New hotels, high airfares spike staycation demand in Dubai

BOOKINGS SURGE 35% COMPARED TO LAST YEAR’S SCHOOL BREAK TRAVEL PLANS

- BY DHANUSHA GOKULAN Chief Reporter

Hotels in Dubai are experiencing unprecedented demand for the upcoming National Day weekend, as the December 2-3 celebrations mark the unofficial start of the country’s winter travel season — with bookings surging 35 per cent compared to last year.

Premium properties across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the Northern Emirates report near-full occupancy weeks ahead of the long weekend, as residents increasingly blend the public holiday with the approaching school break to create extended getaway periods.

“The period right after National Day has become the official start of the UAE’s winter travel season,” said Raheesh Babu, COO of online travel agency musafir.com.

“Families plan extended breaks, schools close, and people are eager to make the most of the cooler months,” he said.