UAE travellers planning a late-summer break could find lower return airfares to destinations across the region, Europe and Asia as the school holiday period comes to an end.
Travel search platform Skyscanner’s latest data shows Muscat has the lowest average return flight price among the destinations analysed for summer travel, at around Dhs 672.
Cheapest summer flights
Larnaca in Cyprus ranks second at an average of Dhs 811 for a return flight from the UAE, followed by Madinah in Saudi Arabia at Dhs 982.
Other relatively affordable options include Baku at Dhs 1,174, Budapest at Dhs 1,358 and Goa at Dhs 1,383.
The full summer list includes:
- Muscat, Oman: Dhs 672
- Larnaca, Cyprus: Dhs 811
- Madinah, Saudi Arabia: Dhs 982
- Baku, Azerbaijan: Dhs 1,174
- Budapest, Hungary: Dhs 1,358
- Goa, India: Dhs 1,383
- Giza, Egypt: Dhs 1,796
- Krabi, Thailand: Dhs 2,040
- Zanzibar, Tanzania: Dhs 2,426
September flight prices
Travellers looking to fly in September may find the lowest average return fares to Riyadh, at Dhs 607, according to Skyscanner’s data.
Salalah follows at Dhs 648, while Mumbai has an average return fare of Dhs 748. Istanbul comes in at Dhs 836 and Karachi at Dhs 944.
Return flights to New Delhi, Cairo, Madinah and Larnaca are also priced at around Dhs 1,000 or slightly above.
The September figures are:
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Dhs 607
- Salalah, Oman: Dhs 648
- Mumbai, India: Dhs 748
- Istanbul, Türkiye: Dhs 836
- Karachi, Pakistan: Dhs 944
- New Delhi, India: Dhs 1,051
- Cairo, Egypt: Dhs 1,065
- Madinah, Saudi Arabia: Dhs 1,105
- Larnaca, Cyprus: Dhs 1,125
Less-searched destinations
Skyscanner also identified destinations that recorded lower search interest among UAE travellers this summer. These include Krakow, Santorini, Faro, Da Nang, Almaty and Tbilisi.
Budapest, Giza, Krabi and Zanzibar feature on both the list of cheaper summer destinations and the under-the-radar list.
Ayoub El Mamoun, Travel Expert at Skyscanner, said: “The return of the school season creates a different travel opportunity for those who are not tied to the academic calendar. Younger travellers, couples and groups of friends may have greater flexibility to compare a wider range of destinations and departure dates when planning a late-summer trip.
“Our data shows that value is not limited to the most familiar destinations. Looking at places with lower search interest can introduce travellers to options they may not have previously considered, while comparing live fares across different dates can help them find the trip that best suits their plans and budget.”
Skyscanner noted that flight prices can change depending on demand and availability. Travellers are advised to compare fares across different dates and destinations before booking.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
