UAE
Trip Support
Which Dubai or Abu Dhabi field fits the trip, landing permits and slots, parking and the event weeks, tech stops and contingency routing through the Gulf, with the seven airport guides for Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah.
The working reference
How the UAE works for a private flight
The UAE is the easiest country in the Gulf to fly into and the one where the airport choice matters most. Dubai has two fields: Al Maktoum at Dubai South, the business aviation airport with its own terminal, a 14,764 foot runway and slots that are simple to get, and Dubai International in the city, the world-class field that needs a slot, carries a premium in its peak hours, charges per ton and mandates handling. Abu Dhabi likewise: Zayed International for anyone connecting from an airline, and Al Bateen, the executive field in the city with no slot and a 10,499 foot runway. Sharjah is the value option for a smaller aircraft, an hour from the Dubai venues, and Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah serve the east coast and the north. A UAE landing permit is filed with the trip and issued in days; the paperwork at the far end, Saudi, Oman, Kuwait, Turkey or the Maldives, is what needs the notice. Parking is the constraint only in the event weeks: the Dubai World Cup at Meydan in late March, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, COP and the winter conference season.
Reviewed 9 September 2026. Facts on this page come from the permits the desk files and are checked against the current AIP and NOTAMs before every trip.
Airport choice, Dubai
Al Maktoum (DWC) for almost every private departure: dedicated terminal, ample parking, lower fees, about 35 minutes to Meydan and 40 to Downtown. Dubai International (DXB) when the passenger is connecting from a scheduled flight or the address is Deira: slot required, a 50 percent slot premium in peak hours, per-ton landing fees, two FBOs on the perimeter, handling mandatory.
Airport choice, Abu Dhabi
Al Bateen (AZI) for the city and the island hotels: no slot, Category 7, 10,499 feet, AVGAS and Jet A-1. Zayed International (AUH) for airline connections and the largest aircraft: slot required, Category 10, 13,471 feet.
The northern emirates
Sharjah (SHJ) with a 13,320 foot runway, mandatory handling and a flat landing fee that suits a light jet, about an hour from Dubai. Ras Al Khaimah (RKT) at 12,336 feet and Fujairah (FJR) at 12,303 feet for the north and the east coast, both without slots.
Permits
A UAE landing permit and any overflight permits are filed with the trip. The notice goes into the far end: Saudi Arabia 48 to 72 hours through an accredited agent, Qatar 48 hours plus the Doha FIR notification, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain each their own. The desk enters every approval number in Item 18.
Slots and parking
Slots at DXB, DWC and AUH, none at Al Bateen, Sharjah, Fujairah or Ras Al Khaimah. Parking is arranged ahead for the Dubai World Cup in late March, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, COP and the conference season, when the desk confirms the stand before the aircraft moves.
Tech stops and routing
Dubai is a tech stop on the North America to Asia and Europe to Indian Ocean runs, and the desk plans it against the current airspace picture: N-registered aircraft avoid Iran, the Baghdad FIR is restricted below FL320 for US operators, and GPS spoofing mitigations are briefed. Al Maktoum handling is the usual choice for the stop.
Customs and crew
EU, US, UK and Canadian passport holders get a visa on arrival. Customs and immigration at the aircraft at the business aviation terminals. Ramadan changes daytime ground timings and hospitality across the country.
Contingency
When the airports close, Muscat is about six hours by road from Dubai and seven from Abu Dhabi, Dammam eleven from Dubai and nine from Abu Dhabi, Riyadh thirteen. Muscat, Dammam and Riyadh kept long-haul flights through the 2026 disruption. The desk holds the road plan with the flight plan.
Guides and updates
UAE articles from the desk
The detailed pieces behind this page, each with the year it was written and the discipline it belongs to.
Trip Support Tech Stop: Choosing the best private jet route from Miami to Dubai
Choosing the tech stop on a Miami to Dubai run: Athens, Luton, Shannon and Opa-locka compared on handling, parking and ground time, with the airspace and GPS spoofing notes for the last leg.
Read the guide →2026Safety and riskContingency planning: Driving options in the Middle East during airport disruptions
When the airports close: drive times from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Muscat, Dammam and Riyadh, which borders are open, visas on arrival, and which hubs kept long-haul flights in 2026.
Read the guide →Airport guides
The airports behind UAE operations
Runways, slots, customs, handling and fuel on each field's own guide, written by the desk that files the paperwork.
Questions
UAE trip support questions
Which Dubai airport should a private jet use?
Al Maktoum at Dubai South for almost every trip: its own business aviation terminal, easy slots, ample parking and lower fees, about 35 minutes to Meydan and 40 to Downtown. Dubai International only when you are connecting from an airline or the address is next to it, because it needs a slot, charges a peak-hour premium and mandates handling.
Which Abu Dhabi airport should a private jet use?
Al Bateen, the executive airport in the city, with no slot and a 10,499 foot runway. Zayed International when the passengers connect from a scheduled flight or the aircraft is too large for Al Bateen.
Do I need a landing permit for the UAE?
Yes, filed with the trip and issued in days. The paperwork that needs notice is usually at the far end, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman or Kuwait, each with its own permit.
Which UAE airports need slots?
Dubai International, Al Maktoum and Zayed International. Al Bateen, Sharjah, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah do not.
Is parking a problem in Dubai?
Only in the event weeks: the Dubai World Cup in late March, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, COP and the winter conference season. The desk confirms the stand before the aircraft moves; the rest of the year Al Maktoum has parking to spare.
Can I use Dubai as a tech stop between North America and Asia?
Yes, and Al Maktoum is the usual field for it. The desk plans the routing against the current airspace picture, keeps N-registered aircraft out of Iranian airspace and above FL320 in the Baghdad FIR, and briefs the GPS spoofing mitigations.
Do passengers need a visa for the UAE?
EU, US, UK and Canadian passport holders get a visa on arrival. Other nationalities are confirmed with the permit. Customs and immigration clear at the aircraft at the business aviation terminals.
What is Sharjah useful for?
A light or midsize aircraft that wants a flat landing fee, no slot and an hour to the Dubai venues. Handling is mandatory. Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah serve the east coast and the north.
What happens if Dubai airspace closes while I am there?
Muscat is about six hours by road, Dammam eleven and Riyadh thirteen, and all three kept long-haul flights through the 2026 disruption. The desk holds the road plan alongside the flight plan.
Does Ramadan change operations?
Daytime ground timings and hospitality change across the country, and Friday prayers shorten the working day. The desk plans handling and catering around it.
Get it filed
Flying into the UAE? Filed from the desk
Send the dates, the aircraft and the stops. You get the field that fits the address, the permits filed at both ends, the stand confirmed for the event weeks, and a number you can hold us to.
Contact UsPrefer to talk? Call +1 888 277 7203 or email tripsupport@icarusjet.com. The desk is staffed 24/7.