Today's Edition
AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)
As the Eid Al Adha holiday approaches, many families across the UAE are choosing to spend the break closer to home, turning to local attractions, staycations and short road trips instead of travelling abroad.
Residents say that staying in the country allows them to avoid crowded airports and high seasonal travel costs while spending a more relaxed time with relatives and friends.
With indoor attractions, cultural sites, beaches, shopping destinations and family activities available across the Emirates, many said the long holiday offers a chance to rediscover places they have not yet visited.
For Mariam Alsueedi and her family, domestic tourism is a central part of this year's Eid Al Adha plans.
"We plan to visit various tourist attractions in Abu Dhabi during the holiday, including the Zayed National Museum and the Natural History Museum, which are the two best museums for us so far," she told Aletihad.
"We can spend more time together as a family without the stress of flying and airports because of this extended vacation."
Alsueedi said that on Eid evenings, her family likes to go to cafés, cultural destinations and waterfront areas such as Saadiyat Island and Al Qana.
"We still haven't visited many of the UAE's stunning locations. We try to find something different locally every Eid," she added.
Shaikha Omar said that her family usually travels during the summer, but prefers to remain in the UAE for Eid to enjoy the celebrations with relatives and friends. "We want to enjoy the atmosphere here with relatives and friends for Eid, but we usually travel during the summer," she told Aletihad.
"We intend to take the kids to some tourist attractions, theme parks, and shopping festivals."
She said that, in her experience, neighbourhoods and local destinations become more lively during Eid, giving families plenty of options without the need to leave the country.
"During the holidays, the UAE consistently provides a wide range of entertainment alternatives, particularly for kids. It makes staying here convenient and pleasurable," Shaikha added.
Other families are using the long break for short road trips within the UAE, choosing nearby cities, beaches and heritage destinations over overseas travel.
"We decided to spend the holiday exploring different cities in the UAE because we want to avoid crowded airports and expensive travel costs during the Eid season," Yousef Mohammad told Aletihad.
For Mohammad, the appeal lies in the ease of moving between different types of attractions without the pressure of a long journey.
"Beaches, resorts, historical sites, dining options and entertainment venues are all easily accessible. Families find it more convenient and comfortable," he explained.
