Travel companies report a growing trend towards last-minute bookings, with residents increasingly reserving trips just 7 to 10 days before departure. Domestic escapes and short-haul destinations are also gaining popularity.
UAE residents are increasingly opting for shorter, more spontaneous getaways during the National Day and winter holidays, with travel companies reporting a rise in last-minute bookings. Many families are now arranging trips barely a week before departure, seeking convenient ways to take a break without committing to lengthy overseas holidays.
Domestic staycations and regional GCC packages are increasingly being finalised just 7 to 10 days before departure, compared with booking windows of three to four weeks in the past, according to travel industry executives.
From two-night beach breaks in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah to five-day holidays in Georgia, Azerbaijan and other short-haul destinations, travellers are adjusting the duration and location of their trips while remaining keen to get away.
The shift comes amid geopolitical uncertainty, which has made some residents more cautious about travelling abroad.
However, industry executives say this has not led to widespread cancellations. Instead, many travellers are opting for destinations with convenient flight connections, simpler entry requirements and better-value accommodation within the UAE.
UAE staycations become a frequent holiday choice
Adil Tanrıverdi, CEO of Tripventura, said spontaneous bookings and shorter breaks were becoming increasingly common.
He said the trend was particularly noticeable among residents seeking to make the most of weekends, public holidays and school breaks without committing to longer trips.
“The trend towards micro-holidays and spontaneous bookings is more prominent than ever. Currently, around 45 per cent of our domestic staycation and regional GCC packages are finalised within just 7 to 10 days of travel, whereas previously the booking window was closer to three to four weeks.”
For domestic getaways, two to three nights appear to be the preferred duration, particularly at beach and desert resorts in Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Abu Dhabi. Those choosing short-haul regional trips are opting for four to five-day itineraries to destinations such as Musandam and Salalah in Oman, Baku and Tbilisi.
Tanrıverdi said shorter breaks were allowing residents to travel more frequently without the fatigue associated with longer holidays.
“We have recorded a 30 to 35 per cent surge in domestic staycation bookings compared to the same period last year,” he said.
Rather than giving up overseas travel, residents are increasingly combining local getaways with planned international holidays, he added. The UAE’s hospitality offerings, particularly as the winter season approaches, are making this hybrid approach more appealing to families.
“Instead of feeling restricted, families are choosing a ‘hybrid’ routine: pairing frequent weekend getaways across Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi, and Fujairah with their planned seasonal overseas trips.”
Reena M Philip, Director and General Manager of Aurora Travel and Tourism in Dubai, said her company was also receiving enquiries for local stays, with residents looking to benefit from competitive hotel rates.
Philip said residents of Dubai and Sharjah, in particular, were showing interest in well-rated hotels within the UAE.
“At the same time, we are receiving a considerable number of enquiries about local staycations, particularly at good hotels in Dubai. With hotel occupancy levels, in my view, not quite at their optimal levels this year, rates are slightly lower than in previous years.”
She said the more competitive rates were encouraging residents to consider a local break instead of travelling overseas.
“We are seeing strong interest from residents in Dubai and Sharjah who are keen to take advantage of these more attractive hotel rates and enjoy a local getaway.”
Georgia, Almaty and Oman among short-haul alternatives
For residents still keen to travel internationally, shorter holidays to destinations with relatively straightforward visa processes and convenient flight connections are gaining popularity.
“We are seeing some customers opt for short five-day holidays to destinations such as Georgia and Almaty (in Kazakhstan), Vietnam, as visas can be obtained faster. Those who already hold Schengen visas are also travelling to Europe.”
However, she said geopolitical developments remained a consideration for many UAE residents when deciding whether to travel abroad.
“Many people remain hesitant to travel abroad, with the geopolitical situation sometimes becoming a cause for concern. This has influenced holiday-planning decisions among UAE residents this year.”
Tanrıverdi said the uncertainty had prompted travellers to reconsider their routes and destinations rather than abandon their holiday plans altogether. Cancellations across Tripventura’s portfolio remained “below 5 per cent”, he said.
“UAE travellers are resilient, experienced, and practical — instead of dropping their travel plans, they are proactively re-routing them.”
He said the company had recorded a temporary decline of around 15 to 20 per cent in leisure enquiries for certain transit-heavy routes and parts of the Eastern Mediterranean. At the same time, demand was shifting towards destinations offering direct flights and simpler entry requirements.
“We are seeing a 25 per cent jump in outbound demand for stable, short-to-medium-haul alternatives such as Oman, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye, and Central European cities.”
He reiterated that the appetite for travel remained strong, with holidaymakers simply becoming more selective about choosing the most convenient routes.
Meanwhile, Shilpa Mahtani, Co-founder and Managing Director of bnbme holiday homes, had earlier said: “Rates are currently slightly lower than this time last year, encouraging travellers to book early and secure better deals.”
