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More UAE residents opting for local staycations over international travel
The regional conflict is driving UAE residents to opt for local Eid getaways, with resorts filling up quickly; here’s what you need to know about the staycation trend
- PUBLISHED: Sun 8 Mar 2026, 5:00 AM UPDATED: Sun 8 Mar 2026, 1:11 PM
[Editor's Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog amid US-Israel-Iran war for the latest regional developments.]
Many residents are cancelling overseas Eid trips amid regional tensions and opting for local holidays, pushing up demand for resorts and farmhouses in Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and Hatta.
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With the Eid holidays approaching, many UAE residents who had planned overseas vacations are now reconsidering their travel plans amid ongoing regional tensions and uncertainty around flights. Instead, several are choosing to spend the break within the country, opting for staycations or short road trips to nearby destinations such as Oman.
Travel agents said the shift is being seen in recent days, with residents cancelling or postponing international trips and exploring domestic holiday options instead.
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Subair Thekepurathvalappil, senior manager at Wisefox Travels, said many travellers who had initially planned trips abroad are now looking for alternatives closer to home.
“Many resorts in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah are already showing full occupancy for the Eid holidays,” he said.
“Amid uncertainty, residents have cancelled their overseas vacation plans and are now planning domestic staycations instead. Some are also considering short trips to Oman. However, the challenge we are facing now is accommodation, as many properties are already showing as fully booked.”
Prices increase among rising demand
Demand for local stays has also pushed up prices across several destinations, according to listings on online travel aggregators.
Resorts in Ras Al Khaimah during the Eid holidays are starting from around Dh600 per night, while properties in Fujairah range from about Dh600 to Dh3,000 depending on the resort category. In Abu Dhabi, resort stays start from about Dh900 per night for two guests during the holiday period.
Khaleej Times also contacted some resorts in the Northern Emirates, with some confirming that their properties are already fully booked for the Eid holidays.
Simpler holiday
For some residents, the change in plans has meant looking for simpler ways to spend the holiday.
Maria Magbanua, a Filipina resident in Dubai and a manager at a store in Deira City Centre, said that they had planned to travel to Azerbaijan during the Eid break but decided to cancel their trip.
“We were supposed to fly to Azerbaijan for the Eid holidays, but with everything happening in the region we thought it would be better to stay in the UAE,” she said.
“We tried booking resorts in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, but many were either full or too expensive. So now we are planning something simpler, maybe hiking and camping in the hills of Hatta.”
Demand for private farmhouses
Private farmhouses are also seeing strong demand as families look for quieter and more private holiday options.
Farmhouse owners in Hatta and Ras Al Khaimah told Khaleej Times that many of their properties had already been booked weeks ago.
“Most of our Eid dates were booked even before Ramadan began,” said a Aliya Saeed, farmhouse owner in Hatta. “We have been receiving calls everyday for our farmhouse booking. And this year we have seen massive demand for the Eid holidays.”
Another farmhouse owner in Ras Al Khaimah said inquiries have continued even though most properties are already reserved.
“We started receiving Eid inquiries weeks ago and almost all the slots were taken early,” he said. “Now people are still calling, but there is hardly any availability left.”
Some residents said prices for larger farmhouses have surged significantly due to the high demand, with some properties in the market reaching as much as Dh10,000 per day during the Eid holidays.
“We have been trying to book a farmhouse even before Ramadan, but we were quoted Dh6,000 a day for three families. But now they same farmhouse, the owner is asking double the price,” said Ali Faizan, an engineer and a resident of Al Nahda.
“Now we are exploring some cheaper options, but it shows all sold out,” added Faizan.
SM Ayaz Zakir is a Senior Correspondent with a flair for extraordinary stories. His playground? Every corner of the UAE. He often ventures into remote corners of the country to capture compelling news and human interest stories.
