A growing number of UAE residents traveling to Saudi Arabia for Umrah have traded in their plane tickets for long-haul bus rides following a series of unexpected flight cancellations. Fearing the rising costs of extended hotel stays and the unpredictability of airline schedules, many pilgrims are choosing the certainty of road travel over waiting indefinitely for a seat on a new flight. Travel experts have noted that this trend has contributed to a broader cooling of the sector, with total pilgrimage inquiries dropping by roughly 40 percent compared to this time last year.

For many, the logistical headache has forced creative solutions to get back home. Some travelers, particularly those connecting through the UAE to reach other countries like India, are opting to take buses into the Emirates on visit visas to secure more reliable departure flights. Families are increasingly favoring this overland route as a safer, more predictable alternative to the chaos currently plaguing airport hubs. As flight uncertainty continues to loom, many potential pilgrims have decided to postpone their journeys entirely, marking a quieter season for travel agencies operating in the region.