UAE residents are pushing ahead with overseas Eid Al Adha holidays this year despite some of the steepest summer airfares in recent memory, according to travel agents and booking platforms tracked by local media (per local reports).
Why ticket prices are up
Travel companies say a combination of higher jet fuel prices, tighter seat availability and schedule disruptions linked to regional tensions has pushed up the cost of flying out of the UAE during the Eid Al Adha window. Airlines have trimmed capacity on some routes while demand has stayed firm, leaving fares elevated across most popular corridors (per local reports).
Airfares to Arab destinations have jumped by as much as 45 per cent compared with the same period last year, while fares on some long-haul routes have moved sharply on a day-by-day basis (per local reports).
Where UAE travellers are going
Europe is one of the standout destinations for the 2026 Eid break. One regional travel platform reported a 94 per cent rise in quotes for European trips, driven by residents seeking cooler weather and longer holidays beyond the traditional long weekend (per local reports).
Beyond Europe, booking data shows continued demand for short-haul destinations within a four-to-six-hour radius of the UAE, including parts of the Middle East, the Caucasus and Central Asia (per local reports).
South Asian and Southeast Asian markets are also seeing strong interest. Travellers are turning to Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka, partly because of difficulties securing Schengen visa appointments and partly to avoid airport disruptions in Europe and the United Kingdom (per Travel And Tour World).
Bargains still possible
Even with the broader price surge, residents who are flexible on dates are finding pockets of value. A review of booking platforms on 21 May showed fares fluctuating widely depending on departure and return days, with prices on some routes dropping by close to 50 per cent on off-peak travel dates (per local reports).
Local reports also indicated a range of regional destinations reachable for under Dh2,500 around the holiday, suggesting that careful planning can still keep Eid travel costs manageable for many UAE households (per local reports).
The wider context
Eid Al Adha begins for UAE residents on Wednesday, 27 May 2026, following the Day of Arafah on Tuesday, 26 May, giving most public-sector and many private-sector employees an extended long weekend. Authorities have urged travellers to confirm flight schedules with airlines and to factor in possible airport congestion during the peak departure days.
