Contrary to the news heralded by a number of local news websites ahead of this year’s Eid Al Fitr, the number of people visiting Dubai during the public holiday fell sharply compared to last year. The reasons for this occurrence may be related to the hot summer weather and the constantly increasing cost of living.
- Dubai is 9th Most Expensive City for Travelers Worldwide
- Dubai 2nd Most Expensive City for Hotels
- 2015 Cost of Living Survey: Dubai and Abu Dhabi Most Expensive Cities in Middle East
According to official figures from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA), between July 15 and July 20, in total 326,074 people visited the emirate. The figures represent a 46% fall on last year’s numbers, when 597,652 people visited Dubai during the same period of the year. They comprised of 166,945 visitors from other GCC states, and in total from 197 different countries. The GDFRA also reported that more than 350,000 people left Dubai during this year’s Eid break.
Holidaymakers are now heading to Europe to take advantage of the weak euro and the pleasant summer season. In addition, during the recent months Egypt is regaining its popularity as a tourist destination amongst Middle Eastern travelers.
