Flying to Tehran from the UAE
Imam Khomeini or Mehrabad? Tehran’s two airports, explained
Flights from the UAE to “Tehran” land at one of two airports. Which one decides your pick-up, your connection and sometimes your fare.
Founded in Dubai
Partner agencies we power across the UAE
Languages spoken at our desk
Visa applications processed weekly at peak, 2008–2015
The most common mistake on the Tehran route is not the date or the name — it is the airport. Tehran has two, and a relative waiting at the wrong one is an hour or more away from the right one.
Imam Khomeini International (IKA) is Tehran’s main international airport, well south of the city. Mehrabad (THR) sits inside Tehran, to the west, and mostly handles domestic flights along with some flights to and from the Gulf. A flight from the UAE can use either, so check every time.
How the two airports differ
Imam Khomeini (IKA)
The main international airport, outside the city to the south. Most international flights from the UAE land here.
Mehrabad (THR)
Inside Tehran, on the west side. Mostly domestic flights, plus some regional ones — handy if you are staying in the city.
Connections inside Iran
Domestic flights mostly leave from Mehrabad, so arriving at IKA and flying on usually means crossing the city.
Shown on every flight
The airport code is on each flight card here, and each airport has its own route page.
Getting the airport right
- 1
Read the code
IKA or THR on the flight card, before you choose — not after you pay.
- 2
Tell whoever meets you
Send them the airport name, not just “Tehran airport”, along with the flight number.
- 3
Allow time to cross
If you connect between the two, leave several hours: it is a drive across a large city.
- 4
Check again before you fly
If the airline changes the flight, the airport can change with it. The desk will tell you.
Route pages for each airport
Questions we get asked
Which Tehran airport do flights from Dubai use?
Most use Imam Khomeini (IKA); some use Mehrabad (THR). It depends on the airline and the flight, and it is shown on each flight card before you book.
How far apart are IKA and THR?
Roughly an hour by road, more in Tehran traffic. Do not plan a tight connection between them.
Which airport is closer to central Tehran?
Mehrabad is inside the city. Imam Khomeini is well south of it, so the journey into the centre takes longer.
Can I search both airports at once?
Search to Tehran and the results include flights to either, each marked with its airport. Or use the separate route pages for each.
Not sure which airport?
Send us the flight or the plan. We will tell you which Tehran airport it uses and what that means for the rest of the journey.
Open daily · 8:30 AM – 8:30 PM · Contact