Emirates is set to significantly enhance travel between the Middle East and the United Kingdom with the introduction of a new daily flight between Dubai and London Gatwick, commencing on 8 February 2026. Operated by the carrier’s latest Airbus A350 aircraft and scheduled as the last departure of the day in both directions, the service is designed to expand capacity on one of the world’s busiest long haul corridors while offering travelers greater flexibility, smoother connections and a more refined onboard experience.

The new Dubai to London Gatwick rotation, operating as flight EK069/070, will increase Emirates services to London to 12 flights per day across Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted. This expansion underlines the importance of the London market for Emirates and reflects sustained demand from both business and leisure travelers shuttling between the Gulf region, the UK and onward global destinations.

Departure from Dubai is scheduled for 17:05, with arrival at London Gatwick at 20:50 local time. The return leg leaves Gatwick at 23:55, reaching Dubai at 11:00 the following morning. These timings are calibrated for maximum convenience, enabling same day business, evening departures for long haul travelers and well timed connections through Emirates’ hub at Dubai International Airport.

The step up to a fourth daily service at London Gatwick is also a strategic signal. It reinforces Gatwick’s role as a key UK gateway within Emirates’ global network and provides an attractive alternative to Heathrow for travelers looking for competitive fares, convenient timings and easier ground access to large swathes of London and the southeast of England.

Revolutionizing Flexibility for Business and Leisure Travelers

For time pressed travelers, the new daily flight has been designed around flexibility and choice. As the final Emirates departure of the day from both Dubai and London, it caters to passengers who want to maximize their time on the ground while still benefiting from an overnight style schedule on one leg of the journey.

From Dubai, the 17:05 departure enables business travelers to complete a full working day before heading to the airport, while leisure visitors can enjoy an unhurried final afternoon in the city. For UK bound passengers, the 20:50 arrival at London Gatwick is late enough to allow for relaxed connections but early enough to reach central London, Brighton or other destinations on the rail network the same evening.

On the return leg from London, the 23:55 departure from Gatwick is especially attractive for those connecting from around the UK or Europe, as well as London based professionals who prefer to fly after evening meetings or events. Arriving in Dubai at 11:00 the next day gives travelers an efficient mid morning touchdown, with time to clear formalities, transfer to their accommodation and still make afternoon engagements or connecting flights across the Emirates network.

Next Generation Comfort with the Airbus A350

The new service will be operated by the Airbus A350 900, Emirates’ newest aircraft type, configured in a three class layout with Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy. The introduction of the A350 on this route is more than a capacity play. It brings a range of cabin and technology upgrades that target passenger comfort on medium haul sectors such as Dubai to London Gatwick.

In Business Class, the A350 cabin is configured with 32 lie flat seats in a 1 2 1 layout, ensuring every passenger has direct aisle access. Updated design elements focus on privacy and personal space, while enhanced lighting and noise reduction aim to improve rest on the seven hour plus sector. For corporate travelers and premium leisure guests, this environment is positioned to offer a quieter, more tailored experience than older generation aircraft.

Premium Economy, a relatively new product for Emirates and increasingly in demand on busy routes between the Gulf and Europe, features 28 seats with extra legroom, wider seating and upgraded dining compared with standard Economy. For value conscious passengers, it is intended to bridge the gap between Economy and Business, particularly appealing on overnight or late evening flights where comfort has a direct impact on productivity the next day.

Economy Class, with 238 seats on the A350, benefits from the aircraft’s improved cabin pressurization and humidity levels, larger windows and a modern inflight entertainment system. Digital menus on personal screens, thoughtful seat ergonomics and refined lighting sequences are being used to reduce fatigue and enhance the overall journey, especially for long haul travelers arriving in the UK or Dubai and continuing onwards.

Enhanced Connectivity Through Dubai’s Global Hub

For many passengers, the new Dubai London Gatwick service is not just an end to end city pairing but a vital link in a larger global itinerary. Emirates is positioning the added frequency as a way to unlock more convenient one stop journeys between London and cities across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

The 11:00 arrival into Dubai from London has been structured to align with late morning and early afternoon departure waves from the airline’s hub. This creates tighter but manageable connection windows to destinations such as Johannesburg, Nairobi, Mumbai, Delhi, Colombo, Bangkok and key cities in the Gulf and wider Middle East. For London based travelers, this means more itineraries that avoid long layovers and awkward overnight transfers.

Similarly, the 17:05 departure from Dubai opens up additional same day connections from across Emirates’ regional network. Passengers from cities such as Muscat, Bahrain, Kuwait or Dammam, as well as South Asian gateways like Ahmedabad or Colombo, can now more easily connect through to London Gatwick without sacrificing a full travel day to long waits between flights.

Supporting Tourism, Trade and the UK UAE Relationship

The extra daily flight is expected to carry not only holidaymakers and expatriate travelers but also a growing volume of business traffic and cargo that underpins trade between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. With 140 weekly services planned across eight UK destinations, the airline is cementing its role as a bridge between the British market and global growth regions.

The Dubai London axis has long been a vital corridor for tourism, finance, energy and professional services. As the UAE continues to position itself as a hub for technology, logistics and events, additional air capacity to the UK supports two way investment and collaboration. Trade delegations, conference attendees and corporate roadshows benefit directly from increased seat availability and more convenient schedules.

On the leisure front, the new flight arrives at a time of sustained interest in Dubai and the wider UAE from UK travelers, drawn by winter sun, resort stays and family friendly attractions. For Middle Eastern and Asian visitors connecting through Dubai, London remains one of the most sought after European city breaks, with Gatwick providing efficient access to both the capital and regional highlights across southern England.

Elevating the Onboard and Ground Experience

In addition to aircraft hardware and schedule enhancements, Emirates is leveraging the new daily service to highlight the broader travel experience it offers on the Dubai London route. This includes its well known inflight entertainment platform, regionally inspired cuisine and attentive service, as well as upgraded technology in the A350 cabins.

Business Class customers on the new flight will benefit from wireless charging at their seats, refined seat controls and thoughtful storage spaces conducive to working or resting inflight. Electric window blinds featuring a distinctive Emirates motif in premium cabins, along with adjustable lighting schemes, are designed to give passengers more control over their personal environment during the journey.

Across all cabins, updated digital inflight menus and high definition entertainment screens bring a more intuitive interface to content selection, dining choices and flight information. For many travelers, particularly those making frequent trips between Dubai and London, such details contribute significantly to the perception of comfort and the feeling that their time onboard is well spent.

On the ground, the new flight integrates with Emirates’ established services at both Dubai International Airport and London Gatwick, including premium check in areas, lounge access for qualifying passengers and streamlined transfer processes. The goal is to provide a consistent, end to end experience where added capacity does not compromise service levels.

Implications for Global Travelers Planning 2026 Itineraries

For global travelers mapping out trips in 2026, this new daily Dubai London Gatwick service adds another important variable to the decision making process. Additional flights typically translate into more competitive fares, better reward seat availability for frequent flyers and increased resilience in the schedule in case of disruptions.

Travelers based in the United States, Asia or Africa who route through Dubai to reach the UK will now have greater freedom to fine tune arrival and departure times in London. Those connecting to or from secondary UK cities via rail or domestic services can use the late night Gatwick departure and late evening arrival to minimize overnight stays and optimize time on the ground.

For long haul vacationers, the timing of the Gatwick flights can also make multi stop itineraries more attractive. A traveler from Asia might break their journey with a Dubai stopover, spending two or three days in the UAE before continuing to London on the early evening departure. On the return, a late night flight from Gatwick allows for a full final day in the UK before heading back through Dubai to their home city.

A Strategic Step in a Wider UK Network Expansion

The addition of a fourth daily flight at London Gatwick must also be viewed in the context of Emirates’ broader UK network. With services to Heathrow, Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh, the airline is deepening its presence across the country, giving travelers from multiple regions direct or one stop access to its Dubai hub and beyond.

Gatwick becomes the second UK airport, after Edinburgh, to welcome Emirates’ new Airbus A350, signaling the carrier’s intention to deploy its latest generation aircraft on routes where demand and competitive dynamics justify the investment. Over time, this may translate into a gradual refresh of cabins and products across the rest of the UK network, benefiting travelers far beyond London.

As aviation continues to recover and reshape following recent global disruptions, the move to increase daily flights between Dubai and London Gatwick suggests confidence in sustained demand and in the resilience of the UK UAE market. For travelers, it means another well timed, technologically advanced option on a key intercontinental route that links two of the world’s most important aviation hubs.