Eid al Fitr in the UAE this year is expected to witness a jump in outbound air traffic compared to last year's Eid, says Wego, the largest online travel marketplace in the MENA, in its top travel trends for Ramadan 2024 in the UAE.Wego has observed nearly a four-fold increase in flight searches from the UAE for travel during Eid 2024 compared to Eid 2023.Holiday season is just around the corner, and Wego has noted a spike in demand for flight and hotel reservations from the UAE in the lead up to the festive season.According to Wego data, international flight bookings from the UAE for travel in February have surpassed the numbers during the same period last year by 70.1%.The consecutive occurrence of Ramadan, Eid al Fitr, and spring break in 2024 is anticipated to encourage the same YoY leap in bookings for trips scheduled in the coming months.As we enter the holy month of Ramadan, Wego data showed that airfares to some destinations may get even more expensive this year.The average airfare to the Philippines, a favored destination for UAE travelers, is now AED 1,331.93, compared to AED 895.56 in 2023.Meanwhile, YoY average prices for flights to the UK and Germany have risen by 23.88% and 60.42% respectively.Wego anticipates that ticket prices for popular destinations will continue to climb, especially with more families potentially planning getaways during the holidays.Amidst a bustling month teeming with significant events like the Gulfood trade show, Dubai Duty Free tennis championships among others, Dubai has observed an uptick in hotel occupancy rates in February 2024, with bookings on Wego surpassing last year’s figures by 23.2%. Concurrently, the average Dubai hotel room rates have experienced a YoY surge of 20.3%.Dubai hotel occupancy and daily rates may still move in an upward trajectory through the next few months, as Wego’s data indicates that demands for staycations among UAE residents also typically grow during Ramadan weekends and Eid al Fitr holiday.Wego forecasts an even heightened interest later as more UAE travelers finalize their travel arrangements in the weeks or days leading up to the celebration.Based on Wego's data, India, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan are the most sought-after destinations for travel between March to April 2024. The list of countries may hint at homecoming trips for UAE’s huge expat communities looking to capitalize on the lengthy holidays.

Wego, the largest online travel marketplace in MENA (Middle East and North Africa), Wego, the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), revealed the top booking trends for Winter 2023.This season witnesses families and travellers gearing up for winter trips, either for leisurely vacations or for expat residents to return home. In time for the holiday, Wego has identified several winter travel trends among MENA travellers.Surge in flight bookingsMore MENA travellers are flying this winter compared to last year. This year, Wego found that there’s a 11.37% YoY increase in international flight bookings for the travel period between November 2023 and January 2024.Wego has also observed that there's been a steady rise in booking numbers every year since the post-pandemic period of 2021, reflecting a growing appetite for winter travel among MENA travellers.Top destinations this winterCairo stands out as the top destination among MENA residents, followed closely by Jeddah, Dubai, Istanbul, and Kuwait.Major cities in the South and Southeast Asia also feature on the list, with Manila, Lahore, and Delhi in the top 10. Travel interest in these destinations may represent the homecoming trips for the Filipino, Indian, and Pakistani communities in the region.Popular flight routes are now cheaperAccording to Wego’s data, average flight prices for some popular routes are lower this winter compared to last year.Flights to Cairo from several GCC countries notably saw some of the steepest price drops, averaging up to 35% cut compared to last year's winter period. Moreover, these same Cairo routes are now cheaper than during this year’s summer holiday, between 5 to 43.56% decrease, depending on the departure city.Even compared to pre-pandemic rates, Cairo routes now sport cheaper price tags. For instance, the average ticket price from Riyadh to Cairo in 2023 has dropped by 112.81% compared to the winter period toward the end of 2019. Similarly, the Kuwait - Cairo route shows a decline of 62% compared to the average price before the pandemic.Other popular destinations such as Istanbul, Lahore, and London have also witnessed average flight price reductions compared to the previous year. For example, flights to Istanbul from Saudi Arabian cities are now cheaper by an average of 31.86% compared to last year.Manila stood as an exception, where Wego observed up to a 10% YoY increase in flight prices during winter 2023 from various departure points across MENA.*Figures provided are accurate at the time of writing and might experience further fluctuations due to changing demands.

Wego, the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) acquired Travelstop, a revolutionary platform that simplifies business travel and expense management for companies globally. This strategic move will expand Wego's reach into business travel and expense management.The acquisition will also empower Travelstop to tap into Wego's regional network and leverage its deep understanding of the travel industry to drive growth and provide enhanced services to their customers.Wego has long been a leader in the travel industry, known for its innovative solutions and commitment to delivering exceptional and seamless travel experiences. Since its launch, Travelstop has emerged as a game-changer in the business travel industry, providing businesses of all sizes with a modern platform that streamlines travel management and automates expense processes.By combining their resources and expertise, Wego and Travelstop aim to revolutionize the way companies navigate the complexities of corporate travel as well as contribute to the growth and development of the travel industry in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions."We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of Travelstop," said Ross Veitch, CEO and Co-founder of Wego. "This strategic move is in line with our vision of offering comprehensive travel solutions to businesses in the region. Together, Travelstop and Wego will empower businesses to streamline their travel and expense management processes, introducing new levels of convenience and cost-efficiency."Through this acquisition, Wego aims to address the unique challenges faced by businesses operating in emerging markets, such as fragmented travel options and manual expense reporting. The combined platform will provide businesses with a one-stop solution, enabling them to seamlessly manage their corporate travel needs while gaining greater visibility and control over expenses."We are excited about the immense potential that this partnership brings," said Prashant Kirtane, CEO & Co-founder of Travelstop. "With our combined expertise and assets, we are confident in our ability to deliver an exceptional business travel experience to our customers.Our focus on product innovation and on customer satisfaction will enable us to set new industry standards and redefine the future of business travel."According to August 2022 'GBTA BTI Outlook Annual Global Report & Forecast', the APAC and Middle East regions stand as the largest and most rapidly expanding markets in business travel. In 2023, APAC and the Middle East regions are set to contribute to 46% of the total global business travel expenditure.As Wego and Travelstop join forces, both companies are excited about the opportunities this acquisition brings. By leveraging each other's strengths, the combined entity is well-positioned to redefine business travel and expense management in emerging markets and empower companies to navigate the challenges of a rapidly evolving global economy.