{
  "id": 12988680,
  "title": "UAE October break flights: Where families are travelling and last-minute fares",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/uae-october-break-flights-where-families-are-travelling-and-last",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-09T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/business/tourism/uae-october-break-flights-where-families-are-travelling-and-last-minute-fares-1.500703410"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dubai: Families in the UAE are heading abroad for the October school break, favoring shorter-haul destinations like Georgia, Azerbaijan, and the Maldives. Last-minute economy fares for these trips range from approximately Dh1,400 to over Dh4,500, according to travel agents. The UAE's half-term runs from October 12 to 16, with students returning on October 19. Despite higher airfares, budget carriers still offer options under Dh2,000 on some routes. However, many families are opting to stay in the UAE for the short break and take advantage of hotel staycation deals, which have increased by 31 percent year-on-year ahead of the holiday. Fare comparisons show direct economy tickets from Dubai to cities like Mumbai, Istanbul, and Tbilisi are priced between Dh1,440 and Dh1,814, while fares to longer-haul destinations like Singapore, Mauritius, and London are significantly higher, ranging from Dh3,235 to Dh4,330. The gap becomes even wider on some long-haul routes, with fares to Singapore and Mauritius exceeding Dh4,500. UAE families are showing a preference for shorter, closer destinations, with Georgia, Baku, and the Maldives attracting interest. The attraction of shorter trips is partly due to practical considerations, such as minimizing transit time, and airline capacity. Indian carriers are also increasing their presence, which could create cheaper alternatives on some routes. While demand is not limited to short-haul destinations, with interest in European, Far East, and Northern Lights travel growing, UAE carriers are benefiting from increased demand, particularly with the upcoming UAE National Day holiday. However, airlines are facing higher operating costs, including fuel prices, which could influence how aggressively fares fall. Despite a broader regional tourism outlook that remains positive, the Middle East tourism market is expected to experience a strong rebound in 2027 as consumers prioritize travel despite economic and geopolitical uncertainty.",
  "summary": "Dubai: UAE families heading abroad for the October school break are increasingly opting for shorter-haul destinations such as Georgia, Azerbaijan and the Maldives , with last-minute economy fares ranging from about Dh1,400 to more than Dh4,500, according to travel agents. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances The UAE’s October 2026 half-term runs from Monday, October 12 to…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}