Airfares in the UAE have reached some of their lowest points this year, thanks to the offseason starting in September and a drop in global oil prices, which have lowered fuel costs for airlines.
Data from Cleartrip Arabia reveals that between May and July, average airfares ranged from Dh1,600 to Dh1,750, but in September, they fell to about Dh1,200, marking a reduction of 25-31%.
Sameer Bagul, chief business officer at Cleartrip Arabia, attributed the decrease in airfares across the UAE to a mix of seasonal factors and strategic revenue management by airlines.
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Bagul also mentioned that airlines are introducing early bird offers to fill seats before the expected rush for festivals like Navratri in September, the Diwali travel period in October, and the Saudi National Day holiday. This strategy aims to maintain high load factors and maximize revenue as the busy season begins in November.
“This combination of post-summer seasonality, targeted promotional fares, and changing travel behaviors is leading to lower ticket prices. Additionally, recent months have seen a decline in oil prices. Forecasts for the coming months suggest that global oil prices may continue to decrease, potentially reaching $58 per barrel by the fourth quarter of 2025,” Bagul added.
Airfares drop by up to Dh1,000
Rashida Zahid, vice president of operations at musafir.com, noted that Ramadan and the period following mid-September and October are off-peak times with the lowest fares of the year.
She also mentioned that some people refrain from traveling in February and parts of March due to the fiscal year-end for companies.
Compared to peak summer travel and the lean season, she observed a significant reduction in travel to India in September as schools reopen, with airfares potentially decreasing by Dh800 to Dh1,000 for a round trip, or up to 25%.
“In contrast, travel to countries like the UK and Germany continues, resulting in a moderate fare drop of 10-15% depending on demand. However, due to different passenger profiles, fares to these destinations don’t decrease as sharply as they do to the Indian subcontinent,” Zahid said.
She further noted that business travel to the Far East, China, and other areas remains steady.
“From mid-October, fares begin to rise again. From late November through January, fares are high due to festivities, Christmas, National Day, and New Year celebrations.”
She also highlighted that traffic and airfares to CIS countries don’t significantly drop compared to peak summer periods.
