From 6 Flights Daily To 48: Inside The World Cup Dubai-Doha Shuttle

As the World Cup has kicked off, the Dubai to Doha shuttle is in full swing. It's designed to transport thousands of fans to the event, partly because of the hotel shortage in Qatar. On November 23rd, the day of writing, there are 48 departing flights with over 10,000 seats for sale.

Some 33 services are operated by flydubai and 15 by Qatar Airways. Just six are from Dubai International (the main airport), while 42 are from Dubai Al Maktoum. In Qatar, 15 flights go to Doha Hamad (the main airport), 33 to Doha International, which reopened to commercial flights for the World Cup. Big numbers, big event.

Dubai-Doha: normally six daily

Analyzing Cirium schedules shows that the previous record, held in late 2016 and early 2017, was 39 daily. This was under fully normal circumstances. In contrast, just six daily flights now normally operate between the two cities; the route still hasn't recovered from the Qatar blockade that ceased in early 2021.

The six daily services were only available from Dubai International, with none from Dubai Al Maktoum. Flights were split equally: three daily by both flydubai and Qatar Airways.

That changed on November 21st (40 daily), the day after the World Cup started, with 48 flights scheduled to run on nine different days. Cirium schedules show that it'll peak at 49 daily on December 1st and 2nd before gradually reducing to 6 daily from December 23rd.

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Photo: flydubai.

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November 23rd: a day in the life

Despite being a maximum of 238 miles (383km) apart with a typical flight time of around 40 minutes, the Dubai-Doha market sees diverse equipment. On November 23rd, seven types and variants are used. Some 21 flights are by the 737-8, 12 by the 737 MAX 8, 11 A330-300, one A330-200, one A350-900, one A350-1000, and one 777-300ER.

There are departures around the clock, as detailed in the enormous table that follows. The first flight of the day leaves the UAE at 00:20 and the last at 23:55. The busiest hours are 06:00-06:59 and 17:00-17:59 with four departures apiece. Every hour in the day has at least one flight. Notice particular times when two Qatar Airways widebody flights leave from the same airport within five minutes.

Dubai Al Maktoum to from Doha November 23rd — (Showing some flights between Dubai Al Maktoum and Doha.)

Image: Flightradar24.

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Flights: November 23rd

Departure time from Dubai	Which Dubai airport?	Which Doha airport?	Airline	Aircraft
00:20	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737 MAX 8
00:50	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737-800
01:40	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737-800
02:10	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737-800
03:05	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737-800
04:05	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737 MAX 8
04:45	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737 MAX 8
05:15	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737 MAX 8
05:20	International	Hamad	Qatar Airways	A350-1000
06:20	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737-800
06:40	Al Maktoum	Hamad	Qatar Airways	A330-300
06:50	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737-800
06:50	Al Maktoum	Hamad	Qatar Airways	A330-200
07:35	Al Maktoum	Hamad	Qatar Airways	A330-300
07:40	Al Maktoum	Hamad	Qatar Airways	A330-300
08:10	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737-800
08:50	International	International	flydubai	737-800
09:10	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737 MAX 8
09:50	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737-800
10:20	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737 MAX 8
10:55	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737-800
11:40	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737-800
11:45	Al Maktoum	Hamad	Qatar Airways	A330-300
11:55	Al Maktoum	Hamad	Qatar Airways	A330-300
12:40	Al Maktoum	Hamad	Qatar Airways	A330-300
12:45	Al Maktoum	Hamad	Qatar Airways	A330-300
13:00	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737-800
13:45	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737 MAX 8
14:40	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737-800
15:10	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737 MAX 8
15:45	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737-800
15:45	International	International	flydubai	737-800
16:15	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737-800
16:50	Al Maktoum	Hamad	Qatar Airways	A330-300
17:00	Al Maktoum	Hamad	Qatar Airways	A330-300
17:35	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737 MAX 8
17:45	Al Maktoum	Hamad	Qatar Airways	A330-300
17:50	Al Maktoum	Hamad	Qatar Airways	A330-300
18:35	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737-800
19:35	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737 MAX 8
19:50	International	International	flydubai	737-800
20:05	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737 MAX 8
21:00	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737-800
21:15	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737-800
22:30	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737 MAX 8
22:50	International	Hamad	Qatar Airways	A350-900
23:30	Al Maktoum	International	flydubai	737-800
23:55	International	Hamad	Qatar Airways	777-300ER

Will you be on any of the flights in the coming days? Let us know in the comments.