Quick answer: Dubai to Mumbai averaged about AED 1,274 return over the past 12 months, and about AED 466 one way. February was the cheapest month (about AED 929 return), while December and July cost the most. Booking about 18 weeks ahead and flying on a Monday gave the lowest fares.
Table of Contents
Short answers
- Cheapest month: February, about AED 929 return.
- Most expensive: December (about AED 1,506) and July (about AED 1,407).
- Cheapest day: Monday, about 6% below the average day. Friday is the most expensive.
- When to book: about 18 weeks ahead. Inside the last two weeks, fares ran about 7% above average.
- Flight time: about 3 hours 15 minutes direct. Mumbai is 1 hour 30 minutes ahead of the UAE.
- Direct airlines: Emirates (35 flights a week), Air India (26), IndiGo (21), plus SpiceJet and flydubai.
Fares at a glance
| Dubai to Mumbai | Fare (AED) |
|---|---|
| Average return, past 12 months | 1,274 |
| Typical return range | 1,062 to 1,538 |
| Average one way | about 466 |
| Cheapest direct return seen | 1,054 |
| February (cheapest month) | 929 |
| December (most expensive) | 1,506 |
| July (second most expensive) | 1,407 |
Why Mumbai is the cheapest Indian metro from Dubai
Compare the 12 month return averages across our India route guides: Mumbai about AED 1,274, Delhi about AED 1,359, Hyderabad about AED 1,451, Chennai about AED 1,465 and Kochi about AED 1,538. Mumbai is the lowest of the five.
One reason is the number of seats. Emirates, Air India and IndiGo alone run more than 80 direct flights a week between Dubai and Mumbai, before counting SpiceJet and flydubai. With that much capacity, sale fares appear more often than on routes with only a handful of daily flights.
Dubai or Sharjah for Mumbai?
On this route Dubai has been the cheaper airport. Sharjah to Mumbai averaged about AED 1,353 return, around AED 79 more than from Dubai. Sharjah has Air Arabia (14 direct flights a week) and Air India Express (7 a week).
| From Dubai (DXB) | From Sharjah (SHJ) | |
|---|---|---|
| Average return | AED 1,274 | AED 1,353 |
| Cheapest month | February, AED 929 | February, AED 977 |
| Most expensive month | December, AED 1,506 | December, AED 1,616 |
| Cheapest day | Monday | Tuesday |
| Book ahead | about 18 weeks | about 18 weeks |
Sharjah still makes sense if you live in Sharjah, Ajman or the northern emirates and the fare gap on your dates is small. The taxi to Dubai airport can wipe out a small saving.
Direct or one stop?
Direct returns averaged about AED 1,302. The cheapest one stop option in the data connected through Amritsar at about AED 861 return, roughly AED 442 less. Most one stop itineraries connect in Bahrain (46%) or Muscat (28%), and the shortest one stop trip, through Delhi, takes about 8 hours 22 minutes one way against 3 hours 15 minutes direct.
- One stop can be worth it if you travel alone, carry light baggage and have a flexible day either side.
- Stay direct with small children, elderly parents, a tight leave approval or heavy baggage, because a missed connection costs more than the saving.
Mumbai now has two airports
Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI) opened for flights on 25 December 2025. Its first international route, Air India Express to Abu Dhabi, started on 15 July 2026. When we checked in November 2026, flights from Dubai still landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (BOM).
If your family lives in Navi Mumbai, Panvel or towards Pune, ask us to compare Dubai to BOM against Abu Dhabi to Navi Mumbai. The drive from BOM to Panvel can take longer than the flight on a bad traffic day.
Timing your Mumbai trip
- Christmas and New Year 2026: December is the peak month and the 18 week window has passed, so book now rather than waiting for a drop.
- Summer holidays 2027: July is the second most expensive month. Booking 18 weeks ahead means around early March 2027.
- Ganesh Chaturthi 2027 (4 September): September is the quietest month on this route, with about half the usual travellers, so festival trips can still find fair prices if booked around early May 2027.
- Diwali 2027 (29 October): book by late June 2027.
- Monsoon: Mumbai rains run roughly June to September. Keep a buffer before any onward train or domestic flight.
Flights run around the clock. The earliest leaves Dubai at 03:55 and lands at 07:10; the latest leaves at 23:40 and lands at 02:55. Only about 8% of departures are in the morning, so if you need to land in daylight with children, check the schedule before you pay.
Baggage on low fares
The cheapest fares on this route are often hand baggage only. A first checked bag in economy, when added later, cost between AED 18 and AED 235 depending on the airline. Compare the fare with baggage, not the headline price. Carrying gold jewellery? The duty free limits under the India Baggage Rules 2026 are explained in our Dubai to Kochi guide.
Airlines on the route
Direct flights are run by Emirates, Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet and flydubai. Sharjah adds Air Arabia and Air India Express. You can pay monthly on Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India Express and Emirates tickets booked through us.
Paying monthly for your Mumbai ticket
A return at the average fare of AED 1,274 works out to four Tabby payments of about AED 319. Tamara is also available, and so are 3, 6, 9 or 12 month plans on UAE credit cards from Mashreq, ADCB, RAKBANK, HSBC, FAB and Emirates NBD. For UAE residents, we only need your phone number to send the payment link. Ask for a Dubai to Mumbai quote on WhatsApp. Our office WhatsApp, +971 4 220 2133, answers 24 hours a day.
Questions travellers ask us about Dubai to Mumbai
Do flights from Dubai land at the new Navi Mumbai airport?
Not when we checked in November 2026. Dubai flights land at Mumbai BOM. Navi Mumbai (NMI) started international flights on 15 July 2026 with Air India Express to Abu Dhabi.
Why is Dubai to Mumbai cheaper than Dubai to Kochi?
Mumbai has far more seats. Over the past 12 months Dubai to Mumbai averaged about AED 1,274 return against about AED 1,538 to Kochi.
Is Sharjah to Mumbai cheaper than Dubai to Mumbai?
Usually not. Sharjah to Mumbai averaged about AED 1,353 return, around AED 79 more than from Dubai.
When should I book Dubai to Mumbai for Ganesh Chaturthi 2027?
Ganesh Chaturthi falls on 4 September 2027. Booking about 18 weeks ahead means early May 2027, and September is the quietest month on this route.
How much is a one way ticket from Dubai to Mumbai?
About AED 466 on average. The lowest one way fare seen recently was AED 419.
What time does the latest flight from Dubai land in Mumbai?
The latest departure leaves Dubai at 23:40 and lands in Mumbai at 02:55 local time.
Can I pay for my Mumbai ticket in installments?
Yes. UAE residents can split the fare with Tabby, Tamara or a 3 to 12 month credit card plan. We only need your phone number to send the link.
More route fare guides from the UAE: Manila, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Calicut, Trivandrum, Jeddah, Kathmandu, Lahore, Dhaka, Colombo, Cairo, London.
Fare data from KAYAK, checked 11 November 2026. See all airlines you can pay for monthly.
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