All,

I am thinking of flying emirates for the first time - LGW-DXB-PVG return (unfortunately it's a personal trip, so it's coach) wondering if within a 3 hour layover it's enough time for me to leave the airport, get a stamp in my passport, take some pictures of the skyline (and the burj hotel) and get back to the airport.

Appreciate your thoughts, thank you

No chance... with traffic, it can take an hour each way to get to the Burj.

Estimate at 1 hour minimum from landing to clearing immigration.

Given 3 hours, I'd pay for a lounge pass and have a drink/food/rest. DXB is horrible if you are in transit and want to relax.

Cheers,
Rick

G Force Gym (in airport) with pool/spa/masseuse is great after long flights. Plenty of food and shopping in the airport to keep you occupied if you want to explore and don't have time to go outside.

3 hours, IMHO, is a perfect connection time. Clearing the flight connections centre at that time + a possible remote stand would be 1hr alone. You can walk around / shop (if you please) for 1hr, eat for 30mins and your time is up. Alternatively you can browse the web with free WiFi.

Cheers,

Just to add to the above, clearing customs alone, (depending on arrival time) in Y takes good 30 minutes to almost hour.

If you had a 5 hour layover, only then, leaving airport would start making sense (even then it's a tight journey).

Of course, if both flights are gate parked (conveniently), had little pax on board, and your arrival/departure times are a bit off peak, then you could make use of the Marhaba service to zip through customs or have access to their lounge.

But again, if one of the flights are remote parked it's fat chance to think of leaving the terminal.

Cheers

Seconded. Without traffic, you can reach the Burj Dubai in about 30 minutes, but with traffic, it is easily one hour (or more!! ). Plus, getting back into the airport is not fast, as the airport is really really big.

FWIW, the airport is really nice.

the passport control is the worst bottleneck section. i'd say it's even worse than the traffic on the streets! i know you mentioned you're flying economy, but just to give you an idea what happened to me... i flew from IST to DXB on paid C, last week on a 7pm flight, arriving around 1am. if you fly on first or business, they give you a fast track "ticket" so you can avoid the regular lines at passport control. you'd think arriving 1am in the morning and with fast track you'd be able to wiz through... YEAH RIGHT. lines for all sections were super long and super slow.

your best bet is the e-card, issued to residents. long story short, stay in the airport. look around their duty free, although i think it's not that good compared to LHR.

Three hours is practically minimum connecting time since you will get parked at a remote stand at least 20-25 minutes by bus from the terminal. Don't even think of leaving the airport.

Thanks all for the tips