If you are a UAE resident planning a summer getaway, travel experts are urging you to book your tickets immediately rather than holding out for last-minute discounts. The traditional strategy of waiting for bargain fares simply won't work this year, as the window to secure lower-cost seats is rapidly closing. With school holidays approaching in July and August, airlines are seeing a massive surge in demand, and the affordable fare buckets released after Eid Al Adha are expected to disappear within the coming days.

Travel agents note that airfares are already trending 20 to 30 percent higher than this time last year, driven by a combination of elevated fuel costs, capacity constraints, and a rush for popular destinations like India, the Philippines, Europe, and Egypt. Routes to major Arab capitals are seeing the steepest hikes, with Cairo fares jumping by as much as 35 percent. Since flight availability is tightening for high-demand family routes, delaying your plans will likely leave you with fewer options and much steeper prices. If your travel dates are set, experts recommend locking in your bookings now to avoid the inevitable mid-summer price spike.