A severe heatwave continues to grip India, with nearly 10 cities recording temperatures of around 46°C, placing them among the hottest locations globally.
As Eid Al Adha approaches, many UAE-based Indian residents are re-evaluating their usual holiday travel plans to India, as an intense heatwave and soaring airfares begin to influence their decisions.
A severe heatwave continues to grip India, with temperatures rising sharply across several regions. Nearly 10 cities have recorded highs of around 46°C, placing them among the hottest locations globally.
The extreme conditions appear to be largely concentrated in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh and adjoining regions, pointing to a broader regional weather pattern rather than isolated temperature spikes.
For Dubai resident Farzana Khan, the decision to skip India this Eid came down to both cost and comfort — especially when travelling with children.
“Last year was different, so we travelled. But this time, airfares have surged sharply and the weather is a major concern. It’s extremely hot and humid, and that raises the risk of heat stroke — particularly for children, who can’t spend much time outdoors in such conditions,” she said.
With several hotels across the UAE offering competitive staycation rates, many residents feel it makes more sense to remain local and unwind closer to home.
“It’s difficult to deal with the extreme summer heat there [India], and children especially find it challenging. We also just returned from India after a three-week break while my daughter was attending distance learning from Delhi, so it doesn’t feel necessary to travel again so soon,” she added.
Families weigh heat, costs, and comfort
For others, travel plans are being scaled back rather than cancelled entirely. Kanchan Rathod said her family has decided against a full holiday trip this time, although her husband may still travel briefly for work.
“My husband may travel to India during the Eid holidays as he has some work in Jaipur, but we are not planning a family trip. Even relatives back home are struggling with the intense summer heat there,” she said.
“My mother and mother-in-law often mention it during calls. On top of that, airfares are quite high right now, which makes travel less feasible. We’ll likely spend Eid in Dubai instead, where it feels more manageable since most of the time is spent indoors with air conditioning,” she added.
Travel agents across the UAE say this shift is becoming increasingly noticeable. According to Reena M. Philip, director and general manager at Aurora Travel and Tourism, bookings to India have dropped compared to previous Eid periods, with multiple factors contributing to the trend.
“For the upcoming Eid holiday, we are not seeing many bookings to India. The surge is clearly towards visa-free destinations, while India-bound travel has fewer takers at the moment due to the current situation,” she said.
“A lot of travellers are also choosing to stay back and opt for staycations, as they feel more comfortable remaining within the country. Under normal circumstances, many would have travelled to India during Eid, but the ongoing heat wave there is also playing a role in this shift. Traditionally, India sees strong demand during the Eid break, but this year bookings are noticeably lower.”
She added that recent school schedules and high ticket prices are also shaping travel behaviour.
“With schools having had a period of distance learning, we are not seeing a strong rush of families travelling to India for that reason. Many residents had already travelled during that time and have likely just returned after schools reopened.”
“Another factor is flight availability, with fewer services operating and some uncertainty among travellers about airline options,” she said.
Shift toward cooler destinations and shorter trips
Industry data suggests that while overall travel intent remains steady, preferences are evolving. Rashida Zahid, VP – Operations at musafir.com, said residents are becoming more selective rather than cancelling plans altogether.
“What we are seeing is less of a drop in overall travel intent and more of a shift in destination preference. The ongoing heatwave in India has not led to a significant wave of cancellations from UAE-based Indian travellers, but it is influencing travel behaviour.
“Many residents have already used the extended spring break to visit their home countries and are now showing a stronger preference for international leisure travel rather than repeat or extended India visits.”
Zahid also noted that travellers who still choose India are adjusting their itineraries to better manage the weather.
“A portion of India-bound travel is shifting toward hill stations and cooler regions, while many are also shortening stays in hotter metro cities or avoiding peak daytime travel altogether.”
