Flights to Bali from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dubai, Doha and the rest of the Gulf
There are nonstop flights to Bali from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, of roughly nine to ten hours. From Riyadh, Jeddah, Kuwait, Bahrain and Muscat there is no nonstop flight, so you change planes once, usually in one of those three hubs.
Bali’s airport is Ngurah Rai International, code DPS, often listed under the name of the island’s capital, Denpasar. Search for “Denpasar” if a booking site does not recognise “Bali”. It sits on the narrow neck of land at the south of the island, a short drive from Kuta, where our packages’ hotels are.
Are there direct flights to Bali from the Gulf?
Yes, from three cities. Emirates flies nonstop from Dubai, Etihad from Abu Dhabi and Qatar Airways from Doha, each in roughly nine to ten hours. Schedules and frequencies change with the season, so check the current timetable with the airline before you plan the rest of the trip around a flight.
How do I fly from Riyadh or Jeddah to Bali?
With one connection. There is no nonstop flight to Bali from Saudi Arabia, so the usual route is a short first leg to Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha, then the nonstop flight to Denpasar. The first leg is about two hours from Riyadh and about three from Jeddah. Connections through Kuala Lumpur, Singapore or Jakarta also work, particularly when the Gulf hubs are full over the summer holiday.
Plan on a journey of well over half a day in total once the connection is added. A longer layover is not always a worse one: with children, two hours to eat and walk around the hub can make the long leg easier than a tight forty-minute change.
Flights to Bali by departure city
| From | Nonstop? | Usual route |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Yes | Emirates, about 9 hours |
| Abu Dhabi | Yes | Etihad, about 9.5 hours |
| Doha | Yes | Qatar Airways, about 9.5 hours |
| Riyadh | No | One stop, usually Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha |
| Jeddah | No | One stop, usually Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha |
| Dammam | No | One stop, usually Doha, Dubai or Abu Dhabi |
| Kuwait | No | One stop, usually Doha, Dubai or Abu Dhabi |
| Bahrain | No | One stop, usually Doha, Dubai or Abu Dhabi |
| Muscat | No | One stop, usually Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi |
Flight times are approximate and vary with the wind and the aircraft. Always check the airline’s own schedule.
What is the time difference between the Gulf and Bali?
Bali is on Central Indonesia Time, eight hours ahead of GMT, with no daylight saving. That puts it five hours ahead of Riyadh, Jeddah, Kuwait, Doha and Bahrain, and four hours ahead of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Muscat. An overnight flight from the Gulf lands in the Bali daytime; plan a light first afternoon.
When should I book flights for the summer holiday?
Early. The Gulf summer holiday falls in Bali’s dry season, the most popular time on the island, and the nonstop flights fill first. Once the dates are known, the flights are the first thing to fix; the hotel and the touring follow them. Our guide to the best time to visit Bali has the months side by side.
What do I need to do before the flight?
Three things, all online: the e-VoA if you want to skip the visa counter, the All Indonesia arrival card in the 72 hours before you fly, and the Bali tourist levy. Our Bali visa guide for GCC passports covers all three.
Who meets us at Denpasar airport?
We do, if you are travelling with us. Your guide waits inside the arrivals hall with your name on a board, and the car goes straight to the hotel. Send us the flight number when you book; we follow the arrival time, so a delay changes nothing.
Bali Central Travel does not sell flights. Book them with the airline or your usual agent, then send us a message with the dates, or choose one of our Bali packages and we will fit the week around your arrival and departure.