Flights to the United Arab Emirates

Yes. Emirates flies non-stop to Dubai from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Manchester, as well as Birmingham and the three big London airports. That makes the UAE one of the easier long-haul trips from regional UK airports, and it saves you the cost and time of getting down to London first.

It depends on your dates, so compare both. Dubai has more airlines and more UK departure airports, which often means more fare choice, while Etihad flies to Abu Dhabi from Heathrow and Manchester. The two cities are linked by road, with regular intercity buses, so you can fly into one and home from the other.

Not if you hold a British passport. You'll get a free visa on arrival, stamped at immigration, which allows stays of up to 90 days in total within any 180-day period. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date you arrive, or you may be refused entry.

Usually, but medicines classed as controlled, narcotic or psychotropic need approval from the UAE Ministry of Health before you fly. Apply online in advance, as approval normally takes about five working days. Visitors can bring up to three months' supply, or one month for medicines on the controlled list.

Yes. Etihad Airways flies non-stop to Abu Dhabi from London Heathrow, with several flights a day, and from Manchester. If you live elsewhere in the UK, you can fly direct to Dubai with Emirates from your nearest airport and continue to Abu Dhabi by road, or book a connecting flight instead.

Most flights to the UAE from the UK land at Dubai International (DXB), where Emirates uses its own Terminal 3 and the Dubai Metro Red Line runs into the city. Etihad flights arrive at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi. Dubai's second airport, Al Maktoum International, isn't yet handling many passenger flights.

For Christmas, New Year and school holidays, including the October half term, book several months ahead, as these are the busiest weeks on UK to UAE routes and fares tend to rise as seats fill. Outside those dates you have more flexibility, though booking early still gives you a wider choice of airlines, flight times and departure airports.