New Delhi | Updated: June 25, 2026
Air India Express has announced the launch of direct flights from Guwahati to Dubai and Abu Dhabi from August, marking a major boost to international air connectivity from Northeast India.
The airline said the direct Guwahati-Dubai service will begin on August 4, while the Guwahati-Abu Dhabi flight will start from August 7. With this, Air India Express will become the first airline to offer non-stop connectivity between Northeast India and West Asia.
The move also marks Air India Express’ first international operations from Guwahati. The city has emerged as one of the airline’s major stations, with nearly 120 weekly domestic flights connecting it to several destinations across India.
The new international services are expected to benefit tourists, students, business travelers, and members of the Indian diaspora living in the United Arab Emirates. The flights are also likely to strengthen trade, tourism, and people-to-people ties between the Northeast and the Gulf region.
According to the schedule announced by the airline, the Guwahati-Dubai flight will operate every Tuesday. The flight will depart from Guwahati at 12:25 pm and arrive in Dubai at 4:10 pm local time. The return flight will leave Dubai at 5:10 pm and reach Guwahati at 12:25 am the next day.
The Guwahati-Abu Dhabi service will operate every Friday. The flight will depart from Guwahati at 11:30 am and land in Abu Dhabi at 3:15 pm local time. The return flight will take off from Abu Dhabi at 4:15 pm and arrive in Guwahati at 11:30 pm.
Bookings for both routes have opened on the airline’s website, mobile application, and other major booking platforms.
With the addition of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Air India Express will operate more than 290 weekly flights from four cities in Northeast India—Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Dimapur, and Imphal.
The airline said it will also continue to highlight the cultural identity of the Northeast through its “Tales of India” initiative. Under this initiative, traditional motifs and art forms from the region are featured on aircraft tail designs, including Assam’s Gamosa and Jaapi, Nagaland’s Tsüngkotepsü, Manipur’s Moirang Phee and Saphee Lanphee, Arunachal Pradesh’s Idu Mishmi, Meghalaya’s Khneng, and Mizoram’s Puanchei.
