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At a glance
| Emirates | flydubai | Air Arabia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Full service | Low cost, with a Business cabin | Low cost |
| Hub | Dubai DXB, Terminal 3 | Dubai DXB, mainly Terminal 2 | Sharjah SHJ (Air Arabia Abu Dhabi: AUH) |
| Economy cabin bag | 7 kg, 55 x 38 x 22 cm | 7 kg, 55 x 38 x 20 cm | 7 kg bag + 3 kg personal item |
| Checked bag on the cheapest fare | 20 kg (Special) | None (Lite) | None (Basic) |
| Most checked bag in Economy | 35 kg (Flex Plus) | 30 kg (Flex) | 30 or 40 kg (Ultimate) |
| Meals in Economy | Included | Depends on fare and route | Paid on Basic; sandwich on Value; hot meal on Ultimate |
Emirates: baggage by fare
Emirates uses the weight concept on most routes, including India and the Gulf: you can split the allowance across bags, but no single bag may weigh more than 32 kg.
| Fare | Checked baggage (weight concept) |
|---|---|
| Economy Special | 20 kg |
| Economy Saver | 25 kg |
| Economy Flex | 30 kg |
| Economy Flex Plus | 35 kg |
| Premium Economy | 35 kg |
| Business Class | 40 kg |
| First Class | 50 kg |
Flights to and from the Americas, and some from Africa, use the piece concept instead: one 23 kg piece on Special, two on Saver, Flex and Flex Plus. Economy carry-on is 7 kg; Premium Economy is 10 kg. Source: emirates.com baggage pages.
flydubai: baggage by fare
| Fare | Cabin bag | Checked baggage |
|---|---|---|
| Economy Lite | 7 kg | Not included, can be added |
| Economy Value | 7 kg | 20 kg |
| Economy Flex | 7 kg | 30 kg |
| Business | 14 kg (two items) | 40 kg |
Each checked bag must be under 32 kg and 159 cm in total dimensions. Emirates Skywards miles can be earned on flydubai, and the two airlines sell connecting itineraries together. Source: flydubai fare types as summarised by Wego (updated 16 Apr 2026); flydubai's own site did not load for us on 7 Oct 2026, so check your fare on flydubai.com before you book.
Air Arabia: fares on flights from, to or via the UAE
| Fare | Cabin | Checked baggage | Meal | Changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 7 kg + 3 kg item | Chargeable | Chargeable | Once, up to 24 hours before, minimum AED 200; no refund |
| Value | 7 kg + 3 kg item | 20 or 30 kg | Sandwich | Once free up to 24 hours before (fare difference applies) |
| Ultimate | 7 kg + 3 kg item | 30 or 40 kg | Hot meal | Twice free up to 8 hours before (fare difference applies) |
Cabin bag up to 55 x 40 x 20 cm, personal item up to 25 x 33 x 20 cm, 10 kg in total. The checked allowance depends on the route. Source: airarabia.com baggage and fare-type pages.
Which one to pick
Emirates if you are checking bags, travelling with family, or connecting onward on a long flight. Every Economy fare includes a checked bag and meals.
flydubai if you want a direct Dubai flight on a narrow-body jet and can travel on Lite with cabin bags only, or need a Value or Flex fare that still undercuts Emirates on your date.
Air Arabia if Sharjah works for you and you are happy to pay for exactly what you use. Add the bag and the meal before comparing.
Prices change by date and route, so compare live fares on NxVoy flights. Planning a UAE holiday rather than a flight? See the Dubai group holiday, 5 nights and request a quote; a consultant confirms the final price before you pay.
Common questions
Is flydubai the same as Emirates?
No. Both are owned by the Dubai government and work as partners, but Emirates is a full-service airline flying wide-body aircraft from Dubai International Terminal 3, while flydubai is a low-cost carrier flying narrow-body Boeing 737s, mostly from Terminal 2. flydubai also sells a Business Class cabin on many routes.
Which airline gives the most checked baggage in Economy?
Emirates. On most routes it uses the weight concept: 20 kg on Economy Special, 25 kg on Saver, 30 kg on Flex and 35 kg on Flex Plus, with no single bag over 32 kg. flydubai Value gives 20 kg and Flex 30 kg; Air Arabia Value gives 20 or 30 kg and Ultimate 30 or 40 kg, depending on the route.
Does Air Arabia include a checked bag?
Not on the Basic fare, where checked baggage is chargeable on flights from, to or via the UAE. The Value and Ultimate fares include it. Every Air Arabia fare includes a 7 kg cabin bag plus a 3 kg personal item.
How much cabin baggage can I take on Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia?
Emirates Economy allows one 7 kg carry-on up to 55 x 38 x 22 cm. flydubai Economy allows 7 kg up to 55 x 38 x 20 cm. Air Arabia allows a 7 kg bag up to 55 x 40 x 20 cm plus a 3 kg personal item up to 25 x 33 x 20 cm, 10 kg in total.
Which airport and terminal does each airline use?
Emirates flies from Dubai International (DXB) Terminal 3. flydubai mainly uses DXB Terminal 2, with some flights from Terminal 3. Air Arabia is based at Sharjah International (SHJ), a separate airport from Dubai International, and its Air Arabia Abu Dhabi arm flies from Abu Dhabi (AUH).
Which one should I book from India?
Compare the total, not the headline fare. If you need a checked bag, add the cost of the bag to a flydubai Lite or Air Arabia Basic fare and compare it with Emirates Special or Saver. For long onward connections, meals and seat-back screens, Emirates usually wins; for a short hop to the UAE with cabin bags only, the low-cost fares are often cheaper.
Related comparisons
Gulf full-service airlines
Emirates vs Qatar Airways vs Etihad compared.
Low-cost carriers
Wizz Air vs flydubai vs Air Arabia.
UAE airports
Dubai DXB vs Abu Dhabi AUH vs Sharjah SHJ.
Indian airlines
IndiGo vs Air India vs SpiceJet.
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