Flight searches to the UAE for Expo up 50 per cent compared to pre-pandemic data

Travellers are most likely to visit Expo 2020 Dubai from India and Saudi Arabia, and stay in the Emirates for 23 days

Visitors enjoy a light show at Al Wasl Plaza, Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

Light show at Al Wasl Plaza, Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

A view of Expo 2020 Dubai from the Garden in the Sky. Victor Besa / The National

Expo 2020 Dubai is expected to welcome millions of visitors over the next six months. Victor Besa / The National

Expo 2020 Dubai seen from the Garden in the Sky. Victor Besa / The National

People visit the Russia pavilion during the first day of Expo 2020 Dubai. AP

Performers dance during the opening ceremony of the Russian pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. The National

Afghanistan's flag flies alongside others at the opening ceremony of Expo 2020 Dubai. Reuters

Al Wasl Dome at sunset at Expo 2020 Dubai, the Middle East's first World Fair. AP

The Water Feature at sunset at Expo 2020 Dubai, where millions of visitors will travel over the next six months. AP

People pass by the Spain pavilion during the first day of Expo 2020 Dubai. AP

Visitors enjoy the Expo 2020 Dubai Water Feature area. Victor Besa / The National.

Visitors at the Expo 2020 Water Feature area, on the first day of the world fair. Victor Besa / The National

Wearing traditional costume, Keren Tang poses in front of the China pavilion. Victor Besa / The National

The Expo Explorer ride passes the China pavilion, which takes its inspiration from a Chinese lantern. Victor Besa / The National

Visitors to the Switzerland pavilion take shade under umbrellas while waiting in line. Victor Besa / The National

Visitors at the Belarus pavilion area. Victor Besa / The National

The UAE's Al Fursan aerobatics team perform on the first day of Expo 2020 Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Kazakhstani women in traditional costume pose for a picture at the expo. AFP

A visitor in the Pakistan pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A guest receives her stamp at the China pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The spectacular UAE pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Visitors explore the Expo 2020 Dubai site. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Visitors at the Pakistan pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Green lights come off the floor and the ceiling in the Pakistan pavilion to do with the Billion trees project on the first day of Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The United Kingdom pavilion on the first day of Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

International Colours Parade on the first day of Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

International Colours Parade on the first day of Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

International Colours Parade on the first day of Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

International Colours Parade on the first day of Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The Italy pavilion on the first day of Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

International Colours Parade on the first day of Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The beauty of imaging. The anthropomorphic installation 'The Beauty of Imaging' is a fascinating example of art and life sciences marriage. The giant, 4 metres high and composed of 82 screens divided into 225 high-resolution LED tiles, pays homage with its iconic figure to the most famous artistic expressions, from classical sculpture to the genius of Michelangelo, up to Picasso's reworking of forms. Inside the Italy pavilion on the first day of Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A life-size model of MichelangeloÕs David. Inside the Italy pavilion on the first day of Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid visits Expo 2020 Dubai on Day One. All photos: @HHShkMohd / Twitter

Anatomic clock. Inside the Italy pavilion on the first day of Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Inside the Italy pavilion on the first day of Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Inside the Italy pavilion on the first day of Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

People interact with wandering robots on the first day of Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

HH Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak with Jeoungyeol Yu, Commissioner General of the Korea Pavilion, President and CEO of KOTRA at the official opening of the Korea pavilion on the first day of Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The official opening of the Korea pavilion on the first day of Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Thani Al Zeyoudi the Minister of State for Foreign Trade at the official opening of the Korea pavilion on the first day of Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

HH Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak at the official opening of the Korea pavilion on the first day of Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Emirati traditional musicians greet visitors upon arrival. EPA

From the moment the doors opened at 10am on Friday, crowds have flocked to the world’s fair. EPA

Zeleros premieres its hyperloop vehicle during a media tour of the Spain Pavilion. AP Photo

Qataris take part in a traditional sword dance at the opening of the Qatar Pavilion. AP Photo

A visitor takes a selfie with a wandering robot. AP Photo

Visitors can choose from a vast selection of gifts at the souvenir shop. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The official shop is stocked with souvenirs. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Flag-waving visitors arrive at the international event. Chris Whiteoak / The National

People eager to get a glimpse of the 'world's greatest show' arrive bright and early on Friday morning. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Nitin Nishant takes a selfie in front of the Expo map. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Jaber, with his children Theyab, 6, and Shasna, 7, scans their tickets. 'We are looking forward to seeing the UAE pavilion, its our home country,' he said. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Filipino singers jump for joy as the doors to the world's fair finally open to the public. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Designated staff are on hand to help navigate visitors around the sprawling site. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The first day of the six-month expo gets under way. Chris Whiteoak / The National

As Expo 2020 Dubai rolls into its fourth day, the six-month event has already attracted the attention of travellers around the world.

Searches for flights to Dubai during Expo 2020 increased in the lead up to the grand opening of “the world’s greatest show”.

“We have seen a huge demand for searches for flights, as searches from abroad to the Emirates increased 330 per cent in the last two weeks of September,” said Mamoun Hmedan, managing director for Middle East and India at Wego.

The online travel company found that flight searches for travel to Dubai during the Expo 2020 period had surpassed searches for flights to Dubai from the same period in 2019, before the global pandemic and its devastating impact on air travel.

“Through our platform, we have also seen an increase in searches for flights for the Expo 2020 period, reaching around 365,000 a week prior to the launch date and an increase of more than 1,000 per cent compared to August.

“It exceeds 50 per cent of the number of searches in the same period in 2019, and this indicates the growing demand for flights to Dubai,” said Hmedan.

Dubai Tourism has said that it expects Expo 2020 Dubai to host more than 25 million local and foreign visitors in its six-month run time.

Travellers who are thinking about taking a trip to Dubai for the event, which runs until March 31, will be pleased to learn that despite a rising interest in flights, airfares remain relatively level.

“We noticed only a slight airfare increase of 3 per cent compared to the same period in 2020, due to the increase in supply and the resumptions of more flights to and from Dubai,” said Hmedan.

Similarly, the travel company said it had not yet tracked any noticeable changes in hotel prices in Dubai in September, compared to August. However, this could change as the UAE rolls into winter.

“There are signs that hotel prices will rise by less than 10 per cent with the approach of winter and the start of the tourism season in the Emirates,” said Hmedan.

Travellers planning a trip to the UAE during the event period can get free tickets to Expo 2020 Dubai when flying with Emirates, Etihad or flydubai. Some hotel groups, including Emaar's Address Hotels and Resorts, are also offering free passes to Expo 2020 Dubai to people booking stays in the next six months.

India and Saudi Arabia lead flight searches

Additional flight search data from Wego shows that people in India are among the most interested in flying to Dubai during the Expo 2020 period. A total of 28 per cent of flight searches originated in the subcontinent.

Saudi Arabia was the second-most interested nation, with 18 per cent of flight search traffic from across the Middle East and North Africa coming from the kingdom.

It seems that a visit to Expo 2020 Dubai is not simply a one or two-day trip, either. Wego found that travellers planning to book flights to head to Dubai during Expo 2020 are coming for longer stays. “The average duration was for trips of 23 days,” said Hmedan.

The majority of searches tracked by the travel company appeared to be for individual flight bookings, which made up 73 per cent of the search traffic.

Pairs of tickets and group bookings accounted for 14 per cent and 13 per cent of searches, respectively.

However, this does not necessarily mean there will be an influx of solo travellers to Dubai, as people often price out coming travel based on one ticket before adding accurate traveller information for their party at a later stage of planning.