UAE-bound airfares surge over Dh2,000 ahead of India vs Pakistan cricket match

Dubai: Airfares to the UAE from India, parts of Pakistan, London, GCC nations, and other global cities have hit record highs this weekend. Return economy airfares, typically ranging from Dh900 to Dh1,200 during the off-season, have surged to Dh1,600–Dh2,021, travel agents have said. Travel experts say the primary reason for the price surge could be the boost in inbound traffic for the ICC Champions Trophy India vs Pakistan cricket match – one of the most hyped rivalries in sport - on Sunday, February 23.

As the match falls on a Sunday, it encourages travellers to fly in for the weekend, further straining seat availability.

After a long winter of high fares, ticket rates on the hyper-busy India-UAE routes were seeing significant drops to around or under Dh1,000 for Economy during January and early February. Return Economy fares from Lahore, Pakistan, to Dubai, which usually hovers in the Dh920 to Dh1,000 range, have shot up to Dh1,677 this weekend.

"Airfares on key routes have already surged past Dh2,000, with prices jumping by nearly 50 per cent in some cases. During the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, hotel searches in Ahmedabad skyrocketed by 1,550 per cent, and we’re expecting a similar spike for Dubai as fans want to secure flights and accommodations," explained Rikant Pittie, CEO and Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip.

The UAE regularly hosts large-scale exhibitions, conferences, and trade fairs that attract international visitors, leading to increased air traffic.

"February has been a busy travel month, with winter break tourists, business travellers, and event attendees driving up demand. This past week, Dubai hosted major events like Gulfood and the Dubai International Boat Show, keeping inbound fares high due to increased MICE traffic. However, this weekend, fares surged by at least 25-30 per cent, particularly on India-UAE and Pakistan-UAE routes. We believe it is largely due to the highly anticipated cricket match," said Justin Sunny of Europe Travels.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) reported that tickets sold out within minutes, and the match will take place at the Dubai International Stadium. The venue has a seating capacity of 25,000 spectators but is expandable to accommodate 30,000 spectators.

A majority of the demand comes from the luxury, high-net-worth individual category of travellers, according to Afi Ahmed, Chairman of Smart Travels.

Ahmed said, “High-profile business executives, celebrities, and VIPs may be booking premium-class tickets, increasing overall demand. With the cricket match drawing high-net-worth individuals, chartered flights and private jets may also be in demand, indirectly affecting commercial flight pricing,” he explained.

“However, while the prices for Economy seats are still slightly higher than February-base rates, it is not that seats are unavailable. Even those willing to take a last-minute flight into Dubai can avail themselves of tickets,” Ahmed said.

From Lahore to Dubai, return Economy flight tickets are currently Dh1,677 compared to the lows of Dh920 reported a few weeks ago. Inbound tickets from Saudi Arabia have also peaked. Budget carrier flynas tickets are going for Dh2,917 for travel between (February 23 and 25) compared to the lows of Dh500 reported early in February. Bahrain to Dubai flights average Dh1,009 (flydubai), which is typical for this route. Doha to Dubai flights have also climbed up to Dh1,412 compared to the lows of Dh1,000, and Kuwait City to Dubai prices are also averaging at Dh765 to Dh1,025 compared to the lows of Dh480.

London Heathrow to Dubai flights are pried at Dh8,940 (British Airways), making a last-minute trip to the UAE to watch the games rather expensive.

Regarding whether Abu Dhabi-bound flights are cheaper, travel experts said the prices are ‘just a little bit cheaper’. For example, London to Abu Dhabi flights on Etihad Airways are priced at Dh7,245. Delhi to Abu Dhabi flights on IndiGo is Dh2,749, and Lahore to Abu Dhabi flights are experiencing highs of Dh3,242 (Etihad), while Karachi – Abu Dhabi tickets are going for Dh3,036 (Etihad).