The summer holidays are here.
For many people in the northern hemisphere, the June to September holiday is a significant one. It’s when schools tend to break up and life slows down a little.
Some countries, such as France and Italy, shut up shop and stop working for significant chunks of the summer. In the media industry, we’re well acquainted with silly season, a time when news often slows down over the summer months and stories become a little lighter (although whether we’ll see that this year remains to be seen).
Despite the fact that it’s been a good 18 years since I left school, I still feel a surge of excitement as July comes around and that "school’s out" feeling takes over – an instinct I’ll never shake, perhaps. For those of us who live away from our home countries, the summer break has become a time when we can try to go back – some for a few days, others for months. Although, the more economically shrewd will tell you that flying off-peak is a much smarter way to plan, if you’re not working around school holidays.
Although I am not planning around term dates, I will still find myself among the millions of people travelling through Dubai International Airport this summer, as I make my annual trip back to the UK. I was among the lucky thousands that got tickets to see Oasis, so I will be in London for the concert at the end of July. I am not alone - gig tourism is becoming more and more popular. Here in the UAE, the music events market is forecast to be worth $146.9 million by 2028.
Earlier this year, Saeed Saeed wrote about taking an Oasis (and music in general)-inspired trip to Manchester in England. He's inspired me to make a creative itinerary of my own when I am there. I will have to report back.
I have spent a good amount of time pondering the main reasons we travel for leisure in 2025, aside from visiting loved ones. While concerts have been a key draw for me, for many others travel is an opportunity to switch off and really rest. This is when wellness retreats and off-the-beaten-track destinations come into their own, in a bid to beat burnout. Earlier this year, Gemma White reviewed the Kamalaya Wellness Retreat in Koh Samui, which should give many people some food for relaxation's thought.
For others, discovery is central to their plans; seeing incredible sites around the globe and attempting to tick off visits to wonders of the world like a to-do list. They relish the chance to see natural wonders, such as the Grand Canyon or aurora borealis; visit ancient sites, like the Pyramids of Giza or Mayan ruins; and explore fast-paced cities, including Tokyo or Berlin, where they can try new foods and visit incredible museums. Adventure travellers overlap here somewhat, people who will plan trips around climbing the highest peaks, taking on challenging but rewarding scuba dives, or making the most of an incredible safari.
And then there is travelling to connect with heritage, retracing family trips or visiting birthplaces significant to your personal history.
At the other end of the scale are the people who are not travelling at all, but making the most of the quieter, albeit warmer, months here in the UAE.
Whatever your reason for travelling (or not travelling) this summer, enjoy!
UAE airfares rise by up to 20 per cent
If you have been thinking that flights in and out of the UAE are more expensive than ever, you are on to something.
This week we have looked into flight prices, which have climbed above 2024 levels on several routes.
“Average airfares from Mena countries in summer 2025 have already crept above last year's levels, and they're not done climbing,” says Mamoun Hmidan, chief business officer at Wego. Some routes in the online travel company’s network have seen fares increase by more than 20 per cent, year on year.
Analysts point to a combination of high demand, constrained aircraft supply and regional airspace disruptions as key forces driving fares higher.
Read more about the price hikes, and how travellers are responding, here.
New flight routes for 2026
While we are still ticking off new airline routes this year – with options taking passengers to Phnom Penh, Chisinau and Tunis still to come – Etihad Airways has already announced two newcomers for 2026.
Next year, the UAE flag carrier will launch direct flights from Abu Dhabi to Salalah, Oman and Krakow, Poland.
The route to the picturesque city in Oman's southern Dhofar province will launch on May 21, in time for the khareef monsoon season. The rainy season runs from late June until September, and temperatures range from 20°C to 27°C, which is up to 20°C cooler than other parts of the Gulf. Visit over the summer for lush greenery, waterfalls and cool coastal breezes. The new route will run on Thursdays and Sundays until June 15, and will be increased to daily until September 15.
Less than a month later, the airline will establish a route to Krakow on June 15. The launch to a second Polish city comes on the back of Etihad's Warsaw route, which began in June. The city is known for its Gothic towers, Renaissance palaces and cafe culture. Flights will run three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Emirates, Air Arabia, flydubai and Wizz Air Abu Dhabi haven’t announced new routes yet, so keep checking this story for announcements.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Mykonos
After an early summer trip to the Aegean island of Mykonos, Sarah Maisey shares her tips on where to stay, dine and explore this week.
Famous for its windmills, vibrant nightlife and whitewashed charm, Mykonos is a seductive blend of upscale luxe and rugged beaches. This is an island where it is entirely possible to arrive by helicopter, go to beach clubs or shop at high-end stores in the morning, and visit ancient ruins and cites of great historic significance in the afternoon.
Read all Sarah's Mykonos tips here.
TRAVEL NEWS THIS WEEK
Top travel tip
Travel guidebooks might seem like something from bygone days − although I do still love buying and collecting guidebooks for my favourite destinations. But space in hand luggage (and bookshelves) for books set in travel destinations is a must, in my opinion. Reading a story from the location you're in can add a little extra magic to a trip, immersing you in a fictional world as you enjoy your real-world holiday. Recent favourites of mine have been Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur, which I read in Cape Cod, and The Fair Botanists by Sara Sheridan will come with me when I go back to Edinburgh later this year.
