Dubai: Looking to travel abroad before summer is over? UAE residents are likely to enjoy another long weekend and this time it will be during two public holidays.
This year’s Arafat day falls on a Thursday (August 31), while Eid Al Adha is expected to begin the next day on Friday, September 1 and is likely to include Sunday, September 3, giving UAE residents four straight days off.
The good news is that those who are looking to take advantage of the holidays can score some great bargains, provided they don’t wait until the last minute to book their flights.
The country’s homegrown carriers, Emirates and Etihad, have promotional offers that give holidaymakers a chance to secure return economy flights for just under Dh1,500. Any tickets booked prior to the deadline can be used for travel this month until December this year.
At Emirates airline, travellers have 12 days to buy tickets at knockout prices. A return trip from Dubai to Mumbai can be had for Dh910, while those who want to explore other popular destinations like Egypt, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Austria can secure fares for less than Dh2,100.
Dubai to Cairo tickets are priced at Dh1,290, while flights to Colombo start from Dh1,310. Vienna-bound travelers don’t need to spend more than Dh2,450 if they choose to fly with Emirates during Eid.
US-bound flyers can score tickets for as low as Dh4,950 if they want to travel to Los Angeles or spend Dh5,450 for return trips from Dubai to Orlando.
At Etihad Airways, economy return tickets from Abu Dhabi to Beirut are being offered for Dh1,270. Flights to Mumbai from the capital can be booked for Dh1,774, while Bangkok-bound flyers need only pay Dh3,190.
The airline also offers relatively cheaper flight prices for trips to Sri Lanka, Jordan, United Kingdom, Philippines, United States and Turkey. The offer is valid until the end of the year and purchased tickets can be used for travel until December 31, 2017.
Emirates’ top picks from Dubai:
Mumbai: Dh910
Cairo: Dh1,290
Colombo: Dh1,310
Bangkok: Dh2,090
Casablanca: Dh2,420
Vienna: Dh2,450
Los Angeles: Dh4,950
Orlando: Dh5,450
Etihad’s top picks from Abu Dhabi:
Beirut: Dh1,270
Mumbai: Dh1,774
Bangkok: Dh3,190
Manila: Dh3,350
London: Dh4,460
New York: Dh5,980
Amman: Dh1,630
Athens: Dh3,260
Begrade: Dh2,270
