UAE embraces travel again as Ramadan airfares spike

Airfares from the UAE to key expat locations have increased over the Ramadan period as a new report shows that residents in the Emirates have the biggest appetite for travel.

A global survey of 18 countries by research firm YouGov, carried out in November last year, found that 58 percent of UAE respondents said travel has increased in importance for them since the end of restrictions related to the pandemic.

This compares to a global average of 35 percent and 26 percent in both the UK and US.

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Further analysis of the UAE results found that while there was a decline in respondents saying they intended to work while on holiday, more said they are planning to extend business trips to include a holiday at the end.

Safety was the most important factor when deciding where to travel to, followed by quality of local amenities and the desire to experience diverse cultures.

For those looking to book flights for Ramadan, Wego, the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa, reported that airfares have increased this year to some popular expat locations during the holy month.

UAE flights to India have increased 13 percent year-on-year and tickets to the UK are up 32 percent, according to its data.

“This year’s Ramadan is coinciding with school breaks, which could be a reason for the instant spike in travel demand,” Wego said. “We expect to see a further increase in airfares as we approach the Eid break.”

Around the Gulf, the most popular locations to travel to from the UAE during Ramadan were Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, while Egypt, India and Pakistan remained popular international options.