An analysis by Khaleej Times showed that the choice of departure airport can significantly affect the cost of return flights from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah, allowing travelers to save hundreds of dirhams on certain routes.
An analysis by Khaleej Times showed that the choice of departure airport can significantly affect the cost of return flights from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah, allowing travelers to save hundreds of dirhams on certain routes.
The comparison was based on the lowest available economy class fares displayed on Booking.com for one adult flying on the same dates. The search was conducted on July 10th. It should be noted that since flight prices are dynamic, they may change depending on demand and seat availability.
There is indeed a difference in cost between airports, and for several destinations, this difference reaches hundreds of dirhams for one passenger. For families, the potential savings are even higher: for example, a difference of 250 dirhams per ticket for a family of four amounts to 1000 dirhams.
The main reason for this discrepancy is that airlines do not serve the same destinations from all airports. Some destinations enjoy greater competition, while budget carriers often operate only from specific airports, leading to lower fares on selected routes.
The analysis revealed that Abu Dhabi offered the lowest fares for most studied Indian destinations. For instance, a return ticket to Mumbai started from 1206 dirhams from Abu Dhabi compared to approximately 1500 dirhams from Dubai. For Kochi, fares started from 1376 dirhams from Abu Dhabi, whereas the lowest fare from Dubai was around 1959 dirhams. However, for the route to Delhi, Sharjah proved to be the most advantageous option, with return tickets starting from 1171 dirhams, which is lower than from Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
This trend continued for other Indian destinations: Abu Dhabi offered the lowest prices in Chennai, Kozhikode, and Bangalore. The situation was different for Pakistan. The cheapest return ticket to Karachi started from 1083 dirhams from Dubai, while Sharjah offered the lowest price to Lahore, starting from 1450 dirhams. Among other popular destinations, Abu Dhabi had the lowest fare to Cairo, and Dubai was the cheapest for Jeddah, with prices starting from 1001 dirhams.
The analysis also found noticeable differences in prices for popular resort destinations. For Istanbul, the cheapest return ticket started from 1222 dirhams from Sharjah. Travelers heading to Baku could find a better deal in Abu Dhabi, where fares started from 1501 dirhams, while Sharjah once again became the most favorable option for Tbilisi, with prices from 1631 dirhams.
The study's findings suggest that vacation planners should compare fares across all three UAE airports, rather than limiting their search to one departure point. Although in some cases the price difference is only 50 or 100 dirhams, making travel to another emirate uneconomical, when the saving reaches several hundred dirhams per passenger, traveling to another airport can be financially worthwhile, especially for families.
Before purchasing tickets, it is recommended to spend a few minutes comparing fares in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. It is also advisable to check neighboring travel dates if plans are flexible, compare offers from both budget and full-service airlines, and consider baggage costs. It is important to include transportation costs to the airport in the overall budget.
Khaleej Times established that there is no single airport that consistently offers the cheapest flights. While Abu Dhabi offered the lowest fares on most analyzed routes, Sharjah proved to be the cheapest for several destinations, and Dubai remained the best option for other travelers. Therefore, for those booking summer trips, the time spent comparing fares across all three UAE airports can lead to significant savings, especially for families.
Residents of the United Arab Emirates planning a trip to India this month can save hundreds of dirhams. According to an analysis by Khaleej Times and data from travel agents, return flights on several routes have dropped by approximately 20–30 percent compared to previous weeks.
Prices for flights to many destinations in North and West India have fallen to just over 1000 dirhams for a round trip. However, tickets to South Indian cities remain more expensive. Travel agents predict that lower fares will only be available for a few days in July before prices rise for August travel.
Taha Siddique, owner of Siddique Travel in Mangaluru, noted that flight costs to the coastal state of Karnataka have also decreased in recent weeks. He reported a price drop of about 20 percent, although this depends on the departure airport. According to him, flights from Abu Dhabi are currently usually cheaper than those from Dubai, and lower fares can now be found to cities such as Hyderabad and Chennai.
Nevertheless, Siddique advised travelers planning to fly in August to book tickets in advance, as prices are already starting to rise.
Subair Tekepuratvallappil, manager of Wisefox Travel and Tourism, stated that the greatest savings are currently available on routes to North and West India. He emphasized that tickets to cities like Delhi and Ahmedabad have become more affordable. Furthermore, Mumbai and Pune are significantly cheaper than many South Indian destinations, including Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kozhikode. For a trip lasting seven to ten days in July, return tickets can start from approximately 1080 dirhams.
A price check conducted by Khaleej Times on Bookings.com for a return flight between July 21 and July 31 revealed significant differences between destinations. Among the lowest fares were: Ahmedabad (from 1029 dirhams), New Delhi (from 1041 dirhams), Mumbai (from 1074 dirhams), Pune (from 1114 dirhams), Bengaluru (from 1389 dirhams), Kozhikode (from 1578 dirhams), and Mangaluru (from 1928 dirhams).
The analysis shows that travelers heading to North and West India can find better deals, while prices to popular spots in Kerala and coastal Karnataka remain several hundred dirhams higher despite the recent decrease.
Compared to a price check conducted on June 14 for the same dates, when tickets cost approximately 20–30 percent more, it is clear that airfares have softened. Travel agents attribute the lower prices to a temporary slowdown after the start of the summer tourist rush. They expect prices to rise again in August as more families travel before the resumption of the academic year, which will increase demand for flights to India.
