Dubai, June 3, 2025 — For many expatriates living in the UAE, summer vacations have traditionally meant reunions with loved ones back home. But this year, soaring travel expenses are forcing families to reconsider or even cancel their long-awaited trips.
Maria D., a Filipina personnel assistant residing in Al Muraqqabat, had been eagerly planning a visit to the Philippines with her husband and two children. However, the steep cost of travel has pushed the trip beyond reach.
“The air tickets for me, my husband, and my two children exceed Dh16,000, and that’s just for the round trip,” Maria explained. “Then you add baggage fees, gifts for relatives, clothes shopping, and local travel expenses. It’s way beyond my budget.”
In total, Maria estimates that the entire trip would have cost nearly Dh30,000 this year — a sharp rise from previous years. “Even after landing, we have to pay for taxis or private vans to visit family across different towns. Food, family dinners, birthday party contributions — it all adds up.”
Faced with these financial pressures, Maria has reluctantly decided to postpone the trip. “It breaks my heart because we haven’t been home in two years. But right now, it’s just not financially viable.”
Similarly, Indian expat Prakash R. from Al Nahda, who works in logistics, had planned a four-week holiday to Kochi, Kerala, with his extended family. However, after tallying the costs, he realised the vacation would equate to three months’ salary.
“The airfare alone is about Dh13,500 for all of us. Then there are the gifts for family members, domestic travel, shopping, and family functions,” he said. “The total cost came to more than Dh40,000. Even staying in our hometown isn’t cheap anymore — renting a car, attending family lunches and dinners, and taking the kids to local attractions add to the expense.”
Prakash concluded, “I just couldn’t justify spending that much.”
For Egyptian school teacher Rania (name changed) living in Sharjah, the decision was equally difficult. She usually spends summer breaks in Alexandria with her family but has decided to skip the trip this year.
“It’s sad, but we had to make a practical decision,” she said. “Airfare for the five of us is around Dh10,000, and when you add gifts, shopping, weddings, graduations, and dinners, it easily crosses Dh22,000.”
Although her children were initially disappointed, they have now adjusted to having a simple holiday in the UAE.
Travel industry insiders say this trend is widespread. Subair Thekepurathvalappil, senior manager at Wisefox Tourism, noted a surge in clients delaying their travel plans until later in the year.
“Many residents are now postponing trips from the traditional July-August period to October or December, opting for shorter breaks,” Subair said.
He also highlighted rising costs for domestic travel in countries such as India, where a week-long family trip can exceed Rs150,000 (around Dh6,500) excluding extras like car rentals and social gatherings.
“As prices climb across the board, many people are choosing to avoid overspending by either staying in the UAE or opting for shorter staycations,” Subair added.
With inflation affecting airfare, accommodation, and day-to-day expenses abroad, UAE expats are increasingly forced to balance cherished family traditions against practical financial considerations. For now, many are waiting for a more affordable time to reunite with loved ones.