500 points.

The welcome bonus from the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers enough points for two complimentary nights at any of these hotels.

Short on points for a complimentary night? You can transfer from American Express Membership Rewards at a 1:1 ratio.

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Hilton Honors

Hilton boasts numerous hotels and resorts throughout the UAE, catering to all tastes and budgets. For budget-conscious travelers, the Hampton by Hilton Dubai Al Seef offers rooms starting at 22,000 points per night, while the nearby Canopy by Hilton Dubai Al Seef has rates beginning at 30,000 points.

A solid mid-range choice is the Conrad Dubai, starting at 58,000 points per night. For a luxurious stay, consider splurging on the Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah, with rooms from 85,000 points, or the Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah, where rates start at 70,000 points per night.

The bonus from the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is sufficient for two complimentary nights at the last three luxury hotels, five nights at the Canopy, or seven nights at the Hampton — not too bad!

Due to their partnership, you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Hilton Honors at a 1:2 ratio for quicker access to more points.

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IHG One Rewards

Select from a variety of IHG hotels and resorts, including the newly opened adults-only Monaco Heart of Europe Dubai (starting at 30,000 points per night), the Crowne Plaza Dubai Jumeirah (from 55,000 points per night), or Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown (from 60,000 points per night).

The welcome bonuses from the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, or the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card provide enough points for a complimentary night at either the Crowne Plaza or Hotel Indigo, or two nights at the Monaco Heart of Europe.

You can transfer points to IHG One Rewards from Chase Ultimate Rewards or Bilt Rewards at a 1:1 ratio if you need to increase your balance.

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Activities and transportation options

Navigating Dubai is quite straightforward, thanks to a comprehensive public transport network that includes metro, tram, bus, and boat services, as well as a monorail connecting Dubai Marina and the Palm Jumeirah. Taxis are readily available, and ride-share enthusiasts can utilize Uber and the local service Careem.

Driving occurs on the right side of the road with the driver seated on the left. If you wish to save on taxi fares, renting a car is an excellent choice for day trips from Dubai to nearby destinations like Abu Dhabi, just 90 minutes away, or Sharjah, known as the cultural heart of the UAE.

Holders of the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve can enjoy discounts on guided tours and car rentals by booking through the Chase Travel℠ portal, where Ultimate Rewards points are valued at either 1.25 cents or 1.5 cents per point, based on the card.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a $300 annual travel credit applicable to recent travel expenses. Other cards, such as the Capital One Venture and Capital One Venture X, let you use miles to offset travel costs at a rate of one cent per mile — every bit helps!

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Conclusion

With points and miles, a trip to Dubai doesn’t have to be costly. By leveraging welcome bonuses and creating a plan to travel and stay for free using travel rewards, you can spend your time enjoying the experience rather than stressing about expenses.

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*Card eligibility and benefit levels may vary. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. For more information, please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Editorial note: The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not reflect the opinions of any bank, credit card company, airline, or hotel chain. These opinions have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by any of these organizations.