UAE hotels 'packed' despite regional conflict: Staycation boom continues
Several hotels in the UAE registered near full levels of occupancy over the Eid break and are continuing to see sustained strong demand despite unpredictable conditions. Dubai resident Maliha Khan decided to spend the Eid vacation on a staycation with her family. She was surprised when she went for breakfast on her first morning.“We went to the restaurant at around 8am and the restaurant was packed,” she said. “We barely managed to find a table in the corner of the hall for the four of us. I was surprised because I was expecting less crowd due to the ongoing regional tensions. But, I must admit, I was happy. It clearly shows that it is business as usual. It is great for the economy.”Hotel operators agreed that they had seen good business over the Eid break. "Despite the current geopolitical climate, we are proud to have achieved occupancy in the high 90s over the Eid period — evidence of the strong and sustained demand for everything the resort offers,” said Pavlina Tarabova Al-Ghamdi, General Manager of Meliá Desert Palm, noting that the overall demand remained resilient.Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp channels.Her comments were supported by other industry experts. “We reached 100 per cent occupancy during the Eid holidays, reflecting the strong appetite of residents for staycations,” said Iftikhar Hamdani, area General Manager of Bahi Ajman Palace and Coral Beach Resort Sharjah hotels.Iftikhar HamdaniThe Eid break, which began on Thursday, March 19, arrived amid ongoing regional tensions following the US-Israel-Iran conflict. With airspace closures and flight cancellations disrupting international travel, many residents who had planned to fly abroad instead turned to local staycations — a trend that experts say has continued to drive business through March and AprilAccording to Jan Majersk, Hotel Manager at JA Hatta Fort Hotel, there was a strong demand from families and couples looking for a change of pace. He added that Hatta is continuing to resonate as a destination among residents. "While travel patterns have evolved, there is still a clear preference for experiences that feel distinct without requiring extensive planning," he said. "Hatta offers that balance — proximity combined with a setting that feels removed from the everyday."PreferencesDubai resident Shehna Mansoor and her family of five enjoyed a last-minute staycation at a five-star hotel in JBR earlier recently. She said that the prices were unmatchable. “We paid roughly around Dh500 for a room with breakfast,” she said. “It was too good a deal to miss, so we changed our plans last-minute to enjoy the staycation. The hotel was really busy and it took us almost two hours to complete our check-in.”According to Pavlina, their wellbeing resort is seeing more and more UAE residents gravitating towards them. “We are also witnessing a clear uplift in both staycations and daycations, particularly those centered around wellbeing,” she said. “Guests are increasingly drawn to experiences such as sound healing, breathwork, and yoga, creating meaningful moments of calm, reflection, and reconnection during this time. Our private pool villas continue to be a key driver of demand — allowing guests to disconnect from the pace of everyday life, slow down, and fully unwind at their own rhythm. This offering continues to resonate strongly with both our resident expatriate community and local Emirati guests seeking a more meaningful escape."Pavlina Tarabova Al-Ghamdi, General Manager of Meliá Desert PalmIfthikar pointed out that residents are choosing to stay closer to home in convenient, and experience-driven escapes, with family-friendly touches like kid’s face painting and henna. “Overall, the trend highlights a resilient domestic market, where guests continue to seek comfort, familiarity, and quality hospitality experiences within the UAE,” he said.Jan added that visitors were looking for experience-led packages rather than purely room-based offers. "Guests are looking for stays that combine outdoor exploration with well-curated dining and wellness elements," he said. "This includes light adventure experiences such as guided hikes or nature-based activities and dining-led experiences, especially those that feel authentic and unique to the destination."He added that there was also growing interest in flexible, short-stay options that allow guests to personalise their time.Up to 70% off: UAE hotels, resorts roll out Eid staycation dealsMore UAE residents opting for local staycations over international travel3 in 4 UAE residents opt to stay home, enjoy local Eid Al Fitr celebrations
Several hotels in the UAE registered near full levels of occupancy over the Eid break and are continuing to see sustained strong demand despite unpredictable conditions. Dubai resident Maliha Khan decided to spend the Eid vacation on a staycation with her family. She was surprised when she went for breakfast on her first morning.
“We went to the restaurant at around 8am and the restaurant was packed,” she said. “We barely managed to find a table in the corner of the hall for the four of us. I was surprised because I was expecting less crowd due to the ongoing regional tensions. But, I must admit, I was happy. It clearly shows that it is business as usual. It is great for the economy.”
Hotel operators agreed that they had seen good business over the Eid break. "Despite the current geopolitical climate, we are proud to have achieved occupancy in the high 90s over the Eid period — evidence of the strong and sustained demand for everything the resort offers,” said Pavlina Tarabova Al-Ghamdi, General Manager of Meliá Desert Palm, noting that the overall demand remained resilient.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp channels.
Her comments were supported by other industry experts. “We reached 100 per cent occupancy during the Eid holidays, reflecting the strong appetite of residents for staycations,” said Iftikhar Hamdani, area General Manager of Bahi Ajman Palace and Coral Beach Resort Sharjah hotels. Iftikhar Hamdani
The Eid break, which began on Thursday, March 19, arrived amid ongoing regional tensions following the US-Israel-Iran conflict. With airspace closures and flight cancellations disrupting international travel, many residents who had planned to fly abroad instead turned to local staycations — a trend that experts say has continued to drive business through March and April
According to Jan Majersk, Hotel Manager at JA Hatta Fort Hotel, there was a strong demand from families and couples looking for a change of pace. He added that Hatta is continuing to resonate as a destination among residents.
"While travel patterns have evolved, there is still a clear preference for experiences that feel distinct without requiring extensive planning," he said. "Hatta offers that balance — proximity combined with a setting that feels removed from the everyday."
Preferences
Dubai resident Shehna Mansoor and her family of five enjoyed a last-minute staycation at a five-star hotel in JBR earlier recently. She said that the prices were unmatchable. “We paid roughly around Dh500 for a room with breakfast,” she said. “It was too good a deal to miss, so we changed our plans last-minute to enjoy the staycation. The hotel was really busy and it took us almost two hours to complete our check-in.”
According to Pavlina, their wellbeing resort is seeing more and more UAE residents gravitating towards them. “We are also witnessing a clear uplift in both staycations and daycations, particularly those centered around wellbeing,” she said.
“Guests are increasingly drawn to experiences such as sound healing, breathwork, and yoga, creating meaningful moments of calm, reflection, and reconnection during this time. Our private pool villas continue to be a key driver of demand — allowing guests to disconnect from the pace of everyday life, slow down, and fully unwind at their own rhythm. This offering continues to resonate strongly with both our resident expatriate community and local Emirati guests seeking a more meaningful escape." Pavlina Tarabova Al-Ghamdi, General Manager of Meliá Desert Palm
Ifthikar pointed out that residents are choosing to stay closer to home in convenient, and experience-driven escapes, with family-friendly touches like kid’s face painting and henna.
“Overall, the trend highlights a resilient domestic market, where guests continue to seek comfort, familiarity, and quality hospitality experiences within the UAE,” he said.
Jan added that visitors were looking for experience-led packages rather than purely room-based offers. "Guests are looking for stays that combine outdoor exploration with well-curated dining and wellness elements," he said. "This includes light adventure experiences such as guided hikes or nature-based activities and dining-led experiences, especially those that feel authentic and unique to the destination."
He added that there was also growing interest in flexible, short-stay options that allow guests to personalise their time.
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