Every Emirates fare includes at least one checked bag and a 7kg cabin bag, but Emirates doesn’t publish one universal checked-baggage chart — it depends on your specific route and fare. The one clearly confirmed exception: flights to/from Africa get 1-2 bags of 23kg each in Economy/Premium Economy, or 2 bags of 32kg each in Business/First. For every other route, your fare ticket or Manage Booking is the actual source of truth.
Most baggage guides give you one generic table and stop there, or quote unconfirmed numbers as if they’re universal. Here’s what Emirates actually confirms, plus the details on cabin baggage, liquids, infants, and pets that most guides skip entirely.
Cabin (Carry-On) Baggage
| Class | Allowance | Max Size |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | 1 bag, 7kg | 55 x 38 x 22cm |
| Premium Economy | 1 bag, 10kg | 55 x 38 x 22cm |
| Business / First | Briefcase (7kg) + handbag or garment bag (7kg) | Briefcase: 45 x 35 x 20cm · Handbag: 55 x 38 x 22cm · Garment bag: max 20cm thick when folded |
Emirates enforces the 7kg cabin limit strictly, often weighing bags at both check-in and the boarding gate — this is tighter than many full-service competitors, so don’t assume “it usually doesn’t get checked.”
Route exceptions to know:
- Flights departing Brazil: cabin allowance rises to 10kg (above the standard 7kg Economy limit)
- Flights boarding from India: limited to 1 piece of cabin baggage not exceeding 115cm (length + width + height combined) — but this restriction applies to Economy and Premium Economy only; Business and First Class passengers boarding from India are exempt and keep the standard allowance above
Liquids, Security & What You Can Actually Carry On
- Liquids, gels, and aerosols must be in containers of 100ml or less, packed in a single transparent resealable bag no larger than 1 litre. Containers over 100ml aren’t accepted even if only partially full, and only one bag per passenger is allowed through security.
- Baby food, medications, and special dietary items are exempt from the liquids limit, but you’ll need to show appropriate proof (prescription, doctor’s note, etc.) at screening.
- Duty-free purchases (liquor, cigarettes, perfume) are allowed in reasonable quantities across all classes, but airport-specific liquid restrictions can still stop them at security — don’t assume duty-free automatically clears every checkpoint.
- Cabin bag placement: bags must fit under the seat in front of you or in the overhead locker — not in the aisle, behind your legs, or blocking an emergency exit.
Traveling With Infants
Passengers with infants can bring one carry-cot or one fully collapsible stroller into the cabin if space allows; if there’s no room, it’s checked free of charge instead.
Checked Baggage: What Emirates Actually Confirms
Emirates states directly that your checked baggage allowance depends on your specific route and fare type — there isn’t one universal chart that applies to everyone. The clearest official figures are for Africa routes:
| Route | Class | Checked Allowance |
|---|---|---|
| To/from Africa | Economy & Premium Economy | 1 or 2 bags, 23kg each |
| To/from Africa | Business & First | 2 bags, 32kg each |
For every other route, Emirates directs passengers to check their exact allowance via Manage Your Booking or the figure printed directly on the ticket, rather than a fixed number — so treat any generic “20-35kg Economy” figure you see elsewhere (including earlier drafts of this guide) as a general estimate only, not a confirmed number. Always tell readers to verify their own fare’s allowance directly rather than relying on a blanket table.
For the full official breakdown by route and fare, see Emirates’ Checked Baggage page.
Traveling With Pets (Checked as Baggage)
This is something most baggage guides skip entirely, but it’s a real cost if you’re relocating or flying with an animal. When a pet travels as checked baggage (not cargo), Emirates charges by combined animal + cage weight and size:
| Animal + Cage | Price |
|---|---|
| Up to 23kg / 150cm | $500 USD / $700 CAD |
| 24-32kg, up to 300cm | $650 USD / $900 CAD |
| Over 32kg, up to 300cm | $800 USD / $1,150 CAD |
| Over 300cm | Must travel as manifested cargo, not baggage |
Pets cannot travel as checked baggage at all in these cases — they’re routed as cargo instead:
- Any flight into Dubai
- Any journey where total travel time exceeds 17 hours
- Any destination country that doesn’t permit live animals as checked baggage
If any of these apply to your trip, contact Emirates Cargo directly rather than assuming standard checked-baggage rules apply.
What Happens If You Go Over
Excess baggage bought in advance online is consistently cheaper than paying at the airport counter — if you know before departure that you’ll be over your allowance, add it to your booking rather than waiting for the check-in desk.
Before You Fly: Confirm Your Own Numbers
Baggage rules are tied to your specific fare and route, not a single universal chart. Before you pack, open your booking or Manage Booking on Emirates.com and check your ticket’s fare name and checked baggage figure directly — the numbers above are the general framework, but your fare code is what actually governs your allowance.
If you’re flying Dubai to London specifically, see our full Dubai-London route breakdown for live pricing across direct and layover options — baggage fees factor directly into whether a “cheaper” layover fare stays cheaper once you add checked bags.
Official Source
Always cross-check current figures directly with Emirates’ official cabin baggage FAQ — airline baggage policy changes periodically, and this is the authoritative source for your exact route and fare. Learn How Airline Calculate ticket Pricing.
FAQs
It depends on your specific route and fare — Emirates doesn’t publish one universal number. The clearest confirmed figure is for Africa routes: 1-2 bags of 23kg each in Economy. For other routes, check Manage Booking or your ticket for your exact allowance.
7kg for Economy and Business/First, 10kg for Premium Economy. Emirates enforces this strictly at check-in and sometimes again at the gate.
Yes — Emirates states it depends on route and fare type rather than one fixed number. Africa routes are the clearest confirmed exception: 23kg bags in Economy/Premium Economy, 32kg bags in Business/First.
Online, in advance, is consistently cheaper than paying for excess baggage at the check-in counter.
In most cases, yes, with fees based on combined animal and cage weight/size. But pets must travel as cargo instead of baggage on flights into Dubai, journeys over 17 hours, or to countries that don’t permit live animals as checked baggage.
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