With the Eid Al Adha break and the two-month school summer holiday in the UAE set to be just a week apart, many residents are planning to merge them for a longer vacation. The Eid holiday is expected around June 15, shortly followed by the commencement of the two-month annual summer vacation for schools.
Rikant Pittie, co-founder of online travel company EaseMyTrip, highlighted a 40 per cent increase in long-haul bookings compared to last year, indicating a strong inclination towards extended and more distant journeys. Families often capitalize on the Eid holidays by combining them with their annual leave to enjoy an extended vacation with their families back home.
However, individuals aiming to travel at the start of the Eid break or summer holidays may not secure the best deals. According to travel website Skyscanner, the initial two weeks in July are the most sought-after period for summer travel, albeit not the most cost-effective. Data reveals that UAE travelers can save 11 per cent by opting to travel during the week of August 12 as opposed to the week of July 8, potentially leading to an average saving of up to Dh804 for a family of four.
dnata, a travel provider, disclosed the top summer destinations for UAE residents in 2024, with Thailand, Maldives, USA, Turkey, and the UK topping the list. A substantial 65 per cent of bookings for the summer are for international destinations, while the remainder covers UAE staycations. Interestingly, bookings during the Eid break have escalated by 40 per cent compared to the summer months.
According to Pittie, for the Eid break, residents favor destinations such as Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan due to their proximity. Meanwhile, for longer holidays, popular choices include Saudi, the US, Turkey, the UK, Bali, Hong Kong, and Australia.
A noteworthy trend observed is the escalating demand for luxurious and personalized travel experiences. This also extends to gastronomic adventures, such as dining in unique venues. Furthermore, UAE travelers display a preference for managing their travel plans online and favor independent travel over packaged tours, valuing the freedom and control it offers, even if it entails a slightly higher cost. A prevalent aspiration among families is to discover budget-friendly yet high-quality destinations.
