Travel rates are expected to surge as Eid Al Adha as schools will be off for summer break and employees are set to get a six-day holiday starting June 27. With almost one-week vacation, the residents of the GCC are on the look-out for visa free travel destinations.
The GCC’s geographical location has made it a popular hub for flights headed in all directions with airlines such as Emirates, Air Arabia and Air India Express connecting the region to destinations across the globe.
Following are the visa free travel destinations for GCC residents;
ARMENIA
Armenia allows UAE and Qatar passport holders to stay in the country for up to 180 days without requiring a visa. Residents of all six GCC countries are eligible for a visa on arrival as long as they present a valid residence permit.
Emirates, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, and Fly Dubai operate between UAE and Armenia in approximately 3.5 hours, 10 hours from Saudi Arabia, and 7 hours from Bahrain by Fly Dubai and Emirates. Qatar Airways, Fly Dubai, and Emirates take passengers from Qatar in six to eight hours. Oman residents can reach Armenia in approximately 15 hours through Fly Dubai and Fly One.
AZERBAIJAN
Azerbaijan offers a single-entry visa on arrival to nationals of GCC countries, which remains valid for a period of thirty days.
Flights from Saudi Arabia to Azerbaijan have an approximate duration of 4 hours and are operated by Flynas and Jazeera Airways.
Bahrain residents can expect flights lasting between 4 to 6 hours, provided by Gulf Air, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, and Fly Dubai.
Travellers from Kuwait can reach Azerbaijan in approximately 2.5 hours through Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways.
Oman residents can reach Azerbaijan in approximately 17 hours through Wizz Air and Fly Dubai.
Flights from Qatar to Azerbaijan have a duration of approximately 3 to 5 hours and are served by Qatar Airways, Jazeera Airways, and Wizz Air.
GEORGIA
Georgia allows nationals and permanent residents of GCC countries to visit the country for a full year with a visa on arrival.
Flights from the UAE to Georgia have a duration of approximately 3.5 hours and are operated by Air Arabia Abu Dhabi.
From Saudi Arabia, flights take around 7 hours and are served by Air Arabia, Egypt Air, and Fly Dubai.
Bahrain residents can expect flights lasting approximately 6 hours, provided by Gulf Air, Air Arabia, and Fly Dubai.
Travellers from Kuwait can reach Georgia in approximately 3 to 5 hours through Jazeera Airways and Air Arabia.
Oman residents can reach Georgia in approximately 10 hours through Fly Dubai.
Flights from Qatar to Georgia have a duration of approximately 3 hours and are served by Qatar Airways and Air Arabia.
INDONESIA
GCC passport holders are granted a 30-day visa on arrival for entry into Indonesia.
Travel options from the UAE include 12-hour flights served by Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, and Egypt Air.
Flights from Saudi Arabia take approximately 14 hours and are served by Emirates, Garuda Indonesia, and Singapore Airlines.
Bahrain offers 13-hour flights served by Gulf Air, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines. Kuwait provides 13-hour flights served by Kuwait Airways, Qatar Airways, and Emirates.
Flights from Oman range from 17 to 20 hours and are served by Oman Air, Emirates, and Qatar Airways.
Qatar offers 10 to 12-hour flights served by Qatar Airways and Malaysia Airlines.
JORDAN
Jordan offers a tourist visa on arrival to travellers from GCC countries, allowing a stay duration of 30 days.
Flights from the UAE take approximately 3 hours and are served by Emirates. Saudi Arabia offers 2-hour flights served by Air Arabia, EgyptAir, and Gulf Air.
Bahrain has 3-hour flights served by Emirates, EgyptAir, and Fly Dubai.
Kuwait offers 2-hour flights served by Kuwait Airways.
Flights from Oman take approximately 4 hours and are served by Royal Jordanian and Oman Air.
Qatar has 3-hour flights served by Qatar Airways.
MALDIVES
The Maldives offers a tourist visa on arrival for a stay duration of 30 days, including to citizens of GCC countries.
Travel options from the UAE include flights ranging from 4 to 5 hours, served by Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways, and Egypt Air.
Saudi Arabia offers 5-hour flights served by Saudia. Flights from Bahrain take approximately 4 hours and are served by Gulf Air.
Kuwait provides 5 to 7-hour flights served by Kuwait Airways, Qatar Airways, and Emirates.
Oman offers 12-hour flights served by Gulf Air, Fly Dubai, and Qatar Airways. Qatar has 3-hour flights served by Qatar Airways.
NEPAL
Nepal grants tourist visas upon arrival to passengers of all nationalities, including those from the GCC countries, for stays of 15, 30, or 90 days.
Flights from the UAE take approximately 6 hours and are served by Air Arabia Abu Dhabi. Saudi Arabia offers 10-hour flights served by Etihad Airways, Fly Dubai, and Kuwait Airways.
Bahrain has 10-hour flights served by Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, Kuwait Airways, and Fly Dubai. Kuwait offers 7-hour flights served by Kuwait Airways.
Flights from Oman take around 20 hours and are served by Salam Air. Qatar offers 7 to 9-hour flights served by Qatar Airways, Nepal Airlines, and Kuwait Airways.
SEYCHELLES
Seychelles allows visa free travel for individuals of all nationalities, including GCC citizens. Travellers from the UAE can expect 5-hour flights served by Emirates.
Flights from Saudi Arabia take around 7 hours and are served by Ethiopian Airlines, Gulf Air, and Fly Dubai.
Bahrain has flights ranging from 9 to 12 hours, served by Emirates and Etihad.
Kuwait offers 10 to 12-hour flights served by Ethiopian Airlines and Emirates.
Flights from Oman take approximately 9 hours and are served by Ethiopian Airlines and Oman Air. Qatar has 5-hour flights served by Qatar Airways.
TANZANIA (ZANZIBAR)
Citizens of all six GCC countries are granted a visa on arrival for mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, allowing a stay duration of 90 days.
Flights from the UAE take approximately 10 hours and are served by Qatar Airways. Saudi Arabia offers 10-hour flights served by Ethiopian Airlines and Emirates.
Bahrain has 11-hour flights served by Emirates and Kenya Airways. Kuwait offers 9-hour flights served by Kuwait Airways, Qatar Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines.
Flights from Oman take around 15 hours and are served by Oman Air, Qatar Airways, and Kenya Airways.
Qatar offers 6-hour flights served by Qatar Airways.
A whopping 37% jump in booking value in UAE
UAE travellers are going places in a big way, with outbound travel from the country posting a whopping 37 percent jump in booking value in recent weeks, data available with travel portals showed.
Tourism-related travel plans are poised for a further spike in the upcoming Eid Al Adha holiday season, with travel firms reporting a 9 percent increase in booking value already compared to last year’s holiday period.
Industry insiders said the huge jump in booking value for outbound travel from the UAE comes despite relatively lower airfares in recent weeks in the wake of some of the leading airlines announcing discounted fares as part of their promotional offers.
For instance, UAE carrier Etihad Airways recently announced a flash sale on economy and business class tickets, offering a 20 percent discount on ticket fares.
Industry executives said few other airlines are also offering lower fares as part of their summer break promotion campaigns.
Strong interest: UAE travellers ready
Thailand, Maldives, Georgia, and Indonesia are among the preferred destinations for Eid Al Adha season.
According to the latest data, bookings for the upcoming Eid Al Adha holiday season is showing a promising trend.
The booking value is reported to be already 9 percent higher compared to last year’s Eid Al Adha period, and it is expected to see further jumps in the coming days.
The top destinations attracting travellers are Thailand, Maldives, South Africa, Georgia, and Indonesia, besides closer locations such as Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.
Industry executives also said there is a noticeable spike in bookings for beach properties and 5-star resorts in Dubai, as well as few other emirates for the upcoming holiday season.
United Arab Emirates Dirham Exchange Rate
