A much-missed flight connection between Scandinavia and Dubai is making a comeback, giving travellers another direct option for reaching the UAE this winter.
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) announced plans to return to Dubai with a new direct Copenhagen–Dubai service for the winter 2026/27 season. The move marks the airline’s first operation to the UAE since 2011, bringing the popular route back after a 15-year absence.
SAS Is Returning to Dubai
SAS is set to resume flights between Copenhagen and Dubai from October 25, 2026. The airline originally announced the service as part of a wider expansion of its long-haul network for winter 2026/27.
The return is significant for travellers in Denmark and across Scandinavia, providing a direct link to one of the Middle East’s biggest tourism and business hubs. SAS says the route responds to demand for travel between Northern Europe and the Middle East while strengthening Copenhagen’s position as an international hub.
Flights Will Run Daily
The planned Copenhagen–Dubai service is scheduled to operate every day throughout the winter season.
According to SAS, flights are due to run from October 25, 2026 until March 27, 2027. The airline plans to operate the route with an Airbus A320neo.
The published schedule has the Copenhagen departure leaving late at night, arriving in Dubai the following morning. The return flight is scheduled for late morning, providing a convenient option for passengers travelling in either direction.
The Route Will Use Dubai World Central
There is an important detail for passengers to know: SAS plans to operate its Dubai flights from Al Maktoum International Airport, also known as Dubai World Central (DWC), rather than Dubai International Airport (DXB).
The scheduled route is Copenhagen Airport (CPH) to Dubai World Central (DWC), with the return travelling from DWC back to Copenhagen. Dubai Airports has also highlighted SAS’s return as part of the continued development of DWC as a major future aviation hub for the emirate.
A Long-Awaited Comeback
For SAS, the new service represents a return to a market it has been away from for more than a decade.
The airline last served Dubai in 2011, making the upcoming winter operation the first SAS service to the UAE since then. The route was planned as part of a broader long-haul expansion that also includes new services from Copenhagen to Phuket and Krabi in Thailand.
The move gives Scandinavian travellers another nonstop option for reaching Dubai, while passengers travelling in the opposite direction gain a direct connection to Copenhagen and onward destinations within SAS’s wider network.
Why Copenhagen to Dubai Matters
Dubai remains one of the world’s major destinations for both leisure and business travel. The city offers everything from beaches and luxury resorts to major shopping centres, cultural attractions and a busy events calendar.
For travellers from Scandinavia, a nonstop flight can make the journey more straightforward by removing the need for a connection elsewhere in Europe or the Middle East.
For SAS, meanwhile, Dubai offers access to a market with strong tourism, business and international connectivity potential. The airline has described the city as an important market and said the route will expand customer choice for both business and leisure travel.
What Travellers Need to Know
The new route is currently planned as a seasonal winter service rather than a year-round operation.
Flights are scheduled to begin on October 25, 2026, with daily departures continuing until March 27, 2027. The planned aircraft is an Airbus A320neo, and passengers should note that the Dubai airport for this service is DWC.
As with any advance airline schedule, timings and operational details can change, so travellers should check the latest information with SAS before booking or travelling.
Dubai Gets Another Scandinavian Connection
SAS’s return adds another international connection to Dubai’s growing aviation network. For Copenhagen-based travellers, it means a direct route to Dubai is coming back after years away, while Dubai residents will have another way to reach Denmark and the wider Scandinavian region.
The service also underlines the increasing importance of Dubai World Central as Dubai develops its long-term aviation infrastructure. Dubai Airports has described DWC as an important part of the emirate’s future aviation plans.
FAQs
The airline is scheduled to resume the popular European-to-Dubai route on October 25, 2026.
The route is returning after around 15 years, making it a long-awaited comeback for travellers.
The revived SAS route is scheduled to operate through Al Maktoum International Airport, also known as Dubai World Central (DWC). This is important for passengers booking the flight because DWC is different from Dubai International Airport (DXB), Dubai’s better-known and much busier airport.
The planned Copenhagen–Dubai flights will be operated using an Airbus A320neo. The aircraft is part of SAS’s modern fleet and will be used for the seasonal service connecting Copenhagen with Dubai World Central.
The current plan is for the Copenhagen–Dubai service to operate as a seasonal winter route. Flights are scheduled from October 25, 2026, through March 27, 2027. Travellers considering dates outside this period should check the latest SAS schedule because seasonal routes can be updated or extended.
Final Thoughts
After a 15-year gap, SAS is bringing back its Copenhagen–Dubai connection for the winter 2026/27 season. With daily flights, direct service and a new operating location at Dubai World Central, the route will give travellers another convenient way to travel between Scandinavia and the UAE.
The first flights are scheduled for October 25, 2026, so anyone planning a Dubai getaway or a Scandinavian trip this winter will have another nonstop option to consider.
