Tag Archives: Skyscanner

72% of UAE travellers would attend concerts in a different country according to the latest research from Skyscanner. 38% of UAE travellers would fly short haul to see their favourite artist live. As the year begins, the travel trends are changing immensely. The terminology used is ‘Gig tripping’ which is one of the new travel vibes revealed. Catching their favourite artist abroad is the way forward in 2024. If international artists will not be playing in Dubai, the UAE travellers will opt to travel to whichever country the artist will perform. With some superstars announcing big international tours, there is more interest now in travelling abroad to catch a show.

Skyscanner data reveals the driving forces behind UAE travellers’ choices in 2023 with Manila claiming its spot as the most popular destination in 2023. Cairo was the second most popular destination for UAE travellers this year. Renowned for the Giza Pyramids, including the Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the Sphinx, the city seamlessly blends ancient wonders with a vibrant modern atmosphere. The Capital city of Philippines, Manila, offers a blend of rich history, cultural attractions, and modern amenities. From its historical landmarks like the walled city of Intramuros, to it delicious street food options and lively nightlife and shopping scenes, UAE travellers cherished exploring the vibrant city that never rests. This year, more and more UAE travellers opted for alternative, budget-friendly destinations that still deliver on culture and cuisine. According to Skyscanner’s data, the capital city of Türkiye, Ankara, was one of the cheapest flight destinations with return flights costing just AED 491 on average in 2023. Showcasing historical and cultural treasures with panoramic views of the city, Ankara is renowned for its bustling markets, scrumptious Turkish cuisine, and nightlife. As revealed in the infographic, Skyscanner has also identified the cheapest destination to book per month for UAE travellers throughout 2023***, as well as the cheapest three-star hotel stay and city to hire a car in 2023:**** • After analysing prices across thousands of destinations globally, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India is revealed as the cheapest city for a three-star hotel stay, for those travelling from the UAE, costing approximately AED 92. • Bucharest comes out on top as the city with the cheapest car hire offering, with UAE travellers paying only AED 69 …

According to Skyscanner’s latest research in association with OnePoll, UAE residents embrace spontaneity in travel.  A whopping 80% of UAE respondents claim to be more spontaneous now than they were pre-pandemic. The whirlwind of recent events has clearly stirred up an irresistible desire for the unexpected, the unplanned, and the delightful surprises that only a spontaneous journey can deliver. In a world reshaped by a hunger for adventure, spontaneous holidays are becoming the new norm. Almost half (42%) of UAE travellers have arrived at the airport without a destination in mind and booked then and there, whilst a staggering 60% have booked a holiday less than a mere four days before departure. And if you’re stumped on an upcoming gift idea for your loved one or friend, a resounding 63% of UAE travellers said they would feel happy, followed by grateful (23%), if a loved one surprised them with a spontaneous holiday. Whilst most travellers would choose their spouse/partner for a spontaneous getaway, the study revealed that women are also leading this charge and emerging as twice as likely as their male counterparts to embark on a spontaneous solo escapade. It’s a symphony of last-minute getaways, unexpected joy, and fearless explorations that now compose the enchanting melody of travel in the modern age. Commenting on the findings, Skyscanner’s Travel Expert Ayoub El Mamoun says: “Embracing spontaneity isn’t just about shaking up our routines, it’s about the sheer joy of discovering new horizons or reuniting with family and friends at a moment’s notice that sends ripples of excitement and creates memories that last forever. As the world embarks on a renewed era of global travel, countless new flight routes connect us …

Skyscanner new research study reveals that 79% of UAE travellers are likely to hire a car during their next holiday.* The freedom to travel on your own terms combined with an increasing desire to explore off the beaten path destinations as 98% of UAE travellers are open to travelling to alternative or lesser-known destinations, where public transportation might be limited, has put road trips firmly back in the spotlight for 2023/2024 travel.**  With 84% of road trippers citing sustainability as an important factor when hiring a car, the interest in hybrid and electric cars is high. Almost half (41%) of UAE travellers surveyed have hired an electric or hybrid car during a recent holiday, whilst another 50% would consider it. Ayoub El Mamoun, Skyscanner Travel Expert said: “Our latest research shows that despite price being a key consideration for UAE travellers when hiring a car, only a third compare prices from different providers where significant savings can be made. Skyscanner is here to help, searching billions of prices every day from over 1200 providers in one place so that travellers can easily find and compare the best flight, car hire and hotel options to suit their travel needs and budget. “As well as saving on fuel, choosing an electric vehicle (EV) means you’ll also be exempt from low-emission zone charges in some cities, and enjoy free parking, provided they’re plugged in to a charging point. So whether you’re looking to reduce your traveller footprint or just looking for ways to save on your car hire, it’s easy to find cheap EV rentals with Skyscanner. Simply select, and tick Electric & Hybrid options under the ‘Low- Emissions Vehicle’ filter on the …

According to Skyscanner’s latest research, 87% of UAE travellers are planning to get away this anticipated Eid Al Adha holiday. Top 10 Searched Countries from the UAE for Eid Al Adha: UK, Philippines, India, Everywhere – According to Skyscanner’s latest survey, 55% of UAE travellers would like to travel somewhere they have never been before this Eid. (Everywhere search indicates that travellers don’t yet know where to go and are looking for inspiration and/or are being price conscious; this is a Skyscanner filter that orders destinations by cheapest price), Thailand, Italy, Turkey, USA, Indonesia and Maldives. Top 10 Searches (Cities) London, Manila, Bangkok, Colombo, Denpasar (Bali), Male, Istanbul, Rome, Tokyo and Singapore. Ayoub El Mamoun, Skyscanner Travel Expert said:  “In our latest polling, 65% of UAE travellers shared that price is very important factor in determining whether they would go on holiday during Eid al Adha. The good news is that even during busy periods like Eid or summer, which would normally be more expensive times to travel, prices are not rising on all routes, nor at the same rate, which means there are still competitive deals for travellers who remain flexible, are open to discovering new destinations and most importantly, know how to shop around and compare fares using sites like Skyscanner. As we approach Eid Al Adha, most travellers from the UAE are planning to travel with family (74%) and groups of friends (19%) during the public holiday, whilst the three most popular types of trips this Eid are visiting family and friends abroad, outdoor adventure, and relaxing beach getaways.”  

Global travel marketplace Skyscanner highlights the top searched destinations from the UAE during the week of half term holidays. According to the latest update, searches are up +185% compared to the previous year and booking windows for flights in February also see an increase compared to 2022, suggesting a return to pre-pandemic booking windows as consumer confidence continues to grow and travellers book flights earlier. Travel searches within the GCC – top 3: Saudi Arabia (+494% increase compared to previous year) Qatar (+626% increase compared to previous year) Oman (+231% increase compared to previous year)   International travel searches – top 10 India (+292% increase compared to previous year) Pakistan (+246% increase compared to previous year) United Kingdom (+178% increase compared to previous year) Egypt (+238% increase compared to previous year) Thailand (+522% increase compared to previous year) Philippines (-16% decrease compared to previous year) Maldives (+569% increase compared to previous year) Italy (+103% increase compared to previous year) Germany (+143% increase compared to previous year) United States (+162% increase compared to previous year) Flight bookings made more than 30 days before departure in February 2023 are up 7% compared to 2022, whilst flight bookings made less than 30 days before departure are down 6% from the previous year.

With February being the peak time for travel planning, world leading travel site Skyscanner responds to heightened travel demand* and increasingly cost-conscious travelers**, with guidance on how to make their money go further. Comparing two key – and often shared – travel hacks: when to book & when to travel, Skyscanner is able to reveal how booking and travelling at the right time can save UAE travelers on average 349 AED for optimum booking timing and 311 AED for travelling on the cheapest day per person. Currently, the overall best time to book flights from the UAE is on average 21 weeks before departure and the cheapest day of the week to travel from the UAE is a Friday. However, the global travel site has data crunched millions of flight bookings over the last year across its most popular destinations and the results reveal this doesn’t in fact tell the whole story. Not only do these hacks change depending on the destination but also, travelers will find differing results for the same destination but a different month i.e.: From Dubai, the cheapest day of the week to travel to Doha in December is a Tuesday vs Sharjah which is a Wednesday The best time to book a flight from Dubai to London in July is 27 weeks ahead vs Abu Dhabi to London which is 23 weeks The cheapest day of the week to travel to Malé from Dubai in December is a Wednesday but in April it is a Thursday   Flight pricing algorithms have long been the source of much fascination, but this new data reveals that post-pandemic, the science behind pricing is more complex than ever. Travelers …

According to bookings on Skyscanner by UAE travellers for travel this year are up +35% compared to the corresponding week in January 2019 (*comparing redirect volumes for all economy, return flights from UAE 31/12/18 – 6/1/19 versus 2/1/23 to 8/1/23). India, UK, Pakistan, and the Philippines are among top 5 searches from UAE travellers so far. Interestingly in the UAE, Skyscanner’s ‘Everywhere’ search function (which orders destinations by price, highlighting the cheapest destinations for your specific travel dates) also ranks in the top destinations – indicating travellers are considering prices and being flexible about their destinations. Their latest consumer polling (2000 UAE consumers, November 2022) found 69% of people are planning on taking more trips this year, with 24% planning the same number of holidays abroad in 2023 as 2022.  Ayoub El Mamoun, Skyscanner Travel Expert shares, “We’re seeing demand for holidays is extremely high going into 2023, and bookings in the first week in January exceeded the volume during the corresponding week in 2019, pre-pandemic, by over a third (35%). This large wave of interest shows that travellers are eager to make plans, as well as continuing to make up for lost time. Skyscanner surveyed over 2000 UAE consumers in November 2022 and the responses show that people are making experiences a top priority in 2023. In the same survey it was clear that most UAE respondents are planning to travel more than they did in 2022. There are great deals for those who know how to shop around – and remaining flexible on times and destinations will ultimately bag travellers the best prices. Skyscanner’s travel hacks including calendar view, ‘Everywhere’ search, nearby airports, mix and match airlines, as well as …

New research from global travel site Skyscanner has revealed UAE holidaymakers are expecting another strong year of travel despite economic uncertainty, but price-led decision making will drive change in 2023. With 88% of UAE travellers planning to spend the same if not more on travel abroad next year, how they are going to spend will differ. The extent of these changes is revealed in Skyscanner’s detailed Travel Trends 2023 report.   Key trends to come out of the report show that UAE travellers don’t want the holiday to stop on a Monday morning, but to work where they could holiday too. UAE travellers are also craving experiences grounded in nature and wellbeing. A way to reset and feel normal again.  Expect friends to ditch each other in favour of solo adventures, sneaky smartphone travel searches in the workplace and holidaymakers navigating the cost-of-living crisis to ensure their time away remains a priority. For travel in 2023, there’s a lot we want to do differently and some bold expectations on what future travel will entail. Future gazing sees almost one in three people expecting holidays amongst the stars to be a mainstream reality in their lifetime, whilst closer to home, advances in supersonic technology could re-define short-haul travel. Naomi Hahn, VP of strategy comments: “It is clear that we’re hungrier than ever to discover something new – even though we might have less in our pockets next year. The aftermath of a pandemic has made travelers look for ways to make up for lost time and create new experiences and memories.  Consumers have become savvier to value post pandemic – the squeeze on personal spending has shown that consumers will still …

With just over a month to go until the UAE National Day holiday, with public holiday on 2 December, it’s clear that travellers are making the most of the opportunity for a long weekend break away and the chance to reconnect with family and friends.  Bookings for travel between 2 and 4 December from the UAE soared by 122% in September compared to the previous month.* Searches for travel during the UAE National Day holiday period have been increasing steadily on Skyscanner since August and have surged by 121% in the last week as travellers are really starting to plan their UAE National Day getaways.** What destinations are UAE travellers booking for the UAE National Day holiday?*** Top trending redirect (booking) country destinations for UAE travellers for UAE National Day: India Philippines Qatar Pakistan Egypt   Top trending redirect (booking) city destinations for UAE travellers for UAE National Day: Doha Manila New Delhi Mumbai Kochi   What destinations are UAE travellers searching for the UAE National Day holiday?**** Top trending search country destinations for UAE travellers for UAE National Day: UK Philippines India United States Thailand   Top trending search city destinations for UAE travellers for UAE National Day: Manila London Singapore Bangkok Dublin   Skyscanner’s Travel Expert, Ayoub El Mamoun, comments:  “As the UAE National Day holiday approaches, it’s clear that travellers are keen to make the most of their annual leave with a long weekend break away.  In fact, we’ve seen bookings increase for the UAE National Day holiday period by 122% in September with destinations including India, Qatar and the Philippines the most popular for UAE travellers looking to connect with friends and family, get away for …