Here are the most common and popular route combinations and trip patterns people use when visiting Dubai and the Maldives, plus practical notes (airports, airlines, timing, and transfer tips).

Main single-flight legs and hubs

• Dubai (DXB or DWC) ↔ Malé (MLE) — the direct and most popular leg. Common carriers: Emirates, Flydubai, and some seasonal/charter services. Flight time ~4–5 hours.
• Dubai ↔ Malé via Doha (DOH) — offered by Qatar Airways with a short connection; popular when combining comfort and schedule options.
• Dubai ↔ Malé via Colombo (CMB) — common routing with SriLankan Airlines (or other carriers connecting through Colombo); used when combining Sri Lanka with the trip.
• Dubai ↔ Malé via Indian hubs (Mumbai BOM, Kochi COK, Chennai MAA) — often used by Indian carriers and low-cost airlines; useful for multi-country itineraries that include India.
• Dubai ↔ Gan (GAN, southern Maldives) — less common but used by some long-resort transfers; usually requires a connection through Malé.

Typical multi-destination itineraries (popular combos)

1. Dubai → Maldives (straight)

   • Most common. Typical trip: 2–4 nights in Dubai (city/Desert/Shopping), then 5–9 nights in the Maldives for resorts and diving. Easy to book as a single open-jaw or roundtrip with a stopover.

2. Maldives → Dubai (straight)

   • Same idea reversed: fly into Malé first for relaxation, then end the trip with a city stay in Dubai for shopping/nightlife before home.

3. Dubai → Maldives + Sri Lanka (Colombo)

   • Popular for travelers who want culture/nature + beach: fly DXB→CMB (2–3 days), CMB→MLE (short hop), then return via Dubai or home via Colombo.

4. Dubai → Maldives + India (e.g., Kochi or Mumbai)

   • Combine South India (Kerala backwaters, culture) with Maldives beach time. Common routing DXB→BOM/COK→MLE.

5. Dubai stopover en route to the Maldives (or vice versa)

   • Many travelers use Dubai as a stopover hub on the way to/from the Maldives (especially when flying with Emirates or other carriers offering attractive stopover packages).

6. Multi-hub luxury loops (Dubai → Maldives → Abu Dhabi or Oman)

   • Luxury travelers sometimes combine several Gulf destinations with Maldives island stays. Flights often route through DXB or AUH.

Common travel patterns and why they’re popular

• Convenience: direct flights DXB–MLE and multiple daily options make Dubai–Malé easy to combine.
• Variety: Dubai offers city, shopping, desert and nightlife; Maldives provides secluded resort/island experiences — complementary trip types.
• Stopover-friendly airlines: Emirates, Flydubai, Qatar Airways, SriLankan Airlines, and several Indian carriers offer schedules that enable smooth multi-city trips.
• Visa & entry ease: Dubai is straightforward for many nationalities (ETA or visa on arrival for many), Maldives offers tourist visas on arrival for most nationalities — making quick itinerary building easy.

Practical transfer details travelers should plan for

• International arrival at Velana International Airport (MLE) — most resorts require either a seaplane or speedboat transfer from Malé; plan for extra transfer time and costs (often arranged by the resort).
• Dubai airports: DXB (main hub, more international connections) and DWC (secondary low-cost/charter hub). Check which airport your airline uses — transfers between DXB and DWC can take time.
• Flight times: direct Dubai–Malé ~4–5 hours (one way). Add 30–90+ minutes for domestic/resort transfers in the Maldives.
• Baggage/checked gear: if carrying dive gear, check airline allowances and intra-Maldives transfer rules.
• Seasonal considerations: peak season for Maldives (dry season) roughly November–April; Dubai busiest November–March. Prices and availability change accordingly.

Sample short itineraries (examples)

• 8–10 days: Dubai (3 nights) → Malé → Resort (5–7 nights) → home.
• 10–12 days: Dubai (2–3 nights) → Colombo (2–3 nights) → Malé (5 nights) → Dubai (overnight) → home.
• 7–9 days (quick): Dubai (2 nights) → Malé (5–7 nights) → home.

If you’d like, I can:

• Suggest carrier options and typical fares for your travel dates,
• Build a sample flight+transfer schedule for specific departure city and dates,
• Propose specific resorts and stopover hotels that match a budget or activity preference.

Which of those would help you next?