Wego reveals UAE and Kuwaiti...

Nepal emerges as the standout growth market for GCC residents

The Holy Month of Ramadan has always been a peak travel period for GCC residents with home-going trips and travel for religious and leisure reasons.

But demand for travel to international destinations has surged in 2025, according to data from Wego, a leading travel app in the Middle East, with UAE flight searches during Ramadan up 32.45% year-on-year.

Backing this trend, recent Dnata data reveals that 90% of UAE travellers are heading overseas during the Eid Al Fitr in 2025, compared to just 60% in 2024.

While destinations such as Egypt, India, Saudi, Jordan and the Philippines are consistently popular at this time of year, Nepal in south Asia has emerged as a standout growth market for regional travellers.

Wego says searches for trips to Nepal during the holy month have surged 215% in the UAE, compared to the same period last year, and also seen a five-fold increase among Kuwaiti residents.

Already well-connected to the UAE with direct flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, Flydubai recently started a direct service from Dubai to Bhairahawa Airport in the Siddharthanagar region, to meet growing demand.

The four-hour flight time makes Nepal a convenient getaway for Gulf residents seeking a change

And compared to travel expenses in Europe, the south Asia country offers an affordable yet luxurious experience, with visa-on-arrival for GCC travellers.

Located in the Himalayas, the tiny mountain kingdom is rich in tourism offerings, from temples, palaces and pilgrimage sites that line the Kathmandu Valley to spice bazaars, shrines and artisan workshops nestled within the capital. It's also a haven for adventure seekers, whether trekking to the base of Everest, the world’s highest peak, or rafting in Nepal’s wild rivers.

Kathmandu, Nepal

Demand fuels rising airfares
Beyond Nepal, Wego reports Egypt, India, Pakistan, Saudi, Jordan, Philippines. Lebanon and Morocco as the most searched-for destinations for UAE travellers through the holy month, with bookings from the UAE rising 32%.

Kuwaiti travellers also favour Saudi, Bangladesh and Jordan during Ramadan, with searches to these destinations more than doubling in 2025, while interest in Türkiye increased 55%.

With such demand comes rising airfares and almost all popular destinations saw an uptick, with flight prices from the UAE to Egypt and Lebanon surging 42% and 40%, respectively.

Jordan was the only destination to see a price drop during this period

For Kuwaiti travellers, airfare spikes were steepest to the UAE (65%) and to Nepal (43%).

The good news is that for UAE residents considering staycations, Dubai hotel rates during Ramadan 2025 have plummeted 54% year-on-year, driving a 3% increase in local staycation searches on Wego.

When it comes to accommodation, the majority of UAE travellers (40%) book 4-star hotels for international and domestic trips, highlighting the demand for affordable luxury.

For more information, visit www.wego.com

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