Online airline booking data originating from the UAE market reveals four major fare peaks during 2026, with ticket prices rising significantly in periods that largely coincide with school holidays and religious celebrations.

According to the data, the most in-demand destinations include Cairo, Beirut, Amman, Damascus and Alexandria, based on ticket price indicators for direct flights departing from UAE airports for two-week travel periods, reflecting strong family-oriented travel patterns during holiday seasons.

The first peak aligns with the spring school break and Eid Al Fitr holiday, extending from mid-March through the first week of April 2026. This is followed by a shorter but sharper surge during the Eid Al Adha holiday, from May 22 until the first week of June 2026, particularly on highly demanded Arab destinations.

The longest annual peak occurs during the summer travel season, from late June until the end of August, with ticket prices reaching particularly high levels in mid-June 2026, as travel demand expands to include entire families in line with regional school vacations.

Air travel from the UAE to Arab destinations also records a strong winter seasonal peak between mid-December 2026 and early January 2027, driven by year-end holidays and school breaks. Demand begins to rise gradually from the second week of December, reaching its actual peak toward the end of the month through January 2.

Amin Al Awadhi, General Manager of Al Awadhi Travel, stated that fares during peak periods exceed normal levels by more than 50%, noting that the first major wave of increases begins about a month before Eid Al Fitr, with bookings rising sharply to destinations such as Cairo, Amman and Beirut. Prices escalate progressively and may double in certain cases during the two weeks preceding the holiday compared to low-demand periods.

He added that Eid Al Adha is characterized by a concentrated and rapid spike in fares due to demand focused on specific travel days, leading to quick seat sell-outs, especially on direct flights, while summer remains the largest annual peak in terms of duration and total demand.

Sharif Al Farm, Executive Director of Sharif House Travel and Tourism, emphasized that multiple seasonal peaks have reshaped travel demand patterns, stressing that early planning is now essential to controlling travel costs. Booking well ahead of peak periods provides broader seat availability and mitigates progressive fare increases linked to rising load factors, while flexibility in departure and return dates plays a critical role in reducing overall ticket costs, given that pricing systems are influenced by demand balance across both outbound and inbound flights rather than a single segment alone.