UAE National Day Holiday Packages 2026

Overview

UAE National Day marks the moment in 1971 when the seven emirates came together, and the early-December break has become one of the most popular times of the year to travel out of the country. With a public holiday landing mid-week and cooler weather settling over much of the region, it is the perfect window for a short, well-timed getaway. For 2026, Travelwings has put together a set of all-inclusive holiday packages built around the National Day period, each departing from Dubai and bundling flights, hotels, transfers and sightseeing into one easy price.

This year's line-up leans into the Silk Road and beyond: cultural escapes to Uzbekistan, mountain adventures in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, and a twin-city tour of Moscow and St Petersburg. All four run for four nights, all are priced per person on a twin-sharing basis, and all are timed to make the most of the National Day holiday, departing in late November and returning on 2 December itself.

Because everything is packaged together, there is no piecing together separate flights, hotels and tours. You choose a destination, and the flights, accommodation, airport transfers and travel insurance are already taken care of, with most trips adding guided sightseeing and daily breakfast on top. That makes them an easy, low-effort way to turn a couple of public-holiday days into a proper trip abroad.

From AED 4,400 per person · 4 packages · 4 nights each · Best for: the UAE National Day travel break

When Is UAE National Day 2026?

UAE National Day falls on 2 December every year, marking the union of the seven emirates in 1971. It is preceded by Commemoration Day on 1 December, which honours the country's fallen heroes. In 2026, Commemoration Day lands on a Tuesday and National Day on a Wednesday, giving a mid-week public holiday that many travellers extend into a longer break by adding a day or two of leave on either side. It is one of the busiest travel windows in the UAE calendar, with flights and hotels filling quickly, so booking early is well worth it. All four of the 2026 packages below run over this period, departing in late November and returning on National Day itself, so the dates are already lined up with the holiday.

What Are UAE National Day Holiday Packages?

A UAE National Day holiday package is an all-inclusive trip timed around the early-December holiday and departing from Dubai. Instead of booking flights, hotels and tours separately, everything is bundled into a single fixed price per person. For 2026, each package includes return flights from Dubai, four nights of hotel accommodation, airport transfers and travel insurance, with most also adding guided sightseeing, an English-speaking guide and daily breakfast. The focus this year is on nearby cultural and adventure destinations that are at their atmospheric best in the crisp December weather, from the Silk Road cities of Central Asia to the imperial capitals of Russia. Every trip is built to fit neatly into the holiday window, so you spend your time exploring rather than planning.

Why Travel During the UAE National Day Break?

The National Day holiday is one of the few fixed long breaks in the UAE calendar, which makes it a natural time to plan a getaway. Because 1 and 2 December are public holidays, you can be away for a full trip while using very little annual leave, and by taking a day or two on either side you can stretch a mid-week break into the best part of a week. The timing also works in your favour abroad: early December is cool and crisp across Central Asia and Russia, with far fewer crowds than the summer peak and, at higher altitudes, the first snows of the season. For families, it lines up with a break from school, and for couples and groups of friends it is a chance to swap the warm Gulf winter for somewhere with a completely different feel. Booking a package built around these exact dates takes the guesswork out of it, so the whole trip is sorted in a single step.

Which National Day Holiday Packages Can You Book from Dubai?

Four packages are on offer for the 2026 National Day period, all four nights and all departing Dubai. Prices are per person on a twin-sharing basis, and Easy Installments let you spread the cost.

Uzbekistan Cultural Escape with Samarkand & Chimgan (4 nights, from AED 4,549)

Uzbekistan sits at the heart of the ancient Silk Road, and this escape pairs its greatest cultural treasures with a taste of its mountains. The centrepiece is Samarkand, one of the oldest inhabited cities in Central Asia and home to the majestic Registan square, where three towering madrasas face each other across a plaza covered in intricate blue tilework. Nearby stand the soaring Bibi-Khanym Mosque and the Gur-e-Amir, the resting place of the conqueror Timur, whose empire once reached across much of Asia. From the city, the trip heads to the Chimgan mountains near Tashkent, where the air is cooler, the peaks carry early-season snow and the Charvak reservoir spreads out far below. In between, there is time for the bustling bazaars, teahouses and turquoise domes that make Uzbekistan such a rewarding place to wander. The four-night package includes return airfare from Dubai, airport transfers, a four-star hotel, daily breakfast, guided sightseeing with an English-speaking guide and travel insurance, from AED 4,549 per person. It suits history and culture lovers who want a rich, story-filled trip within a short flight of home.

Kyrgyzstan Adventure & Yurt Experience (4 nights, from AED 4,499)

Kyrgyzstan is Central Asia's mountain heartland, a land of soaring Tian Shan peaks, alpine lakes and a living nomadic culture that still shapes daily life. This adventure gets you off the beaten track, with the chance to stay in a traditional yurt, the round felt tent that herders have used for centuries, and to experience the warm hospitality that comes with it. Days are spent on scenic mountain drives, beside vast Lake Issyk-Kul, one of the largest alpine lakes on earth, and around the capital, Bishkek, with its wide squares and lively markets. In early December the landscapes take on a wild, wintry beauty, the high passes dusted with snow and the valleys quiet, a world away from the pace of the city. The four-night trip covers return airfare from Dubai, airport transfers, a four-star property, daily breakfast, guided sightseeing with an English-speaking guide and travel insurance, from AED 4,499 per person. It is made for adventurous travellers and nature lovers looking for something genuinely different over the National Day break.

Russia Twin Cities Escape: Moscow & St Petersburg (4 nights, from AED 6,100)

Russia's two great cities make a natural pairing, and this escape links them by high-speed train. In Moscow, the vast Red Square opens onto the red-brick Kremlin walls and the fairy-tale, candy-coloured domes of St Basil's Cathedral, while the grand halls of the GUM arcade and the palatial metro stations reward a slower look. A few hours north by fast train lies St Petersburg, the elegant former imperial capital, laced with canals and lined with palaces. Here the world-class Hermitage, set in the Winter Palace, holds one of the greatest art collections anywhere, and the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood glitters with mosaics. In December both cities take on a crisp, festive air, with snow on the rooftops and lights strung through the streets. The four-night package includes return airfare from Dubai, accommodation, breakfast, airport transfers, high-speed train tickets between the cities and travel insurance, from AED 6,100 per person. It suits first-time visitors to Russia and anyone drawn to grand architecture, history and world-famous museums.

Almaty Adventure: Charyn Canyon & Shymbulak (4 nights, from AED 4,400)

Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city, is the gateway to some of Central Asia's most dramatic scenery, and it makes for a superb short adventure. The highlight is the Charyn Canyon, a couple of hours' drive from the city, where wind and water have carved the red rock into towering formations that give its most famous stretch the name the Valley of Castles. Closer to town, the Shymbulak resort sits high in the Tian Shan, reached by cable car and ringed by snow-capped peaks, while the vast Medeu skating rink and the turquoise Big Almaty Lake are within easy reach. Almaty itself is a green, cosmopolitan city of tree-lined avenues, cafes and the striking wooden Ascension Cathedral. In December the surrounding mountains are deep in snow, giving the whole trip a crisp, wintry backdrop with the city's warmth to return to each evening. The four-night package covers return airfare from Dubai, airport transfers, a four-star hotel, daily breakfast, guided sightseeing with an English-speaking guide and travel insurance, from AED 4,400 per person, the lowest-priced of the four. It is a great fit for nature and adventure seekers, and an easy first taste of Kazakhstan.

What's Included in a National Day Tour Package?

Inclusions are broadly consistent across the four packages, though they vary in the detail. As a rule you can expect:

✅ Return flights from Dubai
✅ Four nights of hotel accommodation
✅ Daily breakfast
✅ Airport transfers
✅ Guided sightseeing with an English-speaking guide (on the Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Almaty trips)
✅ Travel insurance
✅ Easy Installments, so you can spread the cost
❌ Visas and visa fees, unless stated (these vary by destination)
❌ Lunches, dinners and optional excursions

The Russia twin-cities package is structured a little differently: in place of guided sightseeing it includes high-speed train tickets between Moscow and St Petersburg, giving you more independence in each city. Always check the individual package for exactly what is covered, as the specific hotels, meals and included tours can differ from one destination to the next.

How Much Do UAE National Day Packages Cost?

For 2026, prices start from AED 4,400 per person for the Almaty adventure and rise to AED 6,100 per person for the Russia twin-cities escape, with the Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan trips in between at AED 4,499 and AED 4,549. Every price is for four nights on a twin-sharing basis and already includes flights, accommodation, transfers and insurance, so there are no large hidden extras beyond meals, visas and any optional tours. The three Central Asian trips are clustered close together in price, which means the choice between them comes down to the kind of experience you want rather than the cost, while the Russia package sits a little higher, reflecting its two-city itinerary and the rail link between them. Easy Installments are available on eligible packages, letting you secure your place now and pay it off before you travel.

What Is the Weather Like at These Destinations in December?

Early December is firmly winter across all four destinations, which is a large part of their appeal at this time of year. In Uzbekistan, Samarkand and Tashkent are cold and often clear, with crisp days ideal for sightseeing and a good chance of snow in the Chimgan mountains. Kyrgyzstan is colder still, especially in the high country, where snow blankets the passes and the scenery turns dramatic; it is a genuine winter-adventure setting. Almaty sits right beside the mountains, so the city is chilly and the peaks above it are deep in snow, with the ski season getting under way at Shymbulak. Moscow and St Petersburg are cold and frequently snowy, giving both cities a postcard-perfect, festive look, though the daylight hours are short. Across the board, you will want proper winter clothing: warm layers, a good coat, gloves and sturdy footwear. The reward is fewer crowds, lower off-season prices and cities and landscapes at their most atmospheric.

How Do You Choose the Right National Day Package?

With four very different trips on offer, the right choice comes down to what you want from the break. If you are drawn to history, architecture and culture, the Uzbekistan escape and the Russia twin-city tour are the standouts, one steeped in Silk Road heritage, the other in imperial grandeur. If you would rather be out in nature, the Kyrgyzstan yurt adventure and the Almaty trip lean into mountains, canyons and wide-open scenery. Budget can help narrow it down too: the three Central Asian packages sit close together and are the more affordable options, while Russia is the premium pick. It is also worth thinking about pace and style, as the guided Central Asian trips take the planning off your hands, whereas the Russia package, with its train link between the two cities, gives you more freedom to explore independently. Whichever way you lean, all four are four-night trips built around the same National Day dates, so the timing is identical.

Where Can You Travel for the National Day Long Weekend?

The 2026 collection is built around Central Asia and Russia, all within a comfortable flight of Dubai and all at their scenic best in early December. Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan deliver Silk Road history and mountain landscapes; Kazakhstan's Almaty adds canyons and snow-dusted peaks; and Russia offers two of the world's great cities linked by fast rail. If none of these is quite the trip you have in mind, you can explore many more destinations on our full range of international holiday packages from Dubai, which brings together getaways to countries across Asia, Europe and beyond.

Who Are National Day Holiday Packages Best For?

These packages suit anyone wanting to make the most of the National Day break without the hassle of planning. Couples and friends will enjoy the culture-rich city trips to Uzbekistan and Russia, while the Kyrgyzstan and Almaty adventures appeal to nature lovers and more active travellers. Because the flights are short and the itineraries are largely guided, they also work well for first-time visitors to Central Asia, and for families or groups who would rather have flights, hotels and transfers handled in a single booking. Solo travellers can join too, though prices are quoted on a twin-sharing basis, so it is worth asking about single-room options.

What Should You Know Before You Book?

A little planning goes a long way with a National Day trip. Because this is a peak travel window, the best-value flights and hotels sell out early, so booking well ahead is the surest way to lock in your preferred package, dates and price. Check the visa requirements for your chosen destination and your nationality in good time, as visas are generally not included in the package price and some countries need a little lead time to process; the Travelwings team can point you in the right direction. Pack for genuine winter weather, with warm layers and sturdy footwear, especially for the mountain and canyon trips. Keep in mind that meals beyond breakfast, optional excursions and personal spending are extra, so it is worth budgeting for those on top of the package price. Finally, if you would like to extend your break, ask about adjusting the return date or adding nights, and make use of Easy Installments to spread the cost.

How Do You Book a UAE National Day Holiday Package?

To book, complete the enquiry form on this page, call the Travelwings UAE holidays team on +971 4 563 5800, or email holidays@travelwings.com. Prices are in dirhams, and Easy Installments let you spread the cost on eligible packages. As the National Day period is a busy travel window and each package runs on set 2026 dates, it is worth reserving your place early to avoid disappointment.

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Disclaimer: Prices shown are indicative lead-in rates per person on a twin-sharing basis unless stated otherwise, and are subject to availability, seasonal demand, airfare fluctuations and change without notice. Inclusions, travel dates and visa requirements vary by package and destination. Please confirm the current price and details with Travelwings before booking.

Frequently Asked Questions: UAE National Day Holiday Packages

When is UAE National Day in 2026?

UAE National Day is on 2 December 2026, a Wednesday, marking the union of the seven emirates in 1971. It follows Commemoration Day on 1 December.

How much do UAE National Day holiday packages cost?

For 2026, prices range from AED 4,400 per person for the Almaty adventure to AED 6,100 per person for the Russia twin-cities escape, all for four nights on a twin-sharing basis and including flights from Dubai.

Which destinations are available for National Day 2026?

The current line-up covers Uzbekistan (Samarkand and Chimgan), Kyrgyzstan, Russia (Moscow and St Petersburg) and Almaty in Kazakhstan. All four depart from Dubai.

How long are the packages?

All four packages are four nights, departing in late November and returning on 2 December, so they run over the National Day period.

What is included in a National Day tour package?

Packages typically include return flights from Dubai, four nights of hotel accommodation, daily breakfast, airport transfers and travel insurance, with most also adding guided sightseeing and an English-speaking guide. The Russia package includes high-speed train tickets between Moscow and St Petersburg instead of guided touring.

Do I need a visa?

Visa requirements depend on the destination and your nationality, and visas are not usually included in the package price. The Travelwings team can advise on what you will need for your chosen trip.

What is the weather like in December?

All four destinations are in winter in early December, with cold and often snowy conditions, especially in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan and around Almaty. Pack warm layers, a good coat and sturdy footwear.

Are the trips guided?

The Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Almaty packages include guided sightseeing with an English-speaking guide. The Russia package is more independent, with high-speed train tickets between Moscow and St Petersburg included in place of guided touring.

Can I pay in instalments?

Yes. Eligible packages can be booked with Easy Installments, letting you secure your place now and pay it off before you travel.

How far in advance should I book?

Because the National Day period is one of the busiest travel windows of the year, it is best to book as early as possible to secure your preferred package, dates and price before they sell out.

How do I book a UAE National Day holiday package?

Complete the enquiry form on this page, call +971 4 563 5800, or email holidays@travelwings.com. The Travelwings UAE team can help you choose a package and arrange Easy Installments.