Free Emirates ice cream awaits as Dubai departures soar

Sweeten your Eid Escape: Free Emirates ice cream awaits as Dubai departures soar

Dubai, UAE, 2 June 2025: As Dubai departure numbers rise in the approach to the Eid Al Adha holiday, Emirates is sweetening the experience for customers with four ice cream carts dotted around the airport offering an array of refreshing sorbet and ice cream. With high numbers of customers expected to travel over the Eid period, Emirates recommends that customers take advantage of convenient and remote check in services, to ensure seamless travel during the busy period of 1- 9 June.

Make some time to enjoy Free Emirates ice cream

Emirates customers are advised to arrive at the airport up to 3 hours before a flight and take note of their boarding time to ensure they reach the departure gate on time. Travel through Dubai International Airport on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday between 12 and 6pm, and scoop a free Emirates ice-cream for the whole family. From 6 – 20 June, Emirates will have four eye-catching ice-cream carts positioned around the various Departures areas inviting customers to indulge in mango, chocolate or strawberry ice cream, or a passionfruit or raspberry sorbet, before setting off on holiday.

Plan ahead for a seamless travel experience

Emirates customers may need to plan for extra traffic on the roads approaching the airport, more people at the airport going through Immigration, and the time it may take to travel between Concourses and reach Boarding Gates.

• In peak travel times, arrive to the Airport: 3 hours before departure
• Ensure you pass through Immigration: 1.5 hours before departure
• Ensure you reach your correct Boarding Gate: 1 hour before departure 

Download the Emirates App to check in online

Download the Emirates app for flight details at your fingertips. Book and change flights, download a digital boarding pass for most destinations, get notifications about your flight, check what meals will be served, pre-order your hot meal in Business Class, book a chauffeur drive service and even pre-select and plan movies to watch via ice inflight entertainment. Customers can also check in on Emirates.com. Online check-in and app check-in are both open 48 hours ahead of flight departure time.

Drop luggage off at the airport the day before

Emirates customers can drop off luggage at the airport the night before travel at no charge. Passengers who are departing from Dubai can check-in early and drop off their bags 24 hours before departure, or 12 hours before departure if flying to the US. Then closer to departure time, customers can proceed directly to the immigration area in the airport. 

Check in at the Emirates City Check In & Travel Store

Save time at airport and check in at the Emirates City Check‑in and Travel Store in ICD Brookfield Place, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) instead. Conveniently located in the heart of the business district, Emirates customers can check in and drop off luggage as early as 24 hours and up to 4 hours before a flight. Customers can check in anytime from 8:00am to 10:00pm daily, beginning their travel experience with seamless service via self check-in kiosks, at dedicated desks with Emirates agents or via the world’s first robot check in agent- Sara.

Check in from your own home

Emirates customers can also opt to check in at home in Dubai and Sharjah. Agents complete the check-in process at the customer’s home, hotel, or office, and take the bags on to the flight so that they can arrive a later time with hand luggage. The service needs to be booked at least 24 hours before a flight. The Home Check-In service is complimentary for First Class passengers and Platinum Skywards members.

Utilise transport options in the airport

When moving between Concourse A and Concourse B, Emirates customers can use the complimentary train in Terminal 3. Emirates also offers a shuttle bus service between Concourse A and Concourse C, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The bus departs every 20 minutes, and the average travel time is also 20 minutes. The Pickup and Drop-off points are at clearly marked connection desks – the Arrival Level adjacent to the Central Connection Desk in Concourse A, and Connection Desk E – Duty Free Level in Concourse C. First Class customers can also use dedicated Emirates buggies available on request throughout the airport, while Dubai Airport Buggies (also called Dubai Taxi) are available for all types of customers free of charge, with priority extended to the elderly, families with children and People of Determination.

Make sure your baggage meets the requirements

Emirates requests that customers are vigilant while packing bags and follow the restricted items procedures. Customers should take note of rules such as power banks are allowed in hand baggage but not allowed in checked baggage. Smart bags are allowed in the cabin if the battery is removable and within the cabin baggage size and weight limits. The battery can remain installed as long as the smart bag is completely powered off. E-cigarettes including e-cigars, e-pipes, Electric Portable Incense (Perfume) Burner or other personal vaporizers containing batteries must be individually protected to prevent accidental activation and are only allowed as carry on luggage.

Pre-order your Duty-Free shopping

Customers who wish to save even more time can pre-order Duty-Free Shopping on EmiratesRED.com and get access to exclusive Duty-Free products, which are then delivered to their seat in the air. The pre-order service is available on most flights, and customers can shop from 21 days up to 40 hours before their flight, providing their flight details during checkout. Cabin crew then deliver the order directly to the customer’s seat inflight. Emirates RED’s new summer catalogue features more than 200 products from brands like Hermes, Cartier, Tom Ford, Creed and Jo Malone and during Eid Al Adha, Emirates RED is offering an exclusive 10% discount for customers using the code ‘REDMAG’ at checkout.

Support for People of Determination

People of Determination can access dedicated support from trained Emirates and airport staff. This includes a pre-planning guide for Dubai International Airport (DXB), 2 hours complimentary parking at the airport and access to a dedicated priority lane for check-in, passport control, security and priority boarding if required. Customers can check the Accessible Travel page on Emirates.com for information and contact their Emirates local office with queries.