Long weekend, likely the last of this year, is just days away. Residents of UAE are busy planning a small getaway from the hassle. Employees of all sectors will get Friday, September 29, off to mark Prophet Muhammad’s (Peace be upon him) birthday. When combined with the Saturday-Sunday weekend, this becomes a three-day weekend as it comes just with Saturday-Sunday weekend.
Government workers in Sharjah will get a four-day weekend as they have Thursday, September 28, as their official holiday.
New Destination for Long Weekend
Residents of UAE have flocked to a new holiday destination. “Uzbekistan” has become a popular travel destination as UAE residents don’t need a visa to travel there. Mika Uhrincova, PR manager at Holiday Factory said,
“We have noted an unprecedented increase in demand for travel packages to Uzbekistan. The most pertinent factors being the country’s picturesque landscapes. The new visa-free policy has resonated particularly well with UAE residents. With its unique attractions, Uzbekistan is ideal destination for short getaways and rejuvenating weekends.”
Most Popular Destinations
Ayoub El Mamoun, a travel specialist at Skyscanner, reports that Saudi Arabia, the UK, and India are the top travel destinations for UAE residents this long weekend. Other nations include Turkey, Pakistan, and Egypt.
He continued, citing searches from the UAE made between July 1 and September 21 for travels between September 29 and October 1, saying the most sought-after places are London, Mumbai, Cairo, Manila, and Jeddah.
Best Travel Deals
Travel firms and airlines in the United Arab Emirates have plans for residents’ long weekends, but they advise people to make a decision quickly since packages are selling out. Therefore, the closer the date gets, the more costly travel will be.
FlyDubai, a Dubai-based airline, has released holiday return ticket specials at beginning prices of just AED725. The airline said that locals may take advantage of the discounts by making reservations by September 27.
The starting price for a return ticket to Salalah is AED725; additional destinations include Alexandria (AED 1,095), Istanbul (AED 1,230), Tbilisi (AED 1,545), Baku (AED 1,575), Pattaya (AED 1,665) and Sarajevo (AED 2,265).
