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Home›The Journal›Stopover in Dubai: A Mile a Minute

The Journal · Dubai

A Stopover in Dubai That Pays You Back: One Skywards Mile for Every Minute

Emirates has brought back one of its most popular offers. Book a stopover in Dubai between October 21 and November 5, 2026, register for the promotion, and Emirates Skywards will credit one mile for every minute of your stay, up to 7,200 bonus miles.

At a glance

Stopover in Dubai: A Mile a Minute at a glance

Offer
1 Skywards Mile per minute in Dubai, up to 7,200 miles
Book by
November 5, 2026 (tickets issued October 21 to November 5)
Travel by
December 13, 2026
Stay
At least 24 hours and no more than 30 days
Who
Skywards members who are not UAE residents; registration required

How the stopover

How the stopover in Dubai offer works

Emirates Skywards announced on October 22 that its Mile-A-Minute offer is back. The idea is simple: for every minute you spend in Dubai, measured from your flight's scheduled arrival to its scheduled departure, you earn one bonus Skywards Mile. The bonus is capped at 7,200 miles, which is exactly five days, so a five-night stay earns the full amount.

Tickets must be issued between October 21 and November 5, 2026, and the journey completed by December 13, 2026. Members must register for the offer by 11:59 p.m. Dubai time on November 5, through the link in Emirates' email, on emirates.com, in the Emirates app, on flydubai.com or through Emirates' retail and call centers. Travelers who are not yet members can join Skywards by the same date.

A simple example: land in Dubai at 8:00 a.m. on a Monday and leave at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, and your 72 hours in the city earn 4,320 bonus miles. Stay from Monday morning to Saturday morning, five full days, and you reach the 7,200-mile cap.

Fine print, simply put

The fine print, simply put

Where you start

The journey must begin outside the UAE, and tickets issued in the UAE or starting there do not qualify.

Fares

Return fares only, in any Emirates cabin on Special, Saver, Flex and Flex Plus fares, and on flydubai Lite, Value, Flex and Business fares.

Flights

Flights with EK or FZ flight numbers operated by Emirates or flydubai. Other codeshare and interline flights are excluded.

Length of stay

At least 24 hours and no more than 30 days in Dubai.

One bonus

The bonus is credited once per member, for the first eligible stay, within 30 days of the trip. Members who are UAE residents are not eligible.

Five days in Dubai

Five days in Dubai in early winter

The timing could hardly be better. From late October to mid-December, Dubai settles into its most comfortable season, warm by day and pleasant in the evening, the months when terraces, beaches and the desert are at their best. Global Village has reopened for its 31st season, as we described in our piece on Global Village and new things to do in Dubai, and for the table, our guide to Michelin star restaurants in Dubai picks the city's finest.

A five-night stay leaves room for a day at the beach and the Burj Khalifa, an evening in Al Fahidi and the souks along the Creek, a night in the desert and a final afternoon at a beach club. Our Dubai hotel guide lists the finest places to stay, and our beach clubs guide picks the best of the coast.

For American travelers

Because the offer requires a return ticket that starts outside the UAE, it works well for travelers flying from the United States, whether Dubai is the destination or a pause on the way to Asia, Africa or the Indian Ocean. Our guide to the best airlines in the region compares the cabins, and Emirates may change or withdraw the offer, so read the full terms on emirates.com before you book.

Questions readers ask

How many miles can I earn on a stopover in Dubai?

One Skywards Mile per minute in Dubai, up to 7,200 bonus miles, which equals a stay of five days.

What are the booking and travel dates?

Tickets must be issued between October 21 and November 5, 2026, and travel completed by December 13, 2026. Registration closes on November 5.

Can Americans take part?

Yes. Skywards members who are not UAE residents can register, provided the return journey starts outside the UAE and the ticket is not issued in the UAE.

When will the bonus miles appear?

Emirates says the bonus is credited within 30 days of completing the eligible stay.

Sources

Checked on 10/26/2026. Prices and dates are approximate and can change. See our standard.