Air Arabia Flight from Warsaw to Sharjah – Great „Value for Money” (Review) [2025]

Air Arabia entered Warsaw quietly, but everything indicates that the Sharjah route is enjoying great success. I traveled on an Airbus A320 in its standard configuration – no monitors, no exclusivity, but with a very favorable price-to-value ratio. Boarding went smoothly, the aircraft looked neat and modern, and the interior was in better condition than in many budget airlines across Europe. The seats are firm but well-designed, so even a 6-hour flight can be comfortably endured.

My ticket – promotion + full service package

I bought the ticket on February 19 during a promotion – including 20 kg of checked baggage, a seat selection from row 8, and meals on board. The total came to 933.48 AED, which at the exchange rate on February 19 (1 AED = 1.0843 PLN) gave about 1,015 PLN for a round-trip ticket on the Warsaw – Sharjah – Warsaw route. Considering the baggage, seat choice, and meal, it is a very favorable price for the entire round trip.

Service

Air Arabia's service is a major asset for the airline. The crew was competent, friendly, and always smiling. There was no artificiality, stress, or confusion – everything went smoothly in a relaxing and natural atmosphere. Conditions during the flight were very convenient. You could say it was an ideal flight during which I could catch up on work, watch a movie on my own device, or simply enjoy the views outside the window.

Views along the way

This is one of the most picturesque routes in the Middle East. After ascending above the clouds, true continental views appear: the undulating, multi-layered ranges of Romania, the huge, snow-capped mountains of Turkey, and the harsh, stony desert regions of Iran. The closer to the Emirates, the more desert-like the landscape becomes, and the colors change. It is definitely worth taking a window seat (meaning choosing a seat with the letter A or F).

Approach to landing in Sharjah

The landing approach in Sharjah took place over the Arabian Sea in the evening hours. At the end, only the city lights and road layout were visible, without any spectacular view. The landing itself, however, was extremely stable and smooth, without any surprises.

Onboard catering

Air Arabia has surprisingly fair prices on board for an airline. For example (1 AED ≈ 1.08-1.10 PLN):

• muffin / croissant / donut – 7 AED (approx. 8-9 PLN),
• sandwiches – 17 AED (approx. 19-21 PLN),
• main courses – 28 AED (approx. 31-34 PLN),
• water 500 ml – 3 AED (approx. 3.5-4 PLN),
• coffee / tea – 7 AED (approx. 8-9 PLN).

During my first flight, I tasted the Thai Green Chicken Curry (the meal was included in the package I bought with my ticket). The curry was rich in aroma, well-seasoned, and served with rice that wasn't sticky. For low-cost airline food, it was really very tasty.

On the return flight, I tried the Fried Chicken Noodles. The noodles were cooked perfectly, the chicken melted in your mouth, and everything was seasoned just right and delicious. Both portions were generous and satisfied my hunger.

Onboard merchandise

A variety of small gifts are available on board. I decided to buy an Air Arabia aircraft model for 50 AED, which corresponds to around 55-60 PLN. For an aviation souvenir – good quality workmanship and a reasonable price.

Baggage – an important practical note

In Sharjah, checked baggage is weighed very strictly. Even an extra kilogram is not tolerated. To make matters worse, you cannot buy an extra full bag at the airport – everything is calculated per kilogram. This is crucial information for those planning to do bigger shopping in the United Arab Emirates.

The best solution is to buy a higher baggage allowance right away – for example 30 or even 40 kg. The extra fee is relatively low (from 55 AED for the 30 kg option and 120 AED for 40 kg – split in two bags) and can be arranged online up to 12 hours before departure. I dropped my guard and paid 70 AED for each extra kilogram plus a 30 AED handling fee. The conclusion is clear: it is better to pay for a larger baggage limit in advance than to leave a large sum at the check-in desk later.

The return flight – 6-hour delay, insurance, Middle Eastern chaos, and a damaged suitcase

On the way back, I encountered heavy fog, which significantly disrupted air traffic across the entire United Arab Emirates. Virtually all flights were delayed, and a small percentage were eventually canceled (mainly those with multiple daily rotations). My flight took off with a delay of about 6 hours.

I have external insurance covering delays over 5 hours, and fog is not listed under exclusions. So I am waiting for documents from Air Arabia confirming the time and reason for the delay, hoping to recover some of my expenses.

The waiting time at the airport had two sides. On one hand, the atmosphere among passengers was really pleasant – people exchanged chargers, snacks, and travel stories. On the other hand, typical Middle Eastern information chaos prevailed: planes landed in completely different cities, some even in other countries, and concrete information about when exactly we would depart was very limited. On top of all this was fatigue and the fact that there were very few seats, so we spent a lot of time standing. The number of working power outlets was pretty much a taboo topic. In summary – great relations between passengers, but a much worse information situation.

After landing in Warsaw, I noticed that my new suitcase (bought the day before flying to the UAE) had a damaged zipper – specifically its puller – in several places. I immediately reported it to the appropriate point at the airport, but I learned that Air Arabia specifies in its policy that it bears no liability for this type of damage (which is very strange, by the way). The insurance I had purchased privately also did not cover the suitcase itself, only its contents. In the future, learned from experience, I will take an old suitcase.

Route network from Sharjah

Keep in mind that Sharjah is not only a destination in itself, but also an ideal hub for layovers. From this airport, Air Arabia offers flights to numerous destinations perfect for holidays and expeditions: to Oman, India (such as Goa or Kerala), Sri Lanka, Armenia, Georgia, Egypt, Zanzibar, and numerous cities in South Asia and North Africa. This allows you to plan really interesting, multi-stage trips at an affordable price using exclusively Air Arabia's network.

Will I fly Air Arabia again?

Yes, certainly. I will look for their regular promotions for destinations, because if an attractive price turns up, it is hard to find a better value-for-money option. In the future, I plan to do two things differently: I will choose an older, less „delicate” suitcase and buy a 30 or 40 kg baggage limit right away, as the surcharge for the extra allowance is relatively small, and peace of mind when weighing luggage in Sharjah is priceless. Even if I fly with only one suitcase in one direction, a second one can always be purchased on site.

Air Arabia now flies not only from Chopin Airport, but also from Warsaw-Modlin and Krakow-Balice, so the offering is becoming increasingly attractive. If someone is looking for honest value for money on the Poland – UAE route, Air Arabia really performs great and I personally will gladly use their services again.

(Paweł Jakubowski)

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