Flying With a Baby From the UAE: What to Know Before You Book

Before you book a first flight with your baby, check one thing: if your baby was born here, their UAE residence visa has to be finished before you fly. Residents have 120 days from the birth to sort the baby's passport, Emirates ID and residence visa. After that, it costs AED 100 for every day over, and the baby is not allowed to leave the country until it is done. The rest is practical: seats, bassinets and what milk gets through security at DXB or AUH.

First, the paperwork: passport and visa

In order:

• Birth certificate (AED 60, through MOHAP or a public health centre)
• The baby's passport, from your own country's embassy in the UAE
• The residence visa and Emirates ID (in Dubai, via the GDRFA website or an Amer centre)

Gulf News puts the visa at around a week once you apply. Book the flight after the visa is issued. Rules change, so check our trusted UAE government sources too.

How young can a baby fly?

Each UAE airline sets its own minimum:

These are airline rules, not medical advice; ask your paediatrician whether your baby is ready.

Lap infant or their own seat?

Under two, your baby can fly on your lap with an infant seat belt extension, on a ticket discounted from the adult fare (Emirates). flydubai's infant fare in Economy is AED 85 per sector plus taxes when booked on its own channels (AED 170 per sector on connecting bookings).

A seat of their own means a child fare and an aviation-approved car seat. With two under-twos, only one can sit on your lap (Emirates, flydubai); the second needs a seat and an approved car seat. On Emirates, a baby who turns two mid-trip pays the child fare from then on.

The bassinet: ask when you book

Bassinets are few and subject to availability, so ask early.

• Emirates: at booking or in Manage a Booking; up to 11 kg, fitting without bent legs; not on a child-fare seat
• Etihad: under 11 kg and up to 75 cm; request at etihad.com/manage
• Air Arabia: front-row seats only; up to 11 kg and about 74 cm

Strollers, car seats and baby bags

• Etihad: one pushchair, carrycot or car seat free; 10 kg checked and 5 kg cabin for the baby (not Basic fares)
• flydubai: one collapsible stroller free, usable to the gate; 10 kg checked and 5 kg hand baggage when your fare includes baggage
• Air Arabia: stroller through the airport, handed over before boarding; an extra 3 kg bag
• Emirates: a car seat on board needs a purchased seat and an aviation-approved label

Free strollers at DXB and AUH

Checking yours in? Emirates has complimentary strollers in Terminal 3 at Dubai International (DXB) after security, left at the gate. Etihad says there are complimentary strollers at Zayed International Airport (AUH).

Baby milk and food through security

At DXB, liquids are limited to 100 ml per container, ten at most, in a clear resealable bag, but Dubai Airports exempts baby milk and baby food for use during the trip.

At AUH, the security page gives the same 100 ml rule and no baby milk exemption, so ask your airline before packing large bottles.

On board, Emirates crew will warm your baby's food and bottles, and Etihad lets you reheat milk and food.

Feeding at take-off and landing

An NHS feeding guide says feeding on take-off and landing helps, as sucking equalises the ears.

In hot weather, it adds, fully breastfed babies may feed more often, and formula-fed babies may need a little extra water from around six months. Keep a spare feed in your hand luggage for the drive and the queues.

Your checklist before you book

Planning the winter break? Line up dates with our Dubai school holidays and UAE public holidays guides, and see the family travel guide. Flown with a baby from DXB or AUH lately? Tell us what helped.

Sources

• Khaleej Times (Feb 2024)
• Gulf News (Feb 2024)
• Emirates: infants
• Emirates: child rules
• Emirates: at the airport
• Etihad: children
• flydubai: fares
• flydubai: carriage
• flydubai: baggage
• Air Arabia: families
• Air Arabia: infants
• Dubai Airports: security
• Zayed International Airport: security
• NHS Sussex: feeding when travelling