A large number of UAE residents are expected to travel during Eid Al Fitr, so air fares from the UAE to India, Pakistan, the GCC and other Middle Eastern countries might rise by up to 150 percent.
Consequently, travel agents recommend that people book seats as early as possible, especially for larger families who can end up paying a lot.
Avinash Adnani, Managing Director at Pluto Travels, said the upward trend in airfares on Indian Subcontinent and Gulf routes remains the same as it always has been since these are Muslim countries.
Travelers from the UAE have difficulty getting a seat a week before Eid Al Fitr. On the Indian subcontinent routes, Kerala, Lucknow, Delhi, Dhaka, Colombo, Karachi, Lahore and Mumbai see the biggest increases," he said.
Current airfares to Mumbai, Delhi, Karachi, and Islamabad
Dh400-500 one-way
Dh1,000-1,200 Return
Fares to Mumbai, Delhi, Karachi, and Islamabad for Eid Al Fitr
Dh1,000-1,200 one-way
Dh2,500-3,000 Return
According to Adnani, airfares to almost all Muslim countries rise during Eid festivals as many UAE residents travel home to celebrate the festival.
According to Ibrahim Al Jarwan, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Astronomical Society, Ramadan will begin on Thursday, March 23. As the holy month lasts for 29 days, the first day of Eid Al Fitr is likely to fall on Friday, April 21.
From Ramadan 29 to Shawwal 3 (Hijri Islamic calendar months), the UAE celebrates Eid Al Fitr. If the astronomical calculations are correct, the break is from Thursday, April 20, to Sunday, April 23.
During the Eid Al Fitr holidays, some residents travel to popular destinations that are 7-8 hours away by air.
TP Sudheesh, general manager of Deira Tours and Travels, says that since the UAE is home to 180 different nationalities, festivals like Eid Al Fitr are a highly sought after holiday season for many places.
The UAE also attracts a good number of residents during Eid breaks to destinations such as Singapore, Bangkok and Malaysia in addition to the Indian subcontinent and Middle Eastern cities.
Avinash Adnani said a few UAE residents go for a short vacation as well during Eid Al Fitr.
The cost of flying to London also rises to some extent because it's a popular destination for UAE residents, unlike the US, which is too far for a quick getaway," he said.