Prime Highlights:

• UAE residents traveling on Eid Al Adha vacations can still access air fares below Dh1,500.
• Discount carriers such as flydubai and Air Arabia are providing last-minute bookings.

Key Facts:

• Eid Al Adha is due in mid-June, providing a window of opportunity for short trips.
• Some destinations continue to provide return flights for Dh500–Dh1,500.
• Fares are 35–40% higher but flexible booking will realize savings.

Key Background:

With the Eid Al Adha festival looming large on the horizon in mid-June, most UAE nationals are yet to plan their holiday vacations. Even with the usual hike in airfares during festivals, some scope exists for booking round-trip tickets for less than Dh1,500, particularly with low-cost carriers.

Travel agents have picked up on Central and South Asian, Middle Eastern, and Southeast Asian destinations that are still within budget. Places such as Tashkent, Baku, Cairo, and New Delhi have fares starting at Dh700 and going up to Dh1,300, especially with low-cost carriers. GCC neighbors Bahrain, Muscat, and Kuwait are particularly convenient for short breaks because of short flight times and reasonable fares.

In Southeast Asia, Phuket and Bangkok are still favorites among UAE tourists, with return tickets still priced at around Dh1,300 if reserved in advance. But long-haul flights to destinations like Paris and London cost much more, typically exceeding Dh3,000 for economy class.

Travel experts say that the rates of airfares for Eid are usually 35% to 40% more than off-seasons. Nevertheless, the fare levels for short-haul destinations are still reasonable. Travelers who have some flexibility to change travel dates slightly—like leaving before June 6—are more likely to get offers.

To promote bookings, airlines including flydubai and Air Arabia have launched special offers for a limited period. While direct flights are usually costlier, connecting flights may prove cheaper. Nevertheless, travelers are urged to book early, as options could run out closer to the holiday.

Booking in advance, comparing fares, and choosing different airports or airlines can cut travel expenses further. The most important lesson for travelers is to stay flexible with destinations and dates if they need to maximize leftover budget fares.