There are currently no direct flights from Atlanta to Dubai. However, despite the lack of available routes, there are still viable options to get you from ‘The A’ to the Middle East, as long as you don’t mind taking connecting flights.
A view over Dubai (Photo: themonnie via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0)
Atlanta, Georgia is served by two major airports: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK). Hartsfield-Jackson is the world’s busiest airport by passenger traffic, but still only has one direct flight to the Middle East (Doha) each day. To travel from Atlanta to Dubai, you’ll need to hop on two connecting flights. To help with your options, we’ve analysed the best connecting flights between these two cities, taking into consideration departure times, onboard facilities and amenities.
Qatar Airways
Qatar operates the best available route from Atlanta to Dubai. The flight departs at 19:30 and lasts for 17 hours and 25 minutes, with a 2-hour and 20-minute connection in Doha. This route is by far the cheapest considering flight duration, with both Economy and Business available for this flight. Qatar won the award for the World’s Best Business Class at the 2023 Skytrax World Airline Awards, so it’s a must-do if you have the money. Economy is also a fantastic option. Qatar planes have some of the widest economy seats around, plus an excellent in-flight entertainment system (Oryx One). The onboard dining experience is of high quality with metal cutlery, cotton napkins and a diverse range of food options. Past menus include focaccia, pizza and croissant!
KLM
The quickest route from Atlanta to Dubai is on a late-night flight, leaving Atlanta at 22:30 and arriving in Dubai at 23:05 local time. Although an hour faster than the Qatar flight, this option seems significantly more expensive. However, this is still the best flight for those who need to reach Dubai in a hurry. Passengers can choose from a choice of Economy Class, Premium Comfort Class or Business Class. KLM is rated as a Certified 5-star Airline, with consistent 4 stars out of 5 for most of its offerings, including comfort, washroom amenities, WiFi and inflight entertainment system. Delta has a codeshare agreement with KLM, meaning you can also purchase this flight through Delta but it will still be operated by KLM. Hartsfield-Jackson is Delta’s main U.S. hub, which may give you peace of mind when booking.
United Airlines
Another great budget option is the 16:22 flight, operated by United. This route has an early changeover in New York’s Newark Airport, which is very handy for those anxious about adjusting to Gulf Standard Time. By the time you hop onto a Boeing 777 taking you the 13 hours to Dubai, you can get a few hours of sleep and adjust to your jet lag early. United is not known for being a premium airline, but this option should not be discounted due to the price and time of the flight.