Dubai: UAE residents who are planning to travel during the Eid holidays have been advised to go to the airport earlier than usual, as thousands of holidaymakers are expected to crowd the passenger terminals starting this weekend.
Eid Al Adha is one of the busiest travel times of the year. This year is busier than usual, especially since the private sector employees are getting longer days off, which make it possible for travelers to visit longer haul destinations.
Digvijay Pratap, co-founder and managing director of Holiday Middle East, said it is ideal for passengers to arrive at the airport three hours, or even four hours, prior to scheduled departure.
."This year, Eid Al Adha starts at the beginning of the week. [If you add] the weekend prior, [plus the fact that] the Knowledge and Human Development Authority announced the full week off, the travel dates are essentially from Friday to next Friday or Saturday, allowing for longer haul destinations," Pratap told Gulf News.
"Plus, the season fo September makes the weather very pleasant in a lot of destinations (not cold, not hot) and most importantly, it's away from peak seasons in different destinations and so the prices are very affordable for the land arrangements.
More than 250,000 passengers are forecast to pass through the Dubai airport over the next few days, as expatriates and UAE nationals head abroad to spend Eid holidays.
From Thursday to Saturday, more than 160,000 travelers are expected to pass through terminal three of Emirates Airlines. On Friday alone, approximately 90,000 flyers will travel with Emirates.
The UAE-based carrier is urging passengers to be at the terminal at least three hours before the scheduled departure. Travelers can check in online ahead of time, about 48 hours before the departure. The airline said their check-in counters in Dubai will be available six hours prior to departure.
