With the five-day Eid Al Adha break falling just a week before the two-month school summer holiday in the UAE, many residents are looking to combine them for a longer vacation. The Eid holiday is likely from June 15. Just a few days after offices reopen post the break, schools will close for the two-month annual summer vacation. Many families are utilizing the Eid holidays by combining them with their annual leaves to take an extended vacation with their families back home. According to Rikant Pittie, co-founder of online travel company EaseMyTrip, there has been a 40 per cent surge in long-haul bookings compared to last year, indicating a strong preference for more prolonged and far-reaching trips.
However, those looking to fly out at the start of the Eid break or summer holidays won’t get the best deals. The first two weeks in July are the most popular time to travel away this summer, but they are not the cheapest. On average, UAE travelers can save 11 per cent by traveling during the week of August 12 versus the week of July 8, with an average saving of up to Dh804 for a family of four. Skyscanner data shows that 92 per cent of UAE travelers are planning on taking a summer holiday abroad. However, 49 per cent of residents are yet to book their summer holiday destinations, with indecision on dates and destination being some of the top reasons.
Top holiday destinations from the UAE over summer 2024 include Thailand, Maldives, USA, Turkey, and the UK. Travel provider dnata has seen a 40 per cent increase in travel bookings during the Eid break, compared to the summer months. Across the summer, 65 per cent of bookings are for international destinations, while the remaining cover UAE staycations. According to Meerah Ketait, head of Retail and Leisure UAE at dnata Travel, UAE-based travelers are exploring more of the world and trying out new locations across popular hotspots like the Maldives.
During the Eid break, residents opt for destinations with short flight times like Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. For a longer holiday, preferred destinations include Saudi, the US, Turkey, the UK, Bali, Hong Kong, and Australia. A major trend the travel provider is noticing is the growing demand for luxury and personalized experiences, including unique food experiences. UAE travelers are tech-savvy and prefer managing their travel plans online, choosing independent travel over packaged tours for the freedom and control it provides, even if it means paying a bit extra. Families are looking for budget-friendly yet high-quality destinations, and this trend is especially noticeable among them.
