Eid flight searches surge 51% among UAE travellers

Ahead of Eid Al Adha, outbound travel searches among UAE travellers rose 51% on 26 May 2026 compared with the previous week, according to Skyscanner.

 

Following recent regional airspace disruptions, travellers are increasingly turning to search tools to plan more detailed itineraries and peak travel periods. Layover filters on platforms such as Skyscanner are also being used to compare route options more easily, helping assess factors including transit times or different carriers when planning trips.

 

Travellers are also increasingly comparing routes and booking earlier to secure better fares during peak travel periods.

 

Ayoub El Mamoun, Travel Expert at Skyscanner, said: “We’re seeing UAE travellers become far more intentional in how they plan around Eid and upcoming summer travel periods.

 

“There’s also growing flexibility in how people approach travel planning, whether that’s considering different travel dates, alternative routes or combining shorter regional breaks with longer international holidays.”

 

RELATED:

UAE confirms 4-day Eid Al Adha holiday

Top 5 Eid Al Adha destinations for UAE travellers

Download Connecting Travel’s 2026 Insight Report today

 

Multigenerational travel is also rising, with 41% of UAE travellers taking trips involving children, parents and grandparents. The trend spans multiple age groups, with 31% of Millennials travelling with both children and parents, alongside a similar share of Gen Z travellers holidaying with parents and grandparents.

 

Spending quality time together remains a key driver for family travel, cited by 62% of UAE travellers. Families are also increasingly planning holidays around school breaks to maximise time off.

 

For 2026, the top five trending Eid destinations from the UAE are India, Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey and Sri Lanka, driven by visiting friends and relatives, proximity, cultural familiarity and affordability.

 

The UAE will see a four-day holiday for Eid Al Adha this year, while the public sector and schools will be off for the full working week, resulting in up to nine days off in total. Regional destinations such as Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea have also added additional capacity for the Eid travel period, with 32 extra flights scheduled. 

 

For more information, visit skyscanner.com