Dubai’s travel sector is gearing up for a last-minute rush in flight and hotel bookings as the much-anticipated India-Pakistan ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match on February 23 draws near. With only a few weeks remaining, travel agencies are noting a steady increase in demand but predict a surge in bookings as the event approaches—a trend seen during previous high-stakes cricket matches.
Rikant Pittie, co-founder of EaseMyTrip, shared with Khaleej Times: “There’s a clear pattern—flight and hotel bookings surge dramatically in the days leading up to an India-Pakistan match. For instance, during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, accommodation searches in Ahmedabad jumped by 1,550%. We expect a similar last-minute rush for Dubai.”
Echoing this sentiment, Raheesh Babu, COO of Musafir.com, said: “While bookings are rising gradually, the real spike occurs in the final two weeks before the match. Travellers holding out for deals may face limited options and sharply rising prices.”
Cricket Enthusiasts Driving Demand
Key departure cities include Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad in India, as well as Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad in Pakistan. Cricket fans from markets like the UK, Australia, and Saudi Arabia also fuel the growing demand.
Dubai’s hospitality industry is already experiencing the impact. Hotels in areas like Deira, Downtown, and Dubai Marina are reporting high occupancy rates, with peak demand expected closer to the match date. Budget accommodations are selling out fast, while luxury hotels on Palm Jumeirah and Sheikh Zayed Road are seeing a rise in premium bookings. During previous India-Pakistan matches, hotel prices increased by 25 to 50%, and in some cases, even tenfold,” Pittie added.
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