8 last-minute Eid getaways for UAE...

From curated packages to discounts, discover retreats in Saudi, Qatar, the UAE, Thailand and the Maldives

Demand for short-haul trips, among UAE travellers, to nearby beach destinations is soaring ahead of Eid Al Adha, with travellers making the most of the long weekend, which begins Thursday, 5 June and extends until Sunday, 8 June.

To keep up with demand, travel companies are rolling out last-minute deals to lure travellers, and at Connecting Travel, we've curated our own list of getaways that includes discounted stays and celebratory packages.

From exploring Saudi Arabia's ancient desert landscape AlUla to a family wellness escape in Thailand and a beach retreat in the Maldives, here are eight last-minute ideas:

1 Explore Saudi Arabia’s ancient desert at Our Habitas, AlUla
For an authentic taste of Saudi Arabia’s culture, head to AlUla, the ancient desert landscape in the kingdom’s northwest, on a three-day retreat. With Echoes of AlUla, guests get to stay at two properties, with two nights at Caravan AlUla, a glamping experience set along the ancient incense and spice route, and one night at sister property Our Habitas AlUla, an all-villa desert retreat villas with scenic canyon views.

Included are an array of outdoor experiences, from ziplining through canyons to taking a hot air balloon ride over historic sights, including Hegra, Saudi's first Unesco World Heritage Site. Post-adventure, guests can relax with a recovery massage and enjoy cultural activities, from stargazing to breathwork. The package also includes airport transfer, daily breakfast and two dinners, one at Tama, serving Middle East flavours. ourhabitas.com/alula
Dates: June to September
Price: From SAR7,800 (AED7,635) per night

Our Habitas AlUla

2 Discover Saudi’s coastal city at Rosewood Jeddah
With its Red Sea coastline, cosmopolitan history and Unesco-listed old town, Jeddah has lots to lure visitors, from exploring Unesco-listed Al Balad with its souks and buildings up to 400 years old, to biking along the seaside corniche or snorkelling with turtles in warm waters.

Among luxury hotels offering the sweeping Red Sea views, the 127-room Rosewood Jeddah also delivers authentic Arabian hospitality and around-the-clock butler service, a first for Jeddah. Guests get up to 20% savings on room rates during Eid, plus various family-friendly perks, including daily breakfast, a lunch at Habsburg for two adults and two children up to five years old, and access to rooftop pool activities. The Danah Room accommodates three people and comes with a jacuzzi bathtub. rosewoodhotels.com/jeddah
Dates: 29 May to 14 June
Prices: From SAR1,275 (AED1,250) per night

Suite at Rosewood Jeddah

3 Spot Arabian wildlife at Ras Abouq in Qatar
A world of adventure awaits in Ras Abouq, a desert destination on the northwestern shores of Qatar, just under an hour’s drive from Doha and lying on the edge of the Unesco-protected Al-Reem Biosphere Reserve. Here, visitors can immerse themselves in nature with the three-night Long Weekend Escape experience at five-star eco resort, Our Habitas Ras Abrouq.

Included in the package is a guided safari tour through Zekreet’s unique landscape to get up-close with rare wildlife, including Arabian oryx and gazelles, and archaeological sites, plus a sunset camel ride. For dining, there’s a curated lunch menu, an in-villa private poolside dining experience and a sunset barbecue, combining rich desert flavours with open-fire cooking. The package also includes daily breakfast, airport transfers and a 60-minute signature massage. ourhabitas.com/ras-abrouq
Dates: June to September
Prices: From QAR2,200 (AED2,225) per night

Our Habitas Ras Abrouq in Qatar

4 Join a five-day festival of music and magic in the Maldives
Four-star Maldivian resort Sun Siyam Olhuveli Maldives is pulling out all the entertainment stops this Eid with a five-day cultural showcase, combining Maldivian heritage with music, dance and magic talent. Headlining the festivities is Dubai-based Egyptian DJ Kaboo, known for his pioneering ‘Arab Trap’ music. Taking to the stage too is magician and mentalist Thomas McElroy, who brings his interactive illusions straight from the stage of Mesmerise Dubai, and Belly Dancer Otta with her high-energy performances and circus moves.

Guests joining the festivities get 40% discounts on stays, including daily breakfast and dinner, airport transfers and cultural activities. Just a 45-minute speedboat ride from Malé and spread across three islands, the resorts offer 17 restaurants and bars, more than 50 dive sites and a dedicated adult-only section on Romance Island. www.sunsiyam.com
Dates: 6-10 June
Prices: A Beach pavilion villa with pool for 3 nights during Eid starts at AED2,793 with breakfast

Eid parade at Sun Siyam Olhuveli Maldives

5 Focus on family wellness at RXV Wellness Village, Bangkok, Thailand
Wellbeing hubs that embrace all family members are few and far between, but RXV has delivered just that with a newly-transformed wellness facility. Set within a leafy 50-acre heritage estate of ancient trees and traditional wooden homes, just an hour’s drive from Bangkok, this 84-room property is focused on helping multigenerational families get healthy and mindful together.

There’s an array of holistic wellness programmes for both adults and children lasting 3, 5 or 7 nights, all themed and tailored to align with personal goals, whether developing focus or enhancing creativity. Treatments include everything from movement therapy such as Pilates and tai chi to massage, breath work, crystal sound healing and art therapy, as well as IV vitamin infusions, colon hydrotherapy, massage and infrared sauna sessions. All guests get a personalised wellness menu and can access group classes and the gym. www.rxvwellness.com
Dates: June to September
Prices: 3-night personalised programmes full-board starting from AED5,547 for adults and AED1,592 for children.

RXV Wellness Village in Thailand

6 Escape to a Bedouin-style desert pool villa in Ras Al Khaimah
For those wanting to trade the cityscape for sweeping dunes, The Ritz-Carlton, Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert is nestled within a 500-hectare protected Al Wadi Nature Reserve, where indigenous wildlife such as antelopes, Arabian oryx and gazelles roam free.

During Eid, guests staying in a private pool villa with indoor rainforest access get in-villa breakfast and a complimentary 60-minute rainforest spa session for two, as well as AED500 resort credit redeemable on dining, spa treatments and hotel experiences, from sunset camel treks into the desert to stargazing from a private platform. Among Eid-focused dining experiences, a festive evening at Kaheela features a curated buffet including Arabic barbecue. ritz-carlton-ras-al-khaimah-al-wadi-desert
Dates: 1-9 June
Prices: A stay at Al Rimal Villa starts at AED 2,800

Al Sarab Villa, The Ritz-Carlton, Ras Al Khaimah

7 Explore nature at night on Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
For those looking to immerse themselves in nature, Anantara on Sir Bani Yas Island, the UAE’s largest natural island, has curated a selection of signature night-time experiences at its three resorts this Eid. Guests can take a guided moonlit walk among the Salt Dome wadis, ancient riverbeds layered with flowers, or take to waters in a kayak for a gentle glide through the mangroves after dark. Guided wildlife tours to spot some of the 11,000 animals roaming the island are also available, alongside falcon shows, horse riding and archery sessions.

Guests can enjoy up to 35% discounts on accommodation at all three properties, including family-friendly Desert Islands Resort & Spa, Al Sahel Villa Resort, with its private villas and pools, and Al Yamm Villa Resort, a beachside sanctuary inspired by an Emirati fishing village with barasti-style villas just steps from the sand and overlooking the Arabian Gulf. anantara.com/en/qasr-al-sarab-abu-dhabi
Dates: June to September
Prices: Ranging from AED575 to AED1,553 per night

Al Sahel Villa Resort, Sir Bani Yas Island

8 Stay four nights, pay for three at Soneva in the Maldives
With lush jungle hideaways, powder-soft beaches and crystal-clear waters filled with manta rays and turtles, sister properties Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani in the Maldives offer a stress-free, fun-filled escape for families. Located in neighbouring atolls, with complimentary speedboat transfers between them, the resorts have a special Eid offer where families can stay for four nights, for the price of three, or seven nights, and just pay for five. What’s more, kids dine for free and parents get two hours of complimentary babysitting each day.

Between the resorts, there is plenty to keep families occupied, from an Observatory with in-house astronomer, to Soneva Surf, the world’s first sustainable surfing programme, and The Den, one of South Asia’s largest children’s clubs with its dedicated Lego room, bowling alley, dressing-up room, climbing wall and pool with swim-up bar, zipline and catamaran nets for lounging in. For older kids, the Soneva Academy provides immersive course in everything from astronomy and birdwatching to mosquitoes and marine life.

On Soneva Jani, guests can stay in overwater villas with glass-bottomed floors and slides that whoosh into the lagoon and there’s a restaurant with an outdoor cinema. soneva.com
Dates: June to August

Overwater villa, Soneva Jani, Maldives