Some flights out of the UAE are genuinely long. Dubai to Sydney, Abu Dhabi to New York, Sharjah to Kuala Lumpur — these journeys keep you in the air for ten to sixteen hours, and that is why knowing How to Prepare for a Long-Haul Flight matters more than most travellers realise. A bit of planning — the right seat, a well-packed carry-on, and a plan for sleep — can be the difference between arriving ready to start your trip and losing your first day to exhaustion.
This guide walks you through the full countdown: what to sort out a week before departure, what to pack in your carry-on, how to actually sleep on board, and how to land without the worst of the jet lag. If you are still at the booking stage, start with our guide to planning a flight from the UAE, then come back here once your ticket is confirmed.
Quick Answer
- Book your seat as early as possible — window seats are best for sleeping, aisle seats for easy movement.
- Pack a dedicated carry-on kit: neck pillow, eye mask, earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones, moisturiser, lip balm, and a change of clothes.
- Arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before an international long-haul departure.
- Drink water regularly, avoid too much alcohol, and get up to walk every 2–3 hours.
- Check your passport validity, visas, and travel documents at least a week before you fly.
- Start shifting your sleep schedule toward your destination’s time zone a day or two before departure.
How to Prepare for a Long-Haul Flight: Your Countdown Plan
The secret to a comfortable long-haul flight is that most of the work happens before you leave home. Here is a simple timeline that covers the essentials.
One Week Before
- Check your documents. Make sure your passport is valid for the full period your destination requires (many countries ask for six months beyond your travel dates), and that you hold the right visa for your destination and any transit stops. If you are a UAE resident, confirm your Emirates ID and residence visa are valid for your return — if a renewal is coming up, see our Emirates ID renewal guide. Flying into the UAE on a visit? Check the Dubai tourist visa requirements so nothing surprises you at immigration.
- Pick your seat. Most airlines let you choose a seat when booking or later through “manage my booking”. Window seats give you something to lean against and mean nobody climbs over you; aisle seats give you freedom to get up without disturbing anyone. If you are tall or restless, an exit-row seat is worth the extra fee.
- Confirm your flight details. If you are still comparing airlines, routes, or departure times, our guide on how to compare flight options can help you weigh the trade-offs before you commit.
- Sort travel insurance. A basic policy that covers medical emergencies and trip disruption is cheap compared with the cost of a problem abroad. Check the official UAE government portal at u.ae for general travel guidance if you are unsure where to start.
48 Hours Before
- Check in online. Online check-in usually opens 24–48 hours before departure. It lets you confirm your seat, and on busy routes it can make a real difference.
- Review your airline’s baggage rules. Allowances vary by airline, fare type, and route. Check your airline’s official website — for example, Emirates publishes its current baggage policy on emirates.com — and if you are unsure what is allowed in the hold, read our guide on what you can pack in checked baggage.
- Download offline entertainment. Save films, series, podcasts, and music to your phone or tablet. Airport and in-flight Wi-Fi is never guaranteed, and a dead phone battery with no downloaded content makes a 14-hour flight feel twice as long.
- Start shifting your sleep. If you are flying east, try going to bed an hour or two earlier; flying west, stay up a little later. Even a small shift takes the edge off jet lag.
The Night Before and the Morning of the Flight
- Pack your carry-on the night before (see the packing list below) so you are not rushing in the morning.
- Eat a proper meal before leaving. Airport food is expensive and in-flight meals arrive on the airline’s schedule, not yours.
- Leave early. For long-haul international flights from Dubai International, Zayed International in Abu Dhabi, or Sharjah, plan to arrive at least 3 hours before departure. Traffic around the airports, especially during evening peaks, is unpredictable.
- Dress for comfort. Loose layers, breathable fabrics, and slip-on shoes. Cabins are kept cool, so a light jacket or shawl is worth having even if it is 40°C outside.
Your Carry-On Packing List for a Long-Haul Flight
Everything below fits in a small backpack or tote that goes under the seat in front of you. Keep your passport, phone, wallet, and medications in this bag — never in checked luggage.
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Neck pillow (memory foam) | Supports your head and stops the painful “head-bob” when you doze off upright |
| Eye mask and earplugs | Cabins stay dim but never dark; engine noise is constant. A mask and plugs make real sleep possible |
| Noise-cancelling headphones | Not essential, but they transform the experience if you own a pair |
| Refillable water bottle (empty through security) | Fill it after security so you always have water without waiting for the drinks cart |
| Moisturiser and lip balm | Cabin air is extremely dry — your skin will thank you by hour six |
| Change of clothes and fresh underwear | Makes you feel human again before landing |
| Essential medications | Keep prescription medicines and a small painkiller supply on your person, with a copy of the prescription |
| Snacks | Nuts, dried fruit, or a sandwich — in-flight meals may not suit your appetite or dietary needs |
| Chargers and a power bank | Not every seat has a working USB port; a power bank is cheap insurance |
| Pen | Some destinations still hand out paper arrival cards |
One thing to skip: bulky “travel gadgets” you will use once. Space under the seat is precious, and every extra item is something to keep track of. If your flight departs late at night, also read our guide to preparing for an overnight flight, which covers red-eye-specific sleep tactics.
How to Sleep on a Long-Haul Flight
Sleep is the single biggest factor in how you feel on arrival, and it is also the hardest thing to get right. These are the tactics that actually work:
- Eat, then sleep. After the first meal service, recline your seat, put on your eye mask and earplugs, and commit to resting. The cabin is at its quietest in the middle stretch of the flight.
- Recline — politely. Recline your seat after meals, not during them. On most wide-body aircraft the person in front of you loses very little space, so don’t feel guilty; it is what the seats are for.
- Skip the caffeine cutoff. Avoid coffee and strong tea for at least 6 hours before you plan to sleep. Herbal tea or water instead.
- Be cautious with sleep aids. Some travellers use melatonin or mild sleep aids, but these affect everyone differently — speak to a doctor or pharmacist before trying anything new, especially on flights where you will be immobile for hours.
- Wear loose clothing and remove your shoes. Compression socks are a good idea for long flights; they help circulation and are recommended by many health professionals for journeys over 4 hours.
Staying Hydrated, Eating Sensibly, and Moving Around
The dry cabin air and hours of sitting take a toll on your body. The fixes are simple but easy to forget:
- Drink water steadily. Aim for a small glass every hour or so. Avoid going overboard on alcohol — it dehydrates you and wrecks sleep quality, a bad combination on a long flight.
- Eat light. Heavy, salty airline meals can leave you bloated. Eat what you are served but don’t feel obliged to finish everything, and accept the fruit or salad options when offered.
- Move every 2–3 hours. Walk to the galley and back, stretch your calves, rotate your ankles while seated. On very long flights, prolonged immobility raises the risk of circulation problems such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) — if you have a history of circulation issues, talk to your doctor before flying.
- Stand up after sleeping. A short walk when you wake up gets the blood moving and helps you shake off the grogginess.
Documents, Money, and Other Admin
Do this boring-but-important checklist the week before you fly:
- Passport and visas: valid passport, correct visas for destination and transit countries, and a printed or saved copy of hotel bookings and your return ticket.
- Copies of everything: photograph your passport, visa, and travel insurance policy and keep the copies in your email or cloud storage, separate from the originals.
- Money: carry a small amount of local currency for your destination for taxis and tips on arrival, plus a debit or credit card that works internationally. Tell your bank you are travelling if they require it, so your card is not blocked.
- Phone: check whether your UAE SIM has roaming or buy an eSIM/travel plan for your destination before you leave — airport SIM queues are slow.
- Home: set timers or ask someone to check on your home, empty perishables from the fridge, and switch off anything that should not run while you are away.
Beating Jet Lag When You Land
You cannot eliminate jet lag on a long-haul flight, but you can blunt it:
- Get sunlight. Daylight is the strongest signal for resetting your body clock. Spend time outdoors on your first day, especially in the morning if you flew east.
- Stay awake until local bedtime. The temptation to nap at 3pm is strong — resist it, or limit naps to 20–30 minutes.
- Eat on local time. Meals help anchor your body clock, so eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at local times even if you are not hungry.
- Stay hydrated and go easy on caffeine for the first day or two.
- Give it time. A rough rule is one day of adjustment per time zone crossed. Plan a light schedule for your first day rather than an important meeting.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How early should I arrive at the airport for a long-haul flight?
Arrive at least 3 hours before departure for international long-haul flights from the UAE. Check-in counters and baggage drop for long-haul routes close earlier than for short hops, and security queues at Dubai International during peak hours can be long. Check live flight status on dubaiairports.ae if you are flying from DXB.
What should I wear on a long-haul flight?
Loose, layered, breathable clothing and slip-on shoes. Cabins are air-conditioned to around 22°C, so bring a light jacket or shawl even in summer. Compression socks are a smart addition for flights over 4 hours.
Can I sleep through an entire long-haul flight?
Most people cannot sleep for 12+ hours straight, and that is fine. Aim for one solid block of 4–6 hours in the middle of the flight using an eye mask, earplugs, and a neck pillow, then rest, read, or watch films for the remainder. You will arrive in far better shape than if you forced it.
How much water should I drink on a long flight?
There is no official number, but a practical target is a small glass of water roughly every hour. Cabin humidity is very low, so you lose moisture faster than on the ground. Limit alcohol and caffeine, which both dehydrate you.
Is it safe to take sleeping pills on a long-haul flight?
Sleep aids affect people differently, and combining them with hours of immobility is not something to take lightly. If you are considering melatonin or any prescription sleep aid, speak to a doctor or pharmacist first — especially if you have circulation problems or other health conditions.
How do I avoid jet lag after a long-haul flight?
Shift your sleep schedule toward destination time before you fly, get daylight exposure on arrival, eat meals on local time, and stay awake until a normal local bedtime. Expect roughly one day of adjustment per time zone crossed, and keep your first day’s schedule light.
The Bottom Line
Preparing for a long-haul flight comes down to three things: getting your documents and booking sorted a week ahead, packing a carry-on that covers sleep and comfort, and looking after your body on board with water, movement, and rest. Do those, and even a 16-hour journey from the UAE becomes something you can handle — you might even enjoy parts of it. Safe travels.
Last Updated: 8 October 2026
About the author: Zaviyar Sultan is a UAE-focused writer at Asandada24, covering driving, visas, banking, insurance and everyday UAE life. His guides are researched from official UAE government and regulator sources and updated regularly.
Asandada24 is an independent informational website, not affiliated with the UAE government or any agency mentioned; content is general information only, not legal, immigration or financial advice; verify critical details with official sources before acting.