Ah, the UAE public holidays. The upcoming Eid Al Fitr break is ALL anyone is talking about right now and travel search aggregator Skyscanner is here to help you make a decision.
You’ve worked hard all year (yes, we know it’s only March), and all you want to do is escape from the daily grind for a short period and forget about it all.
But for those with spontaneous wanderlust, there’s often a lengthy and downright boring bureaucratic visa process to get through before deciding on a (equally wonderful) staycation instead.
However, if you’re a UAE resident, you’re able to jet off to some wonderful places completely visa-free.
And if you’re anything like us you’ll want to imagine you’re anywhere but your office chair after looking through where you could be right now.
So here it is, the top visa-free countries, according to Skyscanner, for UAE residents and where the most budget-friendly places are to fly to and from.
Visa-free countries to travel from UAE
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan is a destination of stunning natural beauty such as the Candy Cane Mountains between the major cities of Baku and Quba. And the capital of Baku is a city constantly developing, not too dissimilar to Abu Dhabi in some ways, with some brilliant architecture including the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre. Flights start from around Dhs200 per person flying from Abu Dhabi to Baku.
From Dhs200. Wizz Air. 3 hours 10 mins
Georgia
Not to be confused with the US state on Ray Charles’ mind, this is one of the most popular the Eastern European visa-free countries for UAE residents. It’s rich with history and offers brilliant cuisine. Take in the charming old architecture of Tbilisi on your way to grabbing some authentic homemade shoti bread. Or, if you want to hit the slopes then Gudari at this time of year is the place to be. Flights to Kutaisi from Abu Dhabi start from around Dhs150 per person.
From Dhs150. Wizz Air. 3 hours 55 mins
Jordan
Jordan is home to some of the world’s most striking ancient wonders including the rock-cut architecture of Petra. It is also one of the countries to have the fascinating Dead Sea on its shores so you can take a dip in the extremely salty body of water. Flights to Aqaba from Abu Dhabi are priced at around Dhs160 per person in April and May.
From Dhs160. Wizz Air. 3 hours 40 mins
Malaysia
You can explore the monkey-filled limestone Batu Caves at Selangor completely visa-free from the UAE. Elsewhere in Malaysia, you can enjoy a busy city break in bustling Kuala Lumpur or head to the gorgeous Gunung Mulu National Park to get some pictures for your Insta feed. Flights start from around Dhs1,370 per person to Kuala Lumpur from Dubai.
From Dhs1,370. Indigo. From 7 hours and 5 minutes
Philippines
A visa-free trip to the Philippines sounds very tempting. You can see plenty of amazing natural beauty such as the Hinatuan Enchanted River or enjoy an interesting meal right next to a waterfall at Villa Escudero. If that doesn’t take your fancy then a city break in Manila might be more your speed. Flights to Manila direct from Dubai start at around Dhs910 per person.
From Dhs910. Cebu Pacific. From 8 hours 25 mins
Seychelles
The Seychelles is a stunning country for a getaway with sandy beaches, clear water and charming wildlife. And the cuisine is a unique blend of African, French and Indian influences so you’re in for a treat for dinner. Flights start from around Dhs1,200 per person from Dubai to Victoria.
From Dhs1,200. Ethiopian Airlines. From 4 hours 30 mins
Thailand
The visa-free destination has some of the best food in the world, amazing beach parties and fascinating city streets to explore. We don’t need to tell you about the famous nightlife of Bangkok but why not consider a visit to Chiang Mai in the north? And if you love the beach then Ko Samui is a must-visit. Flights to Bangkok from Dubai start from around Dhs1,300 per person.
From Dhs1,300. Oman Air. From 6 hours 5 mins
All flight estimates are correct according to Skyscanner as of Wednesday March 13.
