According to experts, one of the main reasons for its appeal is the easy connectivity when flying from the UAE.
According to travel industry experts, Turkey has become one of the most popular travel destinations as a result of UAE residents' interest in its rich history, beautiful landscapes, and vibrant culture, which has made it their top pick for adventure and leisure.
According to Rashida Zahid, VP-operations of Musafir.com, UAE citizens frequently travel to Turkey. "As you can see, we have already sold out of Eid Al Adha travel packages to Turkey. While there was a little decline in demand during Eid Al Fitr 2023, it has already recovered to its 2022 levels, according to Zahid, who also noted that there had been no dips in demand for Turkey as a vacation destination this year.
Popular travel websites like Holiday Factory and Travel Wings are reporting that their holiday packages to Turkey are sold out during the Eid Al Adha holiday.
Popular Turkish locations
The most well-liked Turkish cities among UAE citizens are Istanbul, Antalya, Bodrum, Trabzon, Cappadocia, and Uzungul, according to experts.
Istanbul is home to some of the most well-known tourist attractions, including the Blue Mosque and Camlica Hill, which is the city's highest point. While Cappadocia, which is well-known for its hot air balloon rides and cave hotels, has always been a preferred destination for tourists, Hagia Sophia and the Sultanahmet neighbourhood have long been well-liked tourist destinations. Additionally, Bursa is renowned for its abundance of natural beauty and flora.
As coastal cities, Bodrum, Trabzon, and Uzungul are particularly popular in the summer. Due to its blue stretches, world-famous seafood, boating sports, and fairytale views, Bodrum is a particularly well-liked destination, according to Zahid.
Connectivity is a key factor.
The easy flight connectivity between the two nations, according to industry analysts, is one of the main reasons why inhabitants of the UAE are attracted to Turkey.
Major airlines have greatly increased the number of their flight routes, providing direct service from towns in the United Arab Emirates to Turkish cities including Istanbul and Antalya. According to Deepak Kaushik, marketing manager for Tours on Board, "these improved travel connections have made the journey more convenient and contributed to the rising number of UAE visitors to Turkey."
"Dubai residents can enjoy a high-quality travel experience without stretching their budgets, thanks to affordable accommodation, dining, and shopping prices," added Kaushik.
Price
On a well-known website, trips to Turkey start at Dh3,300, but during the Eid Al Adha holiday, these packages increase to Dh3,999.
But according to Zahid, the starting price right now is Dh4,500 for an all-inclusive vacation package for two people travelling together. This includes round-trip airfare, lodging in a 4- to 5-star hotel, city tours of some of Turkey's most well-known and notable locations, such as Istanbul and Cappadocia, as well as flights to Cappadocia (or other internal flights), daily breakfast, a few meals, activities, entry tickets, transfers to and from the airport, an English-speaking guide, and much more.
Visa
The cost of optional tours, PCR testing for non-immunized residents, and visa costs are not included in packages to Turkey. "We get a lot of requests for a second visa that must be obtained for Turkey. A valid UK, US, or Schengen visa is required for travellers from certain nationalities to obtain an e-visa to Turkey, according to Dhas Anthony, general manager of Rejoice Travel & Tourism and a visa expert.
"With all valid documents, the processing time for a Turkish visa is up to 15 working days."
Documents are necessary
a letter of support from the applicant's employer or sponsor
Your six-month bank statement, attested
Travel protection
authentic passport
documents of prior visas for other nations
a duplicate of your hotel reservation for the location
both a round-trip ticket and a return ticket
two photos the size of a passport
