United Airlines has revealed that all flights from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Dubai International Airport (DXB) have been removed for the upcoming winter. This is, of course, due to the ongoing war in Iran, and the consequential continuation of softer demand. United has not flown to DXB since the war broke out in February 2026.

Each week, airlines submit schedule changes to OAG, Cirium Diio, and other platforms. There are many ways in which things may be different, including routes that have been eliminated or which will now operate at different periods than planned the previous week. United is no exception.

United Continues To Suspend Flights To Dubai

United 777-300ER taxiing Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The Star Alliance member introduced nonstop service from EWR, which is the carrier’s leading transatlantic hub, to DXB in March 2023. This was, of course, in partnership with Emirates, which encompasses a codeshare agreement, reciprocal access to loyalty programs and lounges, and more. Flights operated daily until the war in Iran forced them to stop in February 2026. Emirates continues to serve EWR daily via Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH).

Until this week’s update, United’s plan was for the long nonstop route, which covers 5,962 nautical miles (11,042 km) each way, to return on October 24, 2026. That’s a day before United, like other northern carriers, will switch to winter schedules based on IATA slot seasons.

That plan has now changed. The latest information, which is still liable to change depending on the stability of the Gulf, is that flights will return on March 27, 2027. That is the day before northern airlines switch to summer schedules. United will run daily using the 350-seat Boeing 777-300ER. This development comes a few weeks after fellow Emirates partner Air Canada pushed Toronto to DXB flights to 2027.

United’s 777-300ERs are the carrier’s highest-capacity international-configured equipment. There are 60 seats in Polaris (1-2-1), 24 in Premium Plus (2-4-2; 38″ pitch), 62 in Economy Plus (3-4-3; 34″), and 204 in the regular main cabin (3-4-3; 31″). The 777-300ER also has considerable space for freight, which can make a difference to the profitability of long-haul routes.

Frequency

EWR To DXB; Local Times*

DXB To EWR; Local Times**

Daily

UA164: 9:20 PM-6:35 PM+1 (777-300ER; 13 hours and 15 minutes)

UA163: 1:55 AM-8:40 AM (777-300ER; 14 hours and 45 minutes)

Daily

EK210: 11:55 PM-11:35 PM+1 (777-300ER; via ATH; 15 hours and 40 minutes)

EK209: 10:50 AM-9:20 PM (777-300ER, via ATH; 18 hours and 30 minutes)

* In April 2027

** In April 2027

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United Between Newark & Dubai

United Airlines 777-300ER taxiing Credit: Flickr

Let’s focus on March 2025 to February 2026, which was when United last flew to DXB. In that period, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) indicates that the airline transported 169,212 round-trip passengers between EWR and DXB. This long airport pair was United’s ninth most-trafficked market from New Jersey across the North Atlantic. Only London Heathrow, Tel Aviv, Paris CDG, Rome, Frankfurt, Dublin, Brussels, and Lisbon had more passengers.

Some 83.1% of DXB seats were filled, which was about the same as for the carrier’s full transatlantic operation from EWR. Given how many premium seats were available to/from DXB, it must be assumed that United filled a decent number of them. Unfortunately, DOT data does not distinguish between cabins when disclosing the load factor.

Booking data available via OAG Traffic Analyzer sheds more detail on where the 169,212 round-trip passengers went. It is estimated that 42% of the traffic flew from elsewhere in North America or in Latin America to DXB via EWR. Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to DXB was the most popular segment.

26% of the passengers transited to another service at both EWR and DXB. San Diego to Bahrain was first, presumably for military reasons. 23% of the total traffic only flew between EWR and DXB. The remaining 9% originated/ended in EWR but transferred to an Emirates flight in DXB (EWR to Hyderabad was number one). In total, approximately 34% of United’s passengers also flew Emirates.