Airfares from UAE to Arab destinations fall up to 62% in September - here's where to find the cheapest flights

Dubai: Airfares from the UAE to several Arab destinations fell during September to their lowest levels since the beginning of the year, as the peak of the summer travel season came to an end, with a decrease ranging between 46% and 62%. According to a survey, which included websites of airlines, the prices of some direct round-trip flights during September start from about Dh1,000. Managers at travel and tourism agencies said that the price drop comes at a time when airlines have maintained relatively high levels of seat capacity and a number of flights to a number of destinations, coinciding with a lull in demand after the end of the summer travel season, which has strengthened price competition and prompted airlines to offer deals to attract travellers and stimulate bookings. Prices have dropped Specifically, airfare prices from the UAE to a number of Arab destinations witnessed a reduction during September 2026, recording their lowest levels since the beginning of this year, with some direct round-trip flights starting at around Dh1,000, according to a survey of available ticket prices at the time of monitoring. According to the survey results, the average price of a basic ticket for direct flights to Cairo was around Dh2,400 in July, compared to a price of around Dh1,200 in September, while prices for flights to Amman decreased from an average of around Dh2,500 in July to around Dh1,200 in September. As for Damascus, the ticket price dropped from about Dh2,600 in July to about Dh1,400 in September, while flight prices to Beirut dropped from an average of about Dh2,600 in July to about Dh1,000 in September. September prices also show lower levels for other Arab destinations, with the price being around Dh1,000 to Cairo-Sphinx Airport, Dh1,100 to Alexandria, and Dh1,100 to Aleppo. These prices reflect the minimum available tickets at the time of the survey and do not necessarily represent the average travel prices on these routes. Some of them are for basic economy class flights, which may not include additional services, such as checked baggage or seat selection, meaning that the final cost of the ticket may increase when those services are added. Airfare prices are heavily influenced by the booking date, travel date, airline, number of seats remaining on the flight, as well as the services included in the ticket price, and therefore prices may vary significantly even for the same destination. Demand is declining Alaa Al-Ali, director of Nirvana Tourism and Travel, said the decline in demand is pushing airlines to offer price promotions on a number of destinations. Picture credit: Supplied Alaa Al-Ali, director of Nirvana Tourism and Travel, said that the decline in airfare prices during the current period is mainly related to the end of the peak summer travel season, noting that prices are returning to calmer levels as demand decreases, compared to the peak period. Al-Ali explained that the decline in demand is pushing airlines to offer price promotions on a number of destinations in order to stimulate bookings and raise seat occupancy rates on flights. He added that average prices are mainly related to the number of flights and the size of the seat capacity on each destination, noting that some Arab destinations are witnessing continuous demand and high occupancy rates, but airlines may resort, during periods when demand is low, to offering more competitive prices and offers to attract travellers and encourage them to book. He stated that travellers planning to travel during this period can benefit from lower prices, especially when booking in advance, noting that the price difference may reach up to about 30% in some cases, depending on the destination, travel date, and seat availability. Seating capacity impacts price Al-Ali explained that airfare prices are directly related to the size of the seat capacity provided by airlines, in addition to the level of demand. A high number of available seats with low demand leads to increased price competition, while the opposite occurs when bookings increase and flights approach full capacity. He predicted that prices would gradually rise again with the arrival of the November travel season, with the possibility of even greater increases during periods of high demand and limited seat availability. He emphasised that the timing of booking remains a key factor in determining the final ticket price. He also noted that if airlines resort to reducing capacity, prices could rise even further, compared to current levels. Balance of supply and demand General manager of Belhasa Tourism Company, Narouz Sarkis, said that airfare prices for flights during September have declined. Picture credit: Supplied For his part, the general manager of Belhasa Tourism Company, Narouz Sarkis, said that airfare prices for flights during September have declined, and are at their lowest levels since the beginning of this year, noting that airlines continue to operate flight schedules and