Ramadan Deals

As the Holy Month approaches, the major carriers in our region have flipped the switch on their 2026 Ramadan campaigns. While "The Big Three" (Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways) are leaning heavily into the premium experience, think gourmet iftar boxes and massive points giveaways, the low-cost carriers are where you will find the actual fare cuts.

I have been digging through the alerts from the last 48 hours, and if you are planning an Eid getaway or a trip to see family, here is what you need to know.

The Best Cash Deals: Air Arabia

Air Arabia has stolen the show this year with their "Ramadan Sale." They are offering up to 40% off flights, but there is a catch: you have to book by February 25.

The discounts are tiered based on which fare class you pick:

• Basic: 20% off

• Value: 30% off

• Ultimate: 40% off

  
  

This covers a huge range of destinations from Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, including the usual GCC hops plus further-flung spots like Italy, Greece, and even the Maldives. The travel window is quite generous, running from late March all the way to mid-June, which is perfect for covering the Eid Al Fitr break.

The Points Play: Emirates Skywards

If you aren't looking for a cheap ticket but want to beef up your balance, Emirates is the one to watch. They just launched a draw for a share of 2 million Skywards Miles. Twenty people will win 100,000 miles each, which is more than enough for a Business Class upgrade to Europe or a return trip to the US.

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To enter, you just need to spend through the Skywards Everyday app or the Skywards Miles Mall. They are also offering a 25% bonus on miles earned during Ramadan. If you are a new user and pay with a Visa card, you can even get 4x miles on your first shop. This is a solid "hack" if you are already doing your grocery runs at Waitrose or Spinneys here in the UAE.

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The Premium Experience: Etihad and Qatar

For the ME3, Ramadan is often more about the "onboard hospitality" than slashed prices.

• Etihad is focusing on their "curated culinary journey." If you are flying through Zayed International Airport, the lounges are serving traditional iftar platters with grilled lobster and rose mahalabia. Onboard, they have takeaway bags for fasting passengers and a huge selection of religious programming on E-Box.

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• Qatar Airways has a slightly more direct offer. I saw an alert for up to 20% off worldwide flights, though this seems more targeted at specific regions like Africa and Asia-Pacific. They are also pushing their gate-to-gate Starlink Wi-Fi, which is now free on many of their 777 routes.

Middle East Miles Take

If you want to save money, book Air Arabia right now before the February 25 deadline. If you are a high-spender in the UAE, move your daily shopping to the Skywards Everyday app to chase that 100,000-mile prize. For those heading to Saudi for Umrah, expect airports like Jeddah and Madinah to be at 100% capacity; both Saudia and Gulf Air have added extra flights to handle the "Ramadan Rush."

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