Russia-UAE flights set for major expansion by October 2026

As of mid-July 2026, regular passenger flights between Russia and the United Arab Emirates are operating across 11 routes. Travelers can depart from seven Russian cities—Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi, Makhachkala, Mineralnye Vody, Yekaterinburg, and Kazan—to two UAE destinations: Dubai International (DXB) and Abu Dhabi (AUH). The below information has been prepared by the Association of Tour Operators of Russia and translated by Russian Travel Digest.

Currently, four airlines are serving these routes: Aeroflot, Emirates, flydubai, and Etihad Airways. The frequency of flights varies significantly, from three weekly flights on routes like Yekaterinburg–Dubai or St. Petersburg–Dubai, to three daily services from Moscow to Dubai by Emirates and the same number to Abu Dhabi by Etihad. In total, carriers operate about 95 flights per week, with a combined passenger capacity of approximately 18,000 to 22,000 seats weekly. This means they can technically move between 75,000 and 80,000 passengers per month in each direction.

Unsurprisingly, Moscow remains the undisputed leader, accounting for about 75% of all flights and nearly 80% of total passenger capacity between Russia and the UAE. This dominance is driven by seven daily flights to Dubai (operated by Aeroflot, Emirates, and flydubai) and three daily Etihad flights to Abu Dhabi. Sochi takes second place with about 7% of flights and 5–6% of capacity. Makhachkala and Mineralnye Vody each account for roughly 4% of flights and 3% of potential traffic, while Yekaterinburg, Kazan, and St. Petersburg each see about 3% of departures. However, St. Petersburg has a higher share of capacity—around 5%—thanks to Emirates using its wide-body Boeing 777 on that route. When it comes to arrival cities, Dubai (DXB) is the absolute leader, receiving 92–94% of all passenger traffic.

A Major Shift by October 2026  

By the end of the current summer schedule (late October 2026), the route network is expected to expand significantly. According to current information, direct flights to the UAE will be available from 14 Russian cities, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Samara, Novosibirsk, Ufa, Mineralnye Vody, Makhachkala, Grozny, Surgut, Tyumen, and Volgograd.  Flights will operate to five airports across four emirates: Dubai (both DXB and DWC), Abu Dhabi (AUH), Sharjah (SHJ), and Ras Al Khaimah (RKT). The number of airlines will also grow from four to ten, with the return of Air Arabia, Pobeda, Ural Airlines, Utair, Azimuth, and Red Wings. Existing carriers—flydubai, Emirates, Etihad, and Aeroflot—are also planning to increase their presence.

More Frequencies and New Destinations

Beyond new routes, flight frequencies are set to rise substantially. For instance, flydubai plans to expand its Moscow program to seven daily flights, while Sochi will see up to 16 weekly departures. Air Arabia, according to its booking system, is planning up to four daily flights from Moscow to Sharjah by late October, along with resuming flights from Ufa, Samara, Kazan, and Yekaterinburg, as well as service from Moscow to Ras Al Khaimah. Etihad Airways will open direct flights between St. Petersburg and Abu Dhabi, complementing its existing Moscow and Sochi services. Utair is launching flights to Dubai (DWC) from Grozny, Tyumen, and Surgut, while Ural Airlines will connect Yekaterinburg to the UAE, and Pobeda will fly from Ufa and Makhachkala.

According to preliminary calculations by the ATOR Analytical Service, the total volume of traffic between Russia and the UAE could grow to at least 300–320 weekly flights by the end of October 2026. "The passenger capacity is likely to increase roughly threefold," the service noted. In monthly terms, the technically possible passenger flow could reach 230,000 to 260,000 passengers in each direction.

However, it's important to remember that this forecast is based on publicly available data from airline booking systems. "The real outcome will significantly depend on the geopolitical situation and the extent to which airlines actually implement their announced plans," analysts caution. Additionally, this peak capacity is not expected until the end of the summer schedule, as the build-up will be gradual.

Below is the schedule of planned flights for fall season 2026 from Russia to UAE

Moscow and Dubai Remain Key Hubs  

Despite the regional boom, Moscow will retain its status as the main hub, accounting for about 60% of all departures and 65–70% of passenger traffic to the UAE. Meanwhile, Dubai (DXB and DWC) will keep its top spot as the primary arrival hub, receiving around 75% of passengers. However, if current plans materialize, Sharjah's share could rise to 10–12%.  On the tourism front, after restrictions on tour sales to the UAE were lifted in late June 2026, tour operators quickly restored block seat programs. From early August 2026, several major operators are launching charter programs based on flydubai flights, covering key Russian regions. These programs are not only aimed at the high winter season of 2026–2027 but also extend through the end of summer.

Photo of Ajman Heritage District provided by Ajman Tourism Development Department