Travelling from Dubai to Chicago: what you need to know
Dubai is home to a couple of airports where you can kick off your trip. Explore your options for reserving a flight from Dubai to Chicago departing from Dubai Airport (DXB) or Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).
When it comes to landing in Chicago, O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) are the major hubs.
The average length of a direct flight from Dubai to Chicago is 14 hours 56 minutes. Chicago's timezone is UTC-5, making Chicago 9 hours behind Dubai.
The most popular route for flights from Dubai to Chicago is from Dubai Airport (DXB) to O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Take your pick of 10 weekly services between these two airports. If you'd like to head off first thing, the earliest flight from DXB to ORD is the 09:45 Emirates service. If you prefer travelling later, the final departure is at 09:55 with Emirates.
For a stress-free journey, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This way, you can comfortably board your flight from Dubai to Chicago.
If you're heading away during a major holiday or other peak period, allow extra time. A good rule is two hours ahead of domestic flights and up to four hours before international departures. Lines at security and check-in will be longer.
If you have a passport from United Arab Emirates, you'll need an embassy visa to visit United States. This applies when booking a cheap flight from Dubai to Chicago for tourism purposes. Requirements may change if you're travelling for business or other reasons. Always check the visa rules before you book and certainly before you fly.
Flying from Dubai
Dubai Airport (DXB)
Jet off from Dubai Airport (DXB) on a nonstop flight from Dubai to Chicago. From DXB, you can land directly at O'Hare International Airport (ORD).
When jetting out of DXB, you can catch a direct flight from Dubai to Chicago with Emirates.
A stopover is the perfect opportunity to break up your journey — and perhaps even tour another city. When searching for flights from Dubai to Chicago leaving from Dubai Airport, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Some popular options include:
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Logan International Airport (BOS)
The journey from central Dubai to DXB takes approximately 49 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or take a cab, you'll cover the 14 kilometres in 16 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Searching for a handy hotel close to Dubai Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Dubai to Chicago, these accommodation options will have you moments from check-in:
Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC)
Visit friends or family or just take a moment to freshen up with a stopover. If you'd like to break up your flight from Dubai to Chicago, browse these options when setting off from Dubai Airport:
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Logan International Airport (BOS)
You can arrive at DWC from central Dubai in about 45 minutes by car, depending on traffic conditions. The ride on public transport will take roughly 2 hours and 5 minutes to travel the 56 kilometres or so.
Start your holiday sooner with an additional night away from home. Before catching your flight from Dubai to Chicago, take it easy in one of these hotels near Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport:
Arriving in Chicago
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to the centre of Chicago is around 35 minutes by car. It's approximately 40 kilometres away.
Getting there on public transport takes around 54 minutes.
If you're arriving on a late flight from Dubai to Chicago, few things beat the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Grab your suitcases from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing soon after at one of these accommodation options near ORD:
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Once your flight from Dubai to Chicago has touched down, you can get to the city centre in around 21 minutes by car. Central Chicago is roughly 19 kilometres from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW).
You can also opt for public transport, which will take roughly 46 minutes.
You'll find some cosy hotels where you can rest ahead of your adventure near MDW. Settle in after your flight from Dubai to Chicago at any of these well-located options:
How to find the cheapest flights from Dubai to Chicago
The lowest price we've seen for a one-way ticket from Dubai to Chicago is R 8,025. For a return flight on this route, the best price is R 12,454. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares may change.
Book 9 months before you want to travel. After crunching the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you should book ahead to find cheap tickets from Dubai to Chicago.
May is the cheapest month for tickets from Dubai to Chicago. If you'd like to travel during a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices for each month.
Create a Price Alert for cheap tickets from Dubai to Chicago. There's no need to search every day to find out if prices have fallen. We'll let you know the moment there's a change in price.
Tailor your flights using filters. Choose your arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest' flights from Dubai to Chicago.
Best time to go to Chicago
February is the quietest month for flights from Dubai to Chicago, while August is the most popular. Figure out the best time to visit Chicago based on whether you prefer a lively atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.
Before locking in your flight from Dubai to Chicago, think about the type of weather you like best. July is the warmest month in Chicago, with temperatures ranging from 15ºC to 29ºC.
January has average temperatures of between -12ºC and 3ºC. Look for cheap tickets from Dubai to Chicago around that time if you like travelling in cooler conditions.
More about Chicago
After booking your flight from Dubai to Chicago, think about where you'd like to stay in this city. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Chicago:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be tricky to know where to start. Millennium Park, Art Institute of Chicago and LandShark Beer Garden at Navy Pier are highlights which should feature on any well-planned Chicago itinerary.
Complete your Chicago trip with a car rental
Explore our range of car rentals once you've booked your hotel and cheap flight from Dubai to Chicago. Whether you want an economy ride, a standard vehicle or something in between, you can easily compare companies in one go to find the perfect deal.
