Christmas Travel Shift: UAE Opts Cheaper Options

Christmas Travel: Why Many in UAE Choose Cheaper Destinations Over India?

Christmas traditionally revolves around home, family unity, and festive gatherings. For expatriates living in the United Arab Emirates, this is a particularly important period, as many would like to visit their homeland — for example, India — to celebrate with loved ones. However, during the 2025 holiday season, many had to rethink their plans. Skyrocketing airfare prices, additional expenses, and budget constraints are prompting more people to opt for alternative international destinations instead of India.

Visiting Home Becomes More Expensive

The Christmas season has always been a notably busy period for air travel. Trips home are often booked months in advance, yet last-minute bookers find themselves confronted with significant price increases. This year, however, the prices for flights to major cities in India — such as Kolkata, Kochi, or Mumbai — have surged even more than usual. A round-trip ticket costing approximately 3,400 dirhams per person can already be a burden for many, especially if the traveler plans to go with family members.

Many experience that the entire Christmas trip — including local transport, gift shopping, and family obligations — can amount to 17,000–18,000 dirhams. This is a significant expense for a one-week trip, even if someone started planning their return home well in advance.

Cheaper and Enriching Alternatives

Instead of financially overburdening themselves, many are turning to other international destinations. Cairo, Istanbul, or even Malé have become popular alternatives in recent years, especially now, when the cost of traveling home is extremely high. Round-trip tickets to these places can often be found for as low as 1,200–1,300 dirhams, and obtaining visas is not complicated — some countries even offer visa exemption.

A one-week trip to Cairo or Istanbul, including airfare, accommodation, and local activities, can be realized for between 8,000–9,000 dirhams. This is several thousand dirhams cheaper than a trip home to India. Additionally, the chosen destination offers a kind of "real" vacation experience, which can be appealing for those looking to relieve end-of-year stress.

New Considerations in Travel Decisions

Travel is no longer just about being at home. The increasingly expensive airfares and rising costs due to inflation compel people to make conscious choices. "Going home" is no longer evident for many families but has become a matter of budget calculations.

The decision-making process also considers how easy the destination country makes travel. Places like Turkey, Egypt, or the Caucasus (for example, Georgia or Armenia) offer easy entry conditions, often in the form of online visas or visa exemptions. These countries are culturally rich and provide excellent opportunities for relaxation.

Tourism Industry Responds

Dubai travel agencies and service providers are also sensing the change in trends. An increasing number of package deals are emerging, specifically targeting those who wish to avoid seasonal overpricing, yet still want to travel. Such offers often include airfare, accommodation, transfers, and some programs, allowing families to plan ahead with fixed costs.

These packages are often available for a limited time and are optimized specifically for the Christmas period, considering the factors that make traveling home more challenging.

Cultural Experiences Over Family Home?

Naturally, many still cling to the warmth of home, family dinners, and the festive atmosphere that only visiting home can provide. However, more and more people are realizing that alternative celebrations do not necessarily mean missing out on the holiday magic. Discovering a new city, learning about other cultures' Christmas traditions, or enjoying a beach holiday can all provide memorable experiences.

Many families, for example, decide to explore a new country together, thus spending the holidays together — just in a different environment, with less stress.

Conclusion

The 2025 Christmas season aptly illustrates how travel habits are changing in response to economic conditions. Expatriates living in the UAE are increasingly rationalizing their decisions, weighing not only emotional but also financial burdens. Alternative destinations instead of India are not only more cost-effective but often provide richer experiences.

The decision is always personal in the end, but one thing is certain: the essence of travel is not just the destination, but the experiences gained along the way. And whether the holiday dinner is at a table in Kolkata, Istanbul, or Cairo, the main thing is to be together — even in new places.

(Source of the article is based on accounts from Indian travelers.)