Eid al-Adha travel costs surge in seven Arab countries amid regional tensions

DOHA—As Eid al-Adha and the summer holiday season approach, Arab families are facing a different travel season this year.

Travel and accommodation costs have become an additional burden on household budgets amid regional tensions, rising fuel prices, expensive insurance, and disruptions to global air travel.

From Qatar to Morocco, via Kuwait, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Algeria, complaints are similar: ticket prices have soared, direct flights have decreased, and accommodation costs at tourist destinations have risen sharply.

Meanwhile, travel companies and hotels are adapting to what is being described as an unprecedented season due to regional conflicts and global economic volatility.

Regional tensions have altered Qataris’ travel patterns for Eid al-Adha this year, with many families choosing to stay within the country or travel by land to nearby Gulf states rather than take long-haul flights.

Qatari citizen Jassim Al-Amadi told Al Jazeera, quoted on Monday, 25 May 2026, that many families are reviewing their travel plans due to concerns over sudden developments that could disrupt flights.

He added that the experience of airport closures and flight cancellations during the February conflict with Iran remains fresh in people’s minds.

He also noted that summer holiday plans remain in place but are contingent on regional stability in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, another Qatari, Jaber Al-Shawi, said many families are now opting to spend Eid al-Adha domestically due to available tourist and entertainment options, or travel by land to Gulf countries as they are seen as safer.