With UAE residents potentially enjoying a five-day break in December, travel experts say demand is surging for island getaways and short-haul holiday destinations.
UAE residents planning to travel to popular holiday destinations during the five-day National Day break may want to book their flights early, as airfares could nearly double amid strong travel demand and elevated oil prices.
Travel industry executives say many early planners have already secured their bookings, taking advantage of more affordable flight and hotel rates before prices climb further. Airfares have been trending higher over the past six months, partly due to elevated oil prices.
Some UAE employees could enjoy a five-day break from Wednesday, December 2, to Sunday, December 6, 2026, as the country celebrates its 55th National Day.
With UAE residents potentially enjoying a five-day break in December, travel experts say demand is surging for island getaways and short-haul holiday destinations.
UAE residents planning to travel to popular holiday destinations during the five-day National Day break may want to book their flights early, as airfares could nearly double amid strong travel demand and elevated oil prices.
Travel industry executives say many early planners have already secured their bookings, taking advantage of more affordable flight and hotel rates before prices climb further. Airfares have been trending higher over the past six months, partly due to elevated oil prices.
Some UAE employees could enjoy a five-day break from Wednesday, December 2, to Sunday, December 6, 2026, as the country celebrates its 55th National Day.
Rashida Zahid, vice-president of operations at musafir.com, said airfares to destinations popular among travellers visiting friends and relatives (VFR) could increase by 25 to 35 per cent, while ticket prices to high-demand leisure destinations could potentially double.
“With residents potentially enjoying an extended five-day break, we anticipate a significant rise in travel demand during the UAE National Day holidays,” Zahid said.
She added that the extent of the increase would vary depending on the destination, available airline capacity and how far in advance passengers make their bookings.
According to Zahid, fares on these routes could climb by a further 12 to 25 per cent during the National Day holiday period, depending on seat availability and the timing of bookings. Travellers are therefore being encouraged to book early to avoid steeper increases closer to their departure dates.
Regional situation and higher fuel prices
Jet fuel prices have approximately doubled since the Middle East conflict began on February 28, 2026, following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Zahid said the broader regional situation has also changed booking behaviour, with more UAE residents now waiting until closer to their travel dates before confirming trips. Long-haul holidays and journeys requiring visas, however, continue to be planned further in advance.
“The strongest signal is that demand is returning for the fourth quarter,” she said.
Zahid expects bookings to increase steadily over the coming months, supported by travel during the school holidays, Diwali, the UAE National Day break and the Christmas and New Year period.
Despite ongoing regional uncertainty and elevated oil prices, airfares are unlikely to be cheaper than they were during last year’s UAE National Day holiday.
“We expect airfares during the UAE National Day holidays to remain broadly in line with last year or potentially increase, driven by higher fuel costs and continued capacity constraints on certain routes,” a musafir.com official said.
The return of several European airlines to the region is a positive development, with additional flight capacity potentially helping to stabilise ticket prices. However, travellers are being advised not to rely on last-minute deals, particularly as demand is expected to rise sharply closer to the holiday period.
Maldives, Thailand and Switzerland lead demand
Meerah Ketait, head of retail and leisure UAE at dnata Travel, said the UAE continues to be predominantly a last-minute travel market, with most bookings typically made between three and 18 days before departure.
Current booking trends show the Maldives as the most popular international destination, followed by Thailand, Switzerland and South Africa.
“As National Day is anticipated to be a relatively short break, UAE-based travellers are prioritising destinations that are easy to reach yet offer a distinctly different experience,” Ketait said.
The Maldives continues to be a popular choice among UAE travellers, helped by its roughly four-hour flight time, visa-free entry and favourable dry-season weather in early December.
Thailand is also drawing strong interest from travellers looking for value and variety, with visitors able to combine beach holidays, city breaks and wellness experiences in a single trip. Switzerland, meanwhile, is appealing to residents seeking a winter escape, with ski resorts and festive markets offering a distinctly different experience from the UAE.
An Emirates Holidays spokesperson said island getaways are dominating demand this National Day break. The Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles together account for half of all Emirates Holidays bookings for the holiday period, with travellers staying for an average of five nights. Couples represent around half of all island holiday bookings.
Thailand remains another firm favourite, with travellers booking an average stay of six nights. Helsinki is also emerging as a new option, ahead of the launch of Emirates flights to the Finnish capital on October 1.
Ketait said travellers are also showing growing interest in newer destinations, including New Zealand, Portugal and Tunisia.
South Africa has recorded the strongest growth, with sales rising 58 per cent year-on-year, while domestic UAE bookings have increased 23 per cent.
Staycation sales up 23%
An Emirates Holidays spokesperson said half of all bookings for the National Day break were made as early as summer, as travellers moved early to secure their preferred hotels and travel dates.
Families now account for 48 per cent of bookings, an increase from previous years, with many travellers combining the public holidays with a few days of annual leave to extend their trips while preserving some leave for the festive season.
Couples represent 45 per cent of bookings, while solo travel is also gaining popularity, according to the spokesperson.
Ketait said hotel sales for National Day departure dates have risen 23 per cent compared with the same period last year, reflecting strong demand for both domestic and international travel.
“Demand for the highly anticipated UAE National Day break is strong among UAE travellers this year,” she said, adding that the trend reflects continued appetite for outbound travel following similarly strong demand during the summer.
