• 1. The Philippines is the top choice for UAE travellers this summer, with more Skyscannner flight bookings to Manila than any other destination. Photo: Cris Tagupa / Unsplash
    1. The Philippines is the top choice for UAE travellers this summer, with more Skyscannner flight bookings to Manila than any other destination. Photo: Cris Tagupa / Unsplash
  • 2. Cairo, Egypt, also ranks highly among holidaymakers. EPA
    2. Cairo, Egypt, also ranks highly among holidaymakers. EPA
  • 3. The Amman Citadel, an ancient Roman landmark in Amman, Jordan, could be a popular destination as the city has the third most bookings according to Skyscanner. Reuters
    3. The Amman Citadel, an ancient Roman landmark in Amman, Jordan, could be a popular destination as the city has the third most bookings according to Skyscanner. Reuters
  • 4. UAE travellers are also flocking to Mumbai, India. Photo: Paul Hilton
    4. UAE travellers are also flocking to Mumbai, India. Photo: Paul Hilton
  • 5. Tourists visit the waterfront in Istanbul, Turkey, the fifth most popular city according to data. Photo: Erhan Demirtas / Bloomberg
    5. Tourists visit the waterfront in Istanbul, Turkey, the fifth most popular city according to data. Photo: Erhan Demirtas / Bloomberg

Travel

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Manila, Cairo and Amman are most popular summer destinations for UAE travellers

New Skyscanner data reveals where holidaymakers are preparing to fly to

Hayley Skirka
Hayley Skirka

July 01, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

With the school year ending and Eid Al Adha holidays in sight, travellers are planning to get away this summer.

And, the most popular destination for travel from the UAE is Manila, according to the latest data from online travel agency Skyscanner.

The Eid Al Adha long weekend is scheduled to start on Friday, July 8, and end on Monday, July 11, giving travellers a four-day weekend.

Families are preparing for global travel after two years of disruption owing to Covid-19. AFP
Families are preparing for global travel after two years of disruption owing to Covid-19. AFP

In line with the coming holiday, the week beginning July 4 is the most popular for travel from the UAE.

The capital of the Philippines is the most popular destination for summer holidays, with destinations in Egypt, Jordan, India and Turkey rounding out the top five.

Top destinations for UAE travellers

1. Manila, Philippines

2. Cairo, Egypt

3. Amman, Jordan

4. Mumbai, India

5. Istanbul, Turkey

Skyscanner reveals UAE bookings in May, for July and August travel, were up by 156 per cent compared to the previous month.

It’s a similar story in Saudi Arabia where bookings increased by 325 per cent for the same period.

Travellers from the kingdom prefer Egypt over the Philippines for travel this year, with Cairo the most popular destination from Saudi Arabia on Skyscanner. London is the second most-booked destination, followed by Bangkok, Baku and Hyderabad.

“As travel restrictions have eased and traveller confidence returns, we’ve witnessed a travel revival with pent-up demand turning into millions of travellers enjoying their much longed for trips again,” said Skyscanner travel expert, Ayoub El Mamoun.

Despite the popularity of some destinations, El Mamoun says summer flights don’t have to be expensive and advised travellers to set up flight alerts to track price drops.

“Flights to popular summer destinations don’t have to cost a fortune if you know how to search for the best prices,” he added.

Thailand is top summer holiday destination

Waves break on the empty tourist beach of Patong on Phuket, southern Thailand. AP Photo
Waves break on the empty tourist beach of Patong on Phuket, southern Thailand. AP Photo

Travellers are also heading to more traditional holiday destinations this summer, according to data from dnata Travel.

The travel agency last week said Thailand is the most popular destination for holidays from the UAE this summer.

The South-East Asian country removed all Covid-19-related entry rules in June, when it scrapped the need for incoming travellers to hold a Thailand Pass.

Bangkok, Phuket and Koh Samui are the most popular destinations in Thailand for UAE travellers.

Dnata Travel also said 64 per cent of customers had booked holidays abroad, while 34 per cent had opted for UAE staycations this summer.

10 countries Sheikh Hamdan has travelled to, from Cannes to Maldives and Mongolia — in pictures

  • Sheikh Hamdan shared this picture of himself and his young son, Sheikh Rashid. Photo: Sheikh Hamdan / Instagram
    Sheikh Hamdan shared this picture of himself and his young son, Sheikh Rashid. Photo: Sheikh Hamdan / Instagram
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, playing with his grandchild on their summer holidays, shared by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai. All photos: @faz3 / Instagram
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, playing with his grandchild on their summer holidays, shared by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai. All photos: @faz3 / Instagram
  • Sheikh Mohammed playing with his grandson Rashid.
    Sheikh Mohammed playing with his grandson Rashid.
  • Sheikh Hamdan shared photos of himself, his family and friends shooting in Yorkshire.
    Sheikh Hamdan shared photos of himself, his family and friends shooting in Yorkshire.
  • Sheikh Hamdan rides the London Underground with close friend Badr Ateej.
    Sheikh Hamdan rides the London Underground with close friend Badr Ateej.
  • Sheikh Mohammed joined his son Sheikh Hamdan and his grandchildren on holiday this summer.
    Sheikh Mohammed joined his son Sheikh Hamdan and his grandchildren on holiday this summer.
  • Sheikh Hamdan visited the F3 Stables in the UK with his son Sheikh Rashid, 1.
    Sheikh Hamdan visited the F3 Stables in the UK with his son Sheikh Rashid, 1.
  • Sheikh Hamdan on day one of Royal Ascot in the UK.
    Sheikh Hamdan on day one of Royal Ascot in the UK.
  • An image shared to mark World Oceans Day.
    An image shared to mark World Oceans Day.
  • An image of Sheikh Hamdan scuba diving.
    An image of Sheikh Hamdan scuba diving.
  • Sheikh Hamdan preparing for the unpredictable weather during a trip to Scotland.
    Sheikh Hamdan preparing for the unpredictable weather during a trip to Scotland.
  • Sheikh Hamdan in the Maldives with the Indian Ocean in the background.
    Sheikh Hamdan in the Maldives with the Indian Ocean in the background.
  • Sheikh Hamdan takes tea on a visit to Mongolia.
    Sheikh Hamdan takes tea on a visit to Mongolia.
  • Sheikh Hamdan dressed for the cold weather during a visit to Switzerland.
    Sheikh Hamdan dressed for the cold weather during a visit to Switzerland.
  • Sheikh Hamdan cycles through the Yorkshire countryside in England.
    Sheikh Hamdan cycles through the Yorkshire countryside in England.
  • French Riviera views from a trip to Cannes.
    French Riviera views from a trip to Cannes.
  • Sheikh Hamdan makes his way through the snow in Azerbaijan.
    Sheikh Hamdan makes his way through the snow in Azerbaijan.
  • Sheikh Hamdan casts his eye over the rugged beauty in Iceland.
    Sheikh Hamdan casts his eye over the rugged beauty in Iceland.
  • Sheikh Hamdan takes a waterfall selfie in the Faroe Islands.
    Sheikh Hamdan takes a waterfall selfie in the Faroe Islands.
  • Sheikh Hamdan captures the view from the Willis Tower, once the tallest building in the world, with his uncle Saeed.
    Sheikh Hamdan captures the view from the Willis Tower, once the tallest building in the world, with his uncle Saeed.
The biog

Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia

Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins

Favourite dish: Grilled fish

Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.

TEST SQUADS

Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mominul Haque, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Mehedi Hasan, Shafiul Islam, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed.

Australia: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, Ashton Agar, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Matthew Wade, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson and Jackson Bird.

Dunki
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Switching%20sides
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Essentials

The flights
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Seattle from Dh6,755 return in economy and Dh24,775 in business class.
The cruise
UnCruise Adventures offers a variety of small-ship cruises in Alaska and around the world. A 14-day Alaska’s Inside Passage and San Juans Cruise from Seattle to Juneau or reverse costs from $4,695 (Dh17,246), including accommodation, food and most activities. Trips in 2019 start in April and run until September. 
 

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Gothia Cup 2025

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1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

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15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

Test

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Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan

Star rating: 2/5

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Updated: July 02, 2022, 4:51 AM
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