WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
1 Eid al Adha flights are already surging. You have about a week to book before prices jump again.
Eid al Adha this year runs May 26 to May 31 for a 6-day break — Arafah Day (May 26), three official public holidays (May 27–29), and the weekend. UAE airlines, Emirates and flydubai included, are reporting significantly higher fares than pre-crisis levels. Two things are compounding: fuel surcharges from elevated Brent crude, and reduced international capacity on routes that remain modified due to Hormuz operational constraints. Gulf News is reporting this week that airline advisors are recommending bookings within the next 7 days for preferred destinations. Popular routes to the Maldives, Bali, London, and Bangkok are already showing limited economy availability.
Wednesday's Brent spike to $101.73 makes this worse, not better. Fuel surcharges are not going anywhere at $100 crude. Emirates is still operating approximately 125 destinations, but the window to book at current fares is closing. This is the biggest travel window of the year for most UAE expats, and many have family plans built around it months in advance.
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WHAT TO DO
Book this week if you have specific destinations in mind. Economy availability on long-haul routes is already tightening. Waiting for Brent to drop before booking is a reasonable instinct but unlikely to pay off in the next 7 days.
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2 May fuel prices announce April 30. At $101 Brent, the direction is already set.
The UAE Fuel Price Committee announces monthly retail pump prices on the last day of each month. April 30 is the next date. The ADNOC-linked formula takes the monthly average of Brent crude and converts it into a retail price. April has been an elevated month throughout. Wednesday's spike to $101.73 pulls the April average higher, not lower, with one week left in the month.
On current trajectory, May pump prices come in flat to slightly higher than April. There is no meaningful relief scenario with Brent above $100. The UAE retail price formula is publicly documented and tied to global crude. What happens at Hormuz this week directly feeds what you pay at the pump May 1.
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WHAT TO DO
Watch April 30 for the May announcement. Fill up before the month-end switch if your schedule allows it. Do not expect a specific AED/litre figure before the official announcement. The direction is flat-to-up. That is the information available right now.
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3 The NCM unsettled-weather window ends today. Dust west, rain east, rough seas in the Gulf.
The National Centre of Meteorology's three-day advisory, issued Monday and running through today, ends Thursday evening. Dubai is forecast for highs near 35°C with cloud cover and the chance of blowing dust as winds shift from northeast to northwest. The west of the country, including Abu Dhabi and the inland desert, is where visibility drops first. Fujairah and the Hajar mountains saw moderate rainfall overnight, with localised wadi runoff in low-lying areas. Gulf waters remain slight-to-moderate, turning rough at times in western sections. The Sea of Oman is calmer.
The NCM's standing guidance during dust spells is to reduce speed, use headlights, and increase following distance. Residents with respiratory conditions are advised to limit outdoor exposure when visibility drops. Conditions are forecast to stabilise from tomorrow, with clearer skies and seasonally normal temperatures returning into the weekend. No school closures or marine bans have been announced for today.
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WHAT TO DO
The advisory expires today. Live updates are at ncm.gov.ae and via NCMUAE on X. NCM dust-spell guidance: reduce speed, headlights on, longer following distance. Wadi areas in RAK and Fujairah remain the highest-risk zones for runoff. Forecast clears from tomorrow.
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