Travel cheap: UAE airlines launch mega offers ahead of Eid Al Adha break

Dubai: Airlines in the UAE are coming up with mega offers and unbelievable deals to draw in customers for the upcoming Eid Al Adha break. From Emirates to Etihad and budget carriers like Wizz Air Abu Dhabi to Air Arabia, most UAE carriers offer air tickets at unbelievable prices. For example, a one-way flight to Iran, Jordan, and Lebanon are priced at Dh199. Meanwhile, one-way flights to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, India, Iraq, Kazakhstan and Qatar can be availed at Dh299.

According to travel agents, the move by airlines is seen as a strategy to capture a larger share of the travel market during the anticipated surge in demand over the Eid Al Adha break. With many residents expected to travel, airlines compete to provide the most attractive options.

For example, Dubai’s flagship airline, Emirates, has rolled out an interesting ‘fly now, pay down the line’ offer. Emirates is offering selected UAE bank credit card holders the chance to pay for their ticket with zero profit credit over three monthly instalments.

According to Sapna Aidasani, Marketing Director at Pluto Travels, the travel industry (travel agencies and airlines) is observing a significant trend in customers taking advantage of instalment payment options for travel packages.

Sapna said, “There are so many offers available, with travel agents providing packages where even a Dh2,500 package can be converted into five instalments. Offers like this make travel more attractive for a wider range of people.” She highlighted specific examples of deals, including Wizz Air flights to Almaty with prices ranging from Dh500 to Dh1,000. For a group booking of ten, they secured tickets for Dh750 each.

Sharjah’s Air Arabia offers super-affordable deals to India, Armenia, Egypt, Oman, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and more. The airline has advised travellers to book their tickets by June 2 and fly from the UAE with fares starting from Dh129 one way. The travel period is from June 1 to September 30, and the offer is valid for seven more days. The top deals are Oman for Dh129, Bahrain for Dh149, Kuwait for Dh149, and Saudi Arabia for Dh 149.

Dubai carrier flydubai is offering return fares from Dh965, the airline said. Some of the most affordable fares are to Alexandria (Dh1,295), Antalya (Dh1,615), Belgrade (Dh1,555), Yerevan (Dh1,095), Samarkand (Dh1,075), and Bucharest (Dh1,465).

Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has launched a special summer travel promotion offering passengers a “Buy One, Get One Free” deal on selected domestic and regional round-trip flights in Guest Class (Saver). The limited-time offer is available for bookings between May 25 and May 28, 2025, and travel between July 1 and August 31, 2025.

Travellers can activate the promotion using the code BUY1Get1, which applies to flights originating from within Saudi Arabia, as well as Dubai and Abu Dhabi (UAE), Doha (Qatar), Salalah (Oman), Al Manama (Bahrain), Kuwait City, and Amman (Jordan).

Aidasani also pointed out that the UAE travel sector sees a high volume of transit passengers, with approximately 35 per cent travelling onwards to destinations like JFK in New York and Milan. She said that the Middle East has become a key travel hub.

“We are seeing very good demand right now. People are travelling more, and customers have many options,” she said. “Even within our team, members are travelling at least two to three times per year. India has become so accessible it’s almost a weekend trip for many,” she added.

Looking at evolving travel preferences, Aidasani mentioned that after years of cost-effective holidays, customers are now seeking different experiences.