Online check-in on Gulf airlines: when it opens and when it closes
Quick answer
Most Gulf airlines open online check-in 48 hours before departure; Etihad opens it 30 hours before and Kuwait Airways 24 hours before. It usually closes between 1 and 2 hours before departure, and 3 hours before on Kuwait Airways. On most of these airlines the airport counter closes 60 minutes before departure.
A few minutes at the counter can cost you a flight. Each airline sets one time when online check-in closes and another when the airport counter closes, and both differ from airline to airline. We collected what each airline's own pages say, checked on 13 November 2026.
Times by airline
All times are counted back from the scheduled departure time on your booking.
| Airline | Online check-in opens | Online check-in closes | Airport counter closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudia | 48 hours before | 1 hour before | 60 minutes before (from its general conditions of carriage) |
| flynas | 48 hours before | 2 hours before international flights, 1 hour before domestic | 60 minutes before |
| flyadeal | 48 hours before (fly and fly+ fares) | 75 minutes before | 60 minutes before |
| Emirates | 48 hours before | 90 minutes before | — |
| Qatar Airways | 48 hours before; 24 hours on flights to and from the United States | 90 minutes before | — |
| Etihad | 30 hours before | 1 hour before | From Abu Dhabi: 60 minutes before in Economy, 45 minutes in Business and First |
| flydubai | 48 hours before | 75 minutes before | 60 minutes before |
| Air Arabia | 48 hours before | — | 1 hour before in Economy, 45 minutes in Business |
| Gulf Air | — | — | 1 hour before if no other time is given (from its conditions of carriage) |
| Kuwait Airways | 24 hours before | 3 hours before | 1 hour before at Gulf airports; in Kuwait, 60 minutes for Gulf and Arab routes and 90 minutes for Europe, the Americas, the Far East and the Indian subcontinent |
| Oman Air | 48 hours before | 60 minutes before | 60 minutes before |
— means the airline's page doesn't state it.
Saudia's and flynas's own pages give different rules in places. One Saudia page says online check-in isn't available for international destinations, and the flynas FAQ gives another closing time for international online check-in. Check the time in the airline's app or in your booking.
When you need the counter
Even after online check-in, an airline may send you to the counter. These are the cases the airlines list:
- Saudia: online check-in isn't available to passengers with paper tickets, on standby, travelling as unaccompanied minors, travelling with pets, or with special needs that require a Saudia representative at the airport.
- flynas: online check-in works only on flights operated by flynas and leaving from Saudi airports or the other airports it names, including Bahrain, Dubai International and Doha.
- flyadeal: a SAR 30 fee per passenger applies when the boarding pass is issued at the airport counter on domestic fly and fly+ fares. Passengers with special needs who declared them when booking are excluded.
- Emirates and Qatar Airways: online check-in isn't available if the first flight on your booking is with another airline. Qatar Airways says passengers going through passport control need a printed boarding pass.
- Etihad: it may not issue a digital boarding pass if your departure airport doesn't accept one, if you travel with a pet, or if it needs to check your visa or documents at the airport.
- flydubai: cases include a wheelchair, a card check, a booking for Umrah or Hajj and an extra seat. At some destinations you may still need the counter after online check-in, to verify documents and get your boarding pass.
- Air Arabia: some airports don't accept digital boarding passes or need extra checks, so you collect a printed pass at the counter.
If you live in the Gulf on a non-Gulf passport, your visa may be checked at the counter. Read our visa check guide before you travel.
Boarding pass on your phone
- Emirates: after online check-in you can download your boarding pass to your phone, the Emirates app or your Wallet app.
- Kuwait Airways: its electronic boarding pass is accepted at 25 airports it lists, including Riyadh, Dammam, Doha, Dubai and Bahrain, but not at Kuwait International Airport. If you check in online and fly from Kuwait, go to the Kuwait Airways counters in Terminal 4 at least 90 minutes before departure with your check-in receipt to collect your boarding pass.
- Qatar Airways and Air Arabia: you may need a printed pass at some airports, as above.
Before you leave for the airport, make sure your hand baggage is within the weight and size limits, which differ between airlines; see our guide to hand baggage on Gulf airlines. Checked baggage for each airline is on our baggage pages, such as the flydubai baggage page.
Frequently asked questions
When does online check-in open on Gulf airlines?
48 hours before departure on most airlines in the table. Etihad opens it 30 hours before, Kuwait Airways 24 hours before, and Qatar Airways 24 hours before on flights to and from the United States.
When does the airport check-in counter close?
60 minutes before departure on most airlines that state it. Etihad from Abu Dhabi and Air Arabia allow Business passengers until 45 minutes, and Kuwait Airways closes 90 minutes before long-haul flights from Kuwait.
Is a boarding pass on my phone enough?
Not always. Kuwait Airways' electronic boarding pass isn't accepted at Kuwait International Airport, Qatar Airways requires a printed pass for passengers going through passport control, and some airports don't accept Air Arabia's digital pass.
Do I pay to get my boarding pass at the counter?
On flyadeal, yes: SAR 30 per passenger on domestic fly and fly+ fares, except for passengers with special needs who declared them when booking.
Sources
- Saudia: online check-in
- Saudia: web check-in terms and conditions
- Saudia: general conditions of carriage
- flynas: online check-in
- flynas: FAQs
- flyadeal: online check-in
- flyadeal: boarding pass and counter fee
- Emirates: online check-in
- Qatar Airways: online check-in
- Qatar Airways: checking-in services
- Etihad: online check-in
- Etihad: manage booking FAQs
- Etihad: airport information
- flydubai: online check-in
- Air Arabia: online check-in
- Gulf Air: conditions of carriage
- Kuwait Airways: online check-in information
- Kuwait Airways: check-in times
- Kuwait Airways: electronic boarding pass
- Oman Air: check-in information
Last checked: 13 November 2026
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