The UAE residents are booking holidays in greater numbers ahead of Eid Al Adha, with dnata Travel reporting a 15% increase in bookings compared to the same period last year.
According to the company, travel activity during the Eid break is 30% higher than regular travel periods, driven by strong interest in short-haul beach destinations.
Short-haul trips preferred
“Eid continues to be one of the busiest travel periods in the UAE, and this year is no exception. We’re seeing consistent year-on-year growth, driven by travellers who are increasingly strategic about how they plan their holidays,” said Meerah Ketait, Head of Retail and Leisure at dnata Travel.
dnata Travel noted that most travellers are opting for trips of around four days to nearby destinations, balancing convenience and value while saving longer holidays for the summer season.
Top destinations this Eid
Popular short-haul destinations include the Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius, Turkey, Sri Lanka, and Azerbaijan — all reachable within four to six hours from the UAE.
There is also notable interest in longer-haul destinations such as Italy, France, Spain, Thailand, and Japan, with trips to these locations averaging around six days.
Eid package offers
To meet growing demand, dnata Travel has introduced a series of curated Eid holiday packages. Current offers include:
Sri Lanka from Dhs 2,730 per person – return airfare, 3-night stay at Avani Kalutara Resort with breakfast
Thailand from Dhs 2,810 – return airfare, 3-night stay at Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi with breakfast
Turkey from Dhs 2,990 – return airfare, 3-night stay at Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus with breakfast
Maldives from Dhs 4,090 – return airfare, 3-night stay at Kuramathi Maldives with breakfast and speedboat transfers
Mauritius from Dhs 6,270 – return airfare, 3-night stay at The Westin Mauritius Turtle Bay Resort & Spa with breakfast and dinner
Demand expected to grow
dnata Travel advised that limited availability and rising demand could drive a spike in bookings in the coming days. More offers can be found online and in dnata Travel retail stores across the UAE.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
