Dreaming of a Downtown Dubai staycation during NYE? It could cost you Dh75,000

Dubai: Hotels in Downtown Dubai, famed for their sweeping Burj Khalifa views, remain prime real estate for New Year’s Eve revellers, but prices have soared. A two-bedroom apartment at Grand Opera Tower Lux is commanding Dh75,429 for a two-night stay from December 31 to January 2, 2025, underscoring a surge in demand.

Five-star hotels in hotspots like Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, and JBR are nearly fully booked, leaving only pricey hotel apartments and short-term rentals available, according to industry insiders. Hotels are reporting near 100 per cent occupancy rates as well.

Even the most affordable options with Burj Khalifa views aren’t cheap—ranging from Dh3,330 for a deluxe room at Damac Maison Mall Street to Dh11,475 for a Holistay Luxury Homes apartment. As Dubai gears up for a record-breaking New Year’s Eve, travellers are bracing for sky-high costs. “There has been a 20 per cent surge in bookings for local destinations. Popular choices include luxury beachside resorts in Dubai, hotels with amusement park access on Yas Island, and mountain retreats in Ras Al Khaimah,” said Rikant Pittie- Co- founder of EaseMyTrip.

He added, “We have observed an extraordinary surge in hotel bookings for the NYE, with rates soaring by up to 300%.”

Last-minute deals
Hotel rooms on Palm Jumeirah are sold out, with many bookings secured well in advance, according to hoteliers. However, last-minute deals are still available at select properties, starting at Dh3,960 to Dh4,579 for a two-night stay for two adults.
Beachfront resorts are pricing suites between Dh8,240 and Dh18,630 for the same period. Last-minute bookings at Atlantis Palm Jumeirah can be availed at Dh9,770 (for two guests).

These rates reflect a drop in the prices of at least 30% compared to 2023, when two-night stays at basic four-star properties ranged from Dh6,000 to Dh7,000. The most expensive suite at Atlantis The Palm during NYE 2024 was priced at Dh150,000 (Neptune Underwater suite).

Staycations at InterContinental Residences Dubai Business Bay are priced at Dh19,999 to Dh24,999.
Robust demand
“Hotels in Dubai are reporting occupancies of nearly 90 per cent on room bookings across the emirate and around 100 per cent in Downtown and Burj Khalifa areas ahead of New Year’s Eve,” said a hotelier.

Hotels in Abu Dhabi, however, have been experiencing a surge in visitor numbers since early this year. The Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi) said the emirate’s hotels have received 4.8 million guests year-to-date (YTD) as of October 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic figures and achieving a 26 per cent increase in international guests from 26 key source markets, including India, China, Russia, the UK, and Saudi Arabia.
Are people travelling for NYE? Some UAE residents are opting for quick getaways to nearby destinations to ring in the New Year, travel agents say. With New Year’s Day falling on a Friday, creating a four-day weekend, popular choices include Baku, Muscat, Riyadh, Amman, Cairo, and Mumbai, according to Afi Ahmed, Chairman of Smart Travels. Dubai International Airport (DXB) is bracing for a holiday travel surge, with over 5.2 million passengers expected between December 13 and 31. Daily traffic is projected to average 274,000 travelers, peaking on Friday, December 20, when nearly 296,000 passengers are anticipated. The weekend from December 20 to 22 will see heightened activity, with an estimated 880,000 travellers passing through. Essa Al Shamsi, Senior Vice President of Terminal Operations at Dubai Airports, highlighted that 1.7 million of the projected passengers will be arrivals, while 1.5 million will be departures.