UAE Business: Travel bookings ahead of Saudi National Day surge 141% – Gulf Digital News

UAE Business: Travel bookings ahead of Saudi National Day surge 141% – Gulf Digital News

Bookings from Saudi Arabia for travel between September 22 and 25, ahead of Saudi National Day on September 22 soared by 141% in August compared to the previous month, according to Skyscanner, a leading travel marketplace.

In the last week alone, week commencing 5 September, bookings for the Saudi National Day holiday period increased by 40%, revealing the appetite for those last-minute and spontaneous breaks.

Top trending destinations ahead of Saudi National Day:

Top trending redirect (booking) country destinations for Saudi travellers for Saudi National Day:

1. Türkiye

2. Egypt

3. India

4. UAE

5. Thailand

Top trending redirect (booking) city destinations for Saudi travellers for Saudi National Day:

1. Istanbul

2. Cairo

3. Bangkok

4. Dubai

5. London

Top emerging destinations for Saudi travellers in 2022:

1. Thailand + 209%

2. Albania + 125%

3. Portugal +57%

4. Austria +60%

5. Maldives +30%

Skyscanner’s Travel Expert, Ayoub El Mamoun, said: “As the Saudi National Day holiday approaches, it’s clear that travellers are keen to make the most of their annual leave with a long weekend break away. In fact, we’ve seen bookings increase for the Saudi National Day holiday period by 141% in August with destinations including Istanbul, Cairo and Bangkok the most popular for Saudi travellers.

“For travellers looking to book a last-minute break away, a Skyscanner ‘Everywhere’ search is