Return airfares to various destinations from the UAE are witnessing an average of 15 to 20 per cent drop in prices, depending on the destination, compared to the peak travel season in December 2022.
Airline executives and travel agents are saying air ticket prices have dropped by 10-15 per cent across the board, and the most significant drop in fares of 20 per cent is seen in the UAE-sub-continent sector.
According to travel agents, January 15 to March 15 is off-peak travel time for UAE expatriates. However, inbound fares are higher than outbound fares as this is the peak tourist season for the country.
Moreover, UAE Etihad Airways and Emirates, and budget carriers flydubai and Air Arabia, have launched attractive deals on airfares for travellers wishing to indulge in a quick getaway post the winter break. The Etihad sale, for example, will run until January 20, 2023, and tickets can be booked for travel between January 18 and June 15, 2023. Airfares to London (Dh,2695), Istanbul (Dh,1695), and Cairo (Dh1,295) make an attractive proposition for travellers.
André Martins, Partner and the Head of the Transportation, Services and Operations Practices for Oliver Wyman in India, the Middle East and Africa, said the tourism sector in the country is robust, and the event and MICE sectors are performing very well.