Dubai - The largest flight search on Wego occurs during major holiday periods such as Ramadan.
By Curated by Nilanjana Gupta
Published: Tue 10 May 2016, 2:37 PM
Last updated: Tue 10 May 2016, 9:55 PM
With just weeks to go for the holy month of Ramadan, families in the UAE are increasingly making holiday plans and checking flight rates.
Wego.com, a travel search site in the Middle East and Asia Pacific, has revealed the most popular family destinations for travellers in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
"At Wego, we regularly see large searches for more than four travellers from both countries, with huge surges during major holiday periods such as Ramadan," said Mamoun Hmedan, Managing Director of Wego Middle East, North Africa and India.
Top 10 family destinations from UAE
No prizes for guessing. Cairo is the most popular choice for family travel among UAE expats.
"Egyptian expats in Dubai return to Cairo for family holidays giving it the number one position," Hmedan added.
Next in line of popularity are Istanbul and Jeddah. Both are close to Dubai and with their visual treats, they offer great family holiday experiences.
Jordan's capital of Amman is also a popular choice as it boasts of amazing shopping and dining experiences, and historical monuments.
Bangkok comes fifth in line with its diverse offerings; a melting pot of exotic aromas, interesting sights and visual delights.
"Munich is popular as a shopping destination and to escape the heat in a cooler climate, while Kuala Lumpur is also attractive for shopping, dining and family attractions in the Genting Highlands and island resorts," Hmedan added.
Tbilisi, a historic city in Georgia comes in at number nine is one of the best choices if you want to go easy on your pocket. Kuwait City also made it to the list with its amusement parks and activities to keep families entertained.
"Four and five star hotels are most preferred for family travels, with 32 per cent of the UAE's accommodation choices requesting four star accommodation and 48 per cent opting for five star properties," said Hmedan.
Top 10 family destinations from Saudi Arabia
For families residing in Saudi Arabia, Istanbul leads as the most popular family destination.
"Istanbul has a good selection of property types to suit families and offers a number of family activities and attractions. With a flight time of around 3 hours 30 minutes, it's a popular family destination throughout the year for Saudis," Hmedan said.
Second in line is Dubai, that boasts of the desert and the beach and everything else in between. It's a great choice for families with the huge shopping malls, cinemas and theme parks.
"Dubai is a great city for families and many will now also align their travel dates with major events hosted more frequently in the Emirate," he added.
Jakarta is in third place, as the many Indonesians who have been employed and relocated to Saudi return home with their families to visit extended families and friends throughout the year, and also during Ramadan. Likewise with Cairo (in fourth place) with expats returning home for Ramadan, holidays and special occasions.
Coming in fifth most popular family destination, Jeddah is not only the gateway for pilgrimages to Makkah and Medina, the port city also boasts five star resorts on the Red Sea, seafront promenades and other child friendly attractions.
Kuala Lumpur is also a preferred choice for families who want to escape the heat and sand dunes for the tropical greenery. Island hopping at Langkawi, Hiking at Cameron Highlands are other getaway destination from the capital city.
"Tabzon and Dammam both offer coastal retreats, fishing and resort escapes, and Casablanca has the beautiful Parc de la Ligue Arabe and fabulous souks," said Hmedan.
According to Wego, during 2015, over 33 per cent of Saudi family travellers selected 4 star accommodation, and 40 per cent selected the flexibility and luxury of 5 star resorts and hotels.
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