National Day long weekend: Top travel destination from UAE

UAE residents will most likely enjoy a four-day weekend in less than two weeks. Given that it is festive season, residents could add their leave to make it a nice break from work. What we do know for sure is that residents are planning short trips abroad. Mickey Bhatia, Founder and CEO of Elevate Trips, said that residents planning to travel should book tickets as soon as possible as demand is very high from December 1 to 3.

Bhatia added that Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan are trending on people’s travel choices for the long weekend. Afi Ahmed from Smart Travel added that residents are loving Georgia and Azerbaijan for their perfect National Day weekend abroad. Here we give you the top places you can travel to under five hours for the long weekend, based on these travel trends, and most of these destinations are visa-free or visa-on-arrival for UAE residents.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Many people are travelling to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia for the Soundstorm Festival which falls on the same dates as the UAE National Day weekend, December 1 – Dec 3. GCC residents can apply for a tourist visa online through Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ (MOFA) online visa platform - visa.mofa.gov.sa.

Al Ula, Saudi Arabia: Another destination you can head to in Saudi Arabia for a different experience is Al Ula . With direct flights from Dubai twice a week, you can enjoy a serene break amid art and history here. You don’t have to miss your FIFA games either as the venue has fan zones. Enjoy the cool weather and incredible views while on your break from the city life.

London, United Kingdom: Bhatia added that among European destinations London had high travel demand for the upcoming long weekend. You will need to apply for a visa unless you fall in an exempted category.

Tashkent, Uzbekistan: This destination has stunning Islamic architecture and some beautiful historical sites. Tashkent city is a fantastic base from which to explore the rest of Uzbekistan. Explore the Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Khiva and Bhukara. It’s very easy to take buses or trains from Tashkent to other interesting destinations around the country. You’ll need to apply for a tourist visa.

Istanbul, Turkey: It is the perfect amalgamation of East and West and the country has opened up to travellers. Enjoy Istanbul – the world's only megacity straddling two continents, or head to one of the other cities for unique experiences like a hot-air balloon ride in Cappadocia, or choose a trip to the snowy white calcium deposits in Pamukkale. You’ll need to apply for a visa.

Tbilisi, Georgia: Tblisi is a popular weekend destination from the UAE owing to low costs of travel and a complete change of scenery. Scale the Caucasian mountains, visit the Black-Sea coast or explore the alleys all over the city. There is also plenty of affordable and delicious local food to be sampled. UAE residents enjoy visa-on-arrival in Georgia.

Baku, Azerbaijan: This destination is the right blend of city life and history. Baku looks remarkably similar to Dubai with its beachfront sprawling mansions. But that’s also where the similarity ends. The historical city is the perfect marriage of old culture and modern architecture, making it an absolute delight to stroll through its alleyways. UAE residents enjoy visa-on-arrival, and so do Indian passport-holders.

Maldives: One of those nations have offer visa-free travel to almost all nationalities, Maldives is a nice destination for a short trip. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi has discounted flights to the destination, while intercity buses can take Dubai-based travelers to the airport in Abu Dhabi.