For many people in the northern hemisphere, the June to September holiday is a significant one. It’s when schools tend to break up and life slows down a little.
Some countries, such as France and Italy, shut up shop and stop working for significant chunks of the summer. In the media industry, we’re well acquainted with silly season, a time when news often slows down over the summer months and stories become a little lighter (although whether we’ll see that this year remains to be seen).
Despite the fact that it’s been a good 18 years since I left school, I still feel a surge of excitement as July comes around and that "school’s out" feeling takes over – an instinct I’ll never shake, perhaps. For those of us who live away from our home countries, the summer break has become a time when we can try to go back – some for a few days, others for months. Although, the more economically shrewd will tell you that flying off-peak is a much smarter way to plan, if you’re not working around school holidays.
Although I am not planning around term dates, I will still find myself among the millions of people travelling through Dubai International Airport this summer, as I make my annual trip back to the UK. I was among the lucky thousands that got tickets to see Oasis, so I will be in London for the concert at the end of July. I am not alone - gig tourism is becoming more and more popular. Here in the UAE, the music events market is forecast to be worth $146.9 million by 2028.
Travelling for concerts, or gig tourism, is growing in popularity. AFP
I have spent a good amount of time pondering the main reasons we travel for leisure in 2025, aside from visiting loved ones. While concerts have been a key draw for me, for many others travel is an opportunity to switch off and really rest. This is when wellness retreats and off-the-beaten-track destinations come into their own, in a bid to beat burnout. Earlier this year, Gemma White reviewed the Kamalaya Wellness Retreat in Koh Samui, which should give many people some food for relaxation's thought.
The visitor experience at the Pyramids of Giza will be revamped as part of a $51 million initiative, the Egyptian government announced this year. Reuters
For others, discovery is central to their plans; seeing incredible sites around the globe and attempting to tick off visits to wonders of the world like a to-do list. They relish the chance to see natural wonders, such as the Grand Canyon or aurora borealis; visit ancient sites, like the Pyramids of Giza or Mayan ruins; and explore fast-paced cities, including Tokyo or Berlin, where they can try new foods and visit incredible museums. Adventure travellers overlap here somewhat, people who will plan trips around climbing the highest peaks, taking on challenging but rewarding scuba dives, or making the most of an incredible safari.
And then there is travelling to connect with heritage, retracing family trips or visiting birthplaces significant to your personal history.
UAE airports and airlines are operating at full capacity this summer. Chris Whiteoak / The National
If you have been thinking that flights in and out of the UAE are more expensive than ever, you are on to something.
This week we have looked into flight prices, which have climbed above 2024 levels on several routes.
“Average airfares from Mena countries in summer 2025 have already crept above last year's levels, and they're not done climbing,” says Mamoun Hmidan, chief business officer at Wego. Some routes in the online travel company’s network have seen fares increase by more than 20 per cent, year on year.
Analysts point to a combination of high demand, constrained aircraft supply and regional airspace disruptions as key forces driving fares higher.
Read more about the price hikes, and how travellers are responding, here.
Etihad will begin a seasonal flight to Salalah, Oman, in May 2026. Marwan Alfarsi / Unsplash
While we are still ticking off new airline routes this year – with options taking passengers to Phnom Penh, Chisinau and Tunis still to come – Etihad Airways has already announced two newcomers for 2026.
Next year, the UAE flag carrier will launch direct flights from Abu Dhabi to Salalah, Oman and Krakow, Poland.
The route to the picturesque city in Oman's southern Dhofar province will launch on May 21, in time for the khareef monsoon season. The rainy season runs from late June until September, and temperatures range from 20°C to 27°C, which is up to 20°C cooler than other parts of the Gulf. Visit over the summer for lush greenery, waterfalls and cool coastal breezes. The new route will run on Thursdays and Sundays until June 15, and will be increased to daily until September 15.
Less than a month later, the airline will establish a route to Krakow on June 15. The launch to a second Polish city comes on the back of Etihad's Warsaw route, which began in June. The city is known for its Gothic towers, Renaissance palaces and cafe culture. Flights will run three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Emirates, Air Arabia, flydubai and Wizz Air Abu Dhabi haven’t announced new routes yet, so keep checking this story for announcements.
A sunset bay view in Mykonos, Greece. Hongbin / Unsplash
After an early summer trip to the Aegean island of Mykonos, Sarah Maisey shares her tips on where to stay, dine and explore this week.
Famous for its windmills, vibrant nightlife and whitewashed charm, Mykonos is a seductive blend of upscale luxe and rugged beaches. This is an island where it is entirely possible to arrive by helicopter, go to beach clubs or shop at high-end stores in the morning, and visit ancient ruins and cites of great historic significance in the afternoon.
Travel guidebooks might seem like something from bygone days − although I do still love buying and collecting guidebooks for my favourite destinations. But space in hand luggage (and bookshelves) for books set in travel destinations is a must, in my opinion. Reading a story from the location you're in can add a little extra magic to a trip, immersing you in a fictional world as you enjoy your real-world holiday. Recent favourites of mine have been Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur, which I read in Cape Cod, and The Fair Botanists by Sara Sheridan will come with me when I go back to Edinburgh later this year.
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
Continental champions
Best Asian Player: Massaki Todokoro (Japan)
Best European Player: Adam Wardzinski (Poland)
Best North & Central American Player: DJ Jackson (United States)
Best African Player: Walter Dos Santos (Angola)
Best Oceanian Player: Lee Ting (Australia)
Best South American Player: Gabriel De Sousa (Brazil)
Best Asian Federation: Saudi Jiu-Jitsu Federation
Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally • Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered • Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity • Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
How Sputnik V works
Manchester United v Club America
When: Thursday, 9pm Arizona time (Friday UAE, 8am)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last-16, second leg (first-leg scores in brackets):
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
