The biggest booking trends for the MENA region during Ramadan were revealed, among emerging trends was a surge in demand for hotel bookings, travel-related activities and a spike in airfare.
According to WEGO, a travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Ramadan brings in a vast number of tourists and locals as well as, a surge in demand for hotel bookings.
Travel trends included increased willingness from travellers to venture beyond their immediate surroundings, leading to a rise in travel activities.
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Increase in airfare
Airfares from the UAE are expected to increase as compared to last year. Flights to the UK and India have already seen a price increase of up to 32 percent. With school breaks coinciding with Ramadan, this year, a spike in travel is likely to be observed with a further increase in airfares leading up to the Eid break.
Higher hotel occupancy rates
Dubai’s hospitality sector saw a steep upward decline after the pandemic, with over 14.36 million international visitors arriving in the city. Daily occupancy rates remained at 70 percent throughout the year.
Hotel rooms in Dubai have seen a price increase as Ramadan approaches, limited availability is also a factor at play leading to price increases. Many hotels last year experienced nearly full occupancies due to conferences and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
As the booking trend for Ramadan, Easter and Eid show a positive trend, the rise in hotel room rates is expected to continue. An average room on Wego in Dubai reached AED807, last month. Compared to the same period in 2022, hotel occupancy rates was at around 80 percent, a seven percent increase.
The International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi is also contributing to the positive trend, to keep up with demand, 48,000 new rooms are expected to be made available in the country by 2030, of which 76 percent is in Dubai.
Increase in airline bookings
Post-pandemic, the surge in travel has had a positive impact on various sectors of the industry, including flights and hotels. Flight bookings in the month of February have already seen an incline as compared to the previous year, the trend is expected to further grow during Ramadan.
Popular travel destinations in GCC
- Saudi Arabia
- Qatar
- Kuwait
Popular international travel destinations
- Egypt
- India
- Pakistan
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