Quick answer
If your bag does not arrive at DXB, report it at your airline's baggage services desk in the baggage hall before you go through customs. You get a file reference — a Property Irregularity Report — to track it, and most delayed bags arrive on a later flight and are delivered to your hotel. Keep receipts for essentials you buy, and claim from the airline within its time limits: under the Montreal Convention, within 21 days for a delayed bag.
1What should you do if your bag does not arrive?
- 1Wait until the belt stops, and check the oversized baggage area.
- 2Go to your airline's baggage services desk (or its handling agent's) in the hall.
- 3Give your baggage tag, boarding pass, a description of the bag, and your hotel address and phone number.
- 4Get the file reference and a copy of the report.
- 5Only then go through customs.
Photograph your bag and its tag before every trip. A photo describes it faster than words at the desk.
2How do you track a delayed bag?
Airlines track bags worldwide with the file reference, and most let you check the status online with the reference and your surname. Many delayed bags turn up within a day or two, on the next flight from wherever they were left behind.
3Will the airline deliver the bag to your hotel?
Usually, yes — the airline or its agent delivers found bags to the address you gave. Keep your phone on, as drivers call before arriving. If you move hotels, update the address on the file.
4Can you claim for essentials while you wait?
Many airlines reimburse reasonable essentials — toiletries and a change of clothes — while a bag is delayed. Ask at the desk what the policy is, keep every receipt, and do not buy luxury items. Travel insurance may also cover delays.
5What are the deadlines for claims?
| Problem | Report within |
|---|---|
| Damaged bag | Report within7 days of receiving it |
| Delayed bag | Report within21 days of receiving it |
| Lost bag | Report withinClaim once it is declared lost — usually after 21 days missing |
Report at the airport first. Airlines and insurers may add their own steps.
6What if you left something in the terminal, the plane or a taxi?
Pack medicine, a charger and one change of clothes in your hand luggage — it turns a delayed bag into an inconvenience rather than a crisis.
- Left on board: contact the airline.
- Left in the terminal: contact Dubai Airports' lost property service with the time, place and a description.
- Left in a Dubai taxi: contact the RTA with the taxi number from your receipt.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I report lost luggage at Dubai Airport?
At your airline's baggage services desk in the baggage hall, before you go through customs.
How long does it take to get delayed luggage in Dubai?
Often a day or two, on a later flight. The airline delivers it to the address you give.
What is a PIR?
A Property Irregularity Report — the file the airline opens for a missing or damaged bag, with a reference number to track it.
Can I claim for clothes while my bag is delayed?
Often yes, for reasonable essentials. Keep the receipts and check the airline's policy.
What if I left my bag in a Dubai taxi?
Contact the RTA with the taxi number and time from your receipt; lost items are handed in.
How long do I have to claim for a damaged bag?
Under the Montreal Convention, report damage within 7 days of receiving the bag — ideally before leaving the airport.
Written by the TripReview team from our own price benchmarks and the rules published by UAE authorities, and updated 22 September 2026. Figures are ranges, not quotes — check the latest rules with the official source before you travel. How we rate companies
