Flying in the Middle East: Hubs and Connections

The Gulf's Role as the World's Transfer Hub

The Gulf Cooperation Council states—particularly the UAE and Qatar—have transformed their airports from regional curiosities into the world's premier long-haul transfer hubs in the span of three decades. Dubai International Airport (DXB) handles over 80 million passengers annually and serves as the primary hub for Emirates, the world's largest long-haul carrier by international seat-kilometres. Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha is the home of Qatar Airways, consistently ranked among the world's best airlines. Abu Dhabi International (AUH) operates Etihad Airways' hub.

The geographic position of the Gulf is its aviation superpower. Located roughly equidistant between Europe, East Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, it enables aircraft to reach almost any major city pair with a single stop. A passenger flying from London to Sydney transits through Dubai in approximately 14 hours each way—comparable to one-stop routing through Singapore or Hong Kong but often at lower fares given the intense competition between Gulf carriers.

Riyadh King Khalid International Airport (RUH) and Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) serve Saudi Arabia, the region's largest aviation market by domestic traffic. Saudi Arabia dramatically expanded its aviation sector after 2021, launching Riyadh Air as a new national carrier and investing heavily in airport infrastructure as part of Vision 2030. Israel's Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) in Tel Aviv serves as the Middle East's most connected airport for European tourists, with direct flights to over 100 destinations.

Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad: What Sets Them Apart

Emirates operates exclusively wide-body aircraft—the Boeing 777 and Airbus A380—on an all-long-haul network from Dubai. Its A380 First Class private suites with shower facilities set the benchmark for commercial aviation luxury. Economy class on Emirates is spacious by industry standards, with an ICE entertainment system offering thousands of hours of content. Emirates' economy fares are frequently competitive with European full-service carriers for intercontinental routes, making it a strong choice even for cost-conscious travelers.

Qatar Airways has won Skytrax's "World's Best Airline" award more times than any other carrier and is particularly renowned for its business class product. The QSuite, a double-bed business class arrangement available on select routes, is widely considered the world's best business class seat. Qatar's Doha hub offers a more compact airport experience than Dubai—Hamad International is purpose-built and efficient, with average connection times of around 90 minutes feasible on most itineraries.

Etihad Airways, based in Abu Dhabi, has a smaller network than its Gulf rivals but offers distinctive products including "The Residence"—a three-room suite available on its A380s. Etihad's Abu Dhabi hub is particularly valuable for travelers to India: Abu Dhabi is the only airport outside the United States where US customs and border pre-clearance is available, meaning passengers connecting to US destinations clear American immigration in Abu Dhabi rather than at their US arrival airport.

All three carriers offer generous baggage allowances—typically 30 kg in economy—free meals and beverages, and complimentary entertainment. Their loyalty programs (Emirates Skywards, Qatar Privilege Club, Etihad Guest) all partner with major hotel and car rental programs and allow miles earning on codeshare partners.

Transit Visas and Stopover Programs

UAE transit policy is among the most permissive in the world for most passport holders. Citizens of most Western nations, along with many Asian and African nations, receive visa-free transit through Dubai and Abu Dhabi for up to 96 hours. The UAE also offers a formal Stopover Programme through Dubai's tourism authority, allowing travelers to extend a connection into a 48-hour city visit with heavily subsidized hotel rates—sometimes as low as USD 50 per night including transfers.

Qatar offers a free visa for stopovers of 5–96 hours to citizens of 80+ nationalities, including a complimentary hotel night on qualifying Qatar Airways tickets. The Doha Stopover programme is promoted actively by Qatar Airways as a reason to route through DOH rather than alternative hubs. Doha's Souq Waqif, the Museum of Islamic Art, and the Pearl development are accessible in a single day trip from the airport.

Saudi Arabia simplified its visa policy significantly starting in 2019, introducing tourist visas for citizens of 49 countries—a dramatic shift for a country that previously had no tourist visa category. Transit through Saudi airports does not require a visa for most nationalities. Jordan, Israel, Oman, and Bahrain all offer visas on arrival to broad lists of nationalities; Lebanon requires advance e-visa registration.

Practical Tips for Gulf Airport Transits

Dubai International Airport has three terminals spread across a large geographic footprint. Terminal 1 serves most international carriers; Terminal 2 serves budget carriers and charter flights; Terminal 3 is the exclusive domain of Emirates and its partners. Terminals 1 and 3 are connected by an airside transit bus but are not walking distance from each other. Confirm your terminal well in advance of travel and allocate a minimum of 90 minutes for any connection through DXB—3 hours is advisable during peak periods (July–August and December).

Hamad International Airport in Doha is a single integrated terminal with excellent wayfinding. Its giant stuffed bear sculpture ("Lamp Bear") serves as a popular meeting point. The airport's Al Mourjan Business Lounge is available to Qatar Airways business class passengers and Priority Pass holders and is widely regarded as one of the finest airport lounges in the world, with a swimming pool, spa, and extensive dining. Economy passengers have access to the Al Safwa lounge on a paid day-pass basis.

Dress conservatively when transiting through Gulf airports, particularly in Saudi Arabia. Short shorts, sleeveless tops, and clothing with offensive imagery can attract official scrutiny, especially in Riyadh and Jeddah. Dubai and Doha are more permissive of Western dress, but conservative attire remains culturally respectful. Alcohol is not served in Saudi airports; Dubai and Doha airport bars and lounges serve alcohol to non-Muslim passengers.

Currency exchange in Gulf airports is available at competitive rates, particularly at Dubai's Thomas Cook and Al Ansari booths, which frequently beat high-street rates in Europe. However, for local spending in Dubai or Doha, ATMs remain the most cost-effective option. The UAE dirham and Qatari riyal are both pegged to the US dollar, making rate calculation straightforward for American travelers.