The Best (and Cheapest) Ways to Fly to Dubai On Points

Dubai is kind of like a giant outdoor theme park: Lots of shiny, fancy things all around you. There are endless entertainment options for kids and adults alike, making it a popular destination.

The best part? You can get there fairly easily using points and miles. Below are some of the cheapest ways to fly to Dubai on points.

Airline loyalty programs to fly to Dubai on points

ANA Mileage Club

If you don’t have All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club miles, you'll want to get on that right away. The program has some terrific sweet spots, and partner flights to Dubai is one of them. You can fly round-trip between the U.S. and Dubai for just 65,000 miles in economy or 104,000 miles in business class.

The business class fare, in particular, is an excellent deal when you compare it to current redemption rates on Star Alliance partner Air Canada, which charges 82,500 miles for the same award, one-way.

ANA is a transfer partner of the American Express Membership Rewards program, meaning you can stock up on this currency using the following credit cards:

• American Express® Gold Card.

• American Express® Business Gold Card.

• The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.

• The Platinum Card® from American Express.

Terms apply.

» Learn more: American Express Gold Card review: Dining rewards royalty

American Airlines AAdvantage

American Airlines’ partnerships with Etihad, Royal Jordanian and Qatar Airways make it a great option for flying to Dubai on points. A one-way economy class award will cost you just 40,000 miles, while business goes for 70,000 each way.

While American Airlines isn’t a transfer partner of any major bank rewards program, AAdvantage miles are still fairly to get a hold of thanks to a huge line-up of rewards credit cards issued by Barclays and Citi.

• American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®.

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®.

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®.

• AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®.

• AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Silver Mastercard®.

• AAdvantage® Aviator® Blue Mastercard®.

• AAdvantage® Aviator® Mastercard®.

• AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard®.

Avianca Lifemiles

Have Citi ThankYou points and want to fly to Dubai? Avianca Lifemiles is the way to go. You can book a one-way economy class award for 42,500 miles. If you’re short on Citi ThankYou points, you can pick up the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card to give your account a boost.

Based on our most recent analysis, NerdWallet values Avianca LifeMiles at 1.2 cents each.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Alaska Airlines partners with Emirates to offer award flights to Dubai for 42,500 miles each way in economy and 82,500 miles in business class. There are cheaper options, like British Airways business class for 70,000 mile each way, but those awards carry huge fuel surcharges (often over $400 one-way) that don’t make it a valuable redemption.

One thing to watch out for with Alaska is that the airline is notorious for pricing out itineraries with multiple stops based on the highest cabin. For example, if you’re booking a flight between San Francisco and Dubai and you see a business class award with a stop in Los Angeles, pay close attention. Sometimes the Los Angeles segment is in business or first class while the rest of the flight is in economy. Alaska will still price out the entire award as business class.

There’s a warning when you click on the award, but we’ve heard from so many people who ignored it and then realized too late that they paid 82,500 miles for a mostly economy class award to Dubai.

So how do you earn enough Alaska miles for an award ticket to Dubai? Through Bank of America®, Alaska offers one personal and one business card to choose from: The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card and the Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card.

» Learn more: Alaska Airlines Credit Card review: Well worth $75 a year

The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card currently has a welcome bonus that will get you most of the miles requires for a one-way business class award: Get 70,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer. To qualify, make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.

If you want to fly to Dubai on points

Finding cheap flights to Dubai is made easier by leveraging points and miles to get you there. Even beginner travel rewards hobbyists can find ample opportunity and options to get to this sparkling city without spending a fortune.

Add the right travel credit card to your wallet and plan your trip at least six months out to take full advantage of award flights to Dubai.