Many residents of the UAE who traveled home for the summer holidays opted to postpone their return due to unexpectedly high prices for August flights. With fares from some countries exceeding Dh2,000 per person, families faced a tough decision: pay the extra cost or wait for prices to drop.
For those who waited until early September, their patience paid off. Ticket prices fell to nearly half of August’s rates, enabling residents to save thousands of dirhams while enjoying additional time with family. Some have dubbed this a ‘delaycation’ — a brief holiday extension that resulted in significant savings.
For Dubai resident Salik Ahmed Kazi, meticulous planning was key this summer. He traveled with his family of eight to Mangalore in early July, leaving his children to vacation with their grandparents. He returned to Dubai alone after 10 days to manage his business, planning to bring his family back later.
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In mid-August, Ayyub began monitoring fares. “I asked my travel agent to find tickets between August 20 and August 25, just before school reopened,” he said. “Every ticket was over Dh1,800, regardless of the South Indian city.”
This meant he would have paid over Dh14,000 for the return journey. Instead, Ayyub opted to wait. His family stayed longer, allowing him to attend his cousin’s wedding in India and enjoy more family time.
When he finally booked tickets for September 7, the price had dropped to Dh986 each. “I saved over Dh1,000 per ticket. For eight of us, that’s around Dh7,000 to Dh8,000 saved,” he said.
Dh3,000 saved; more time with parents
Omar Mansour from Sharjah traveled with his wife and two children to spend the holidays with his parents. Initially, he planned to return before school started in late August.
But high ticket prices halted his plans. “The lowest fare I found was over Dh1,600 per person in August. For four, that’s at least Dh6,400,” Omar said.
After discussing with his employer, Omar extended his leave by a week and waited for prices to fall. Tickets dropped to around Dh876 per person for September 7. “We paid about Dh3,500 for four people, saving almost Dh3,000 compared to August fares,” he said.
The delay offered another benefit: Omar’s children attended a family gathering, and he spent more time with his ageing parents. “It wasn’t just about the money. The extra time in Alexandria was invaluable. Returning in September helped us avoid the peak airport rush.”
Emergency turns into a ‘delaycation’
Neha Sharma, a finance professional from JLT, planned a short trip to Delhi with her two children in early July. Her husband returned to the UAE after a couple of weeks to resume work, while Neha intended to bring the children back before school started.
A family emergency, however, extended her stay. “We had to stay longer than planned,” Neha said. “It wasn’t easy with schools reopening, but family is a priority.”
While arranging her return, the UAE announced a public holiday for the private sector on Friday, September 5, for the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birth anniversary, leading to a long weekend.
“I thought, why rush back before the long weekend? We decided to return afterward so the children could adjust smoothly post-holiday,” she said.
Her children spent more time with grandparents and cousins, while Neha supported her family during the emergency. “Although unplanned, it allowed for more family time and an easier return.”
