Summer 2025: Travel to Turkey, Saudi Arabia or the UAE with Noussouki Travel
Summer 2025 is approaching and Canadian Muslim families are planning their holidays. Three destinations dominate the conversation: Turkey (culture, beaches, affordability), Saudi Arabia (Umrah, heritage, new tourism) and the UAE (luxury, entertainment, modernity). At Noussouki Travel, we offer packages to all three. Here is how they compare for a summer trip.
Turkey: the best all-round choice
Turkey in summer (June-September) offers everything: Mediterranean beaches in Antalya and Fethiye, cultural immersion in Istanbul and Cappadocia, and mountain escapes in the Black Sea region. The weather is hot but not extreme (30-35 degrees on the coast, cooler in the mountains). Every restaurant is halal, mosques are everywhere, and the Turkish people are famously welcoming.
Budget: a 10-day family holiday (flights from Toronto, 4-star all-inclusive resort in Antalya, plus 3 days in Istanbul) costs 6 000-10 000 CAD for a family of four. The Turkish lira's weakness against the Canadian dollar makes Turkey exceptionally affordable in 2025. Direct flights from Toronto to Istanbul (10h30) are available on Turkish Airlines.
Saudi Arabia: Umrah plus discovery
Summer in Saudi Arabia is HOT (40-50 degrees in Mecca and Medina). But this is also when flight and hotel prices drop significantly (outside Hajj season). A summer Umrah costs 30-40% less than a winter one. The new tourism infrastructure (AlUla, NEOM, Jeddah waterfront) makes a post-Umrah discovery possible, though outdoor activities are limited to early morning and evening.
The Haramain High Speed Railway connects Mecca, Medina and Jeddah in air-conditioned comfort. Jeddah's historic district (Al-Balad, UNESCO) and the new Jeddah Tower area offer urban exploration. Red Sea resorts (Amaala, The Red Sea project) are opening progressively and offer beach escapes. Budget: 4 000-8 000 CAD per person for 10 days (Umrah + discovery).
UAE: luxury at summer prices
Summer in the UAE (June-August) means extreme heat (40-50 degrees) but also extreme discounts. Five-star hotels in Dubai that charge 500-800 CAD per night in winter drop to 150-300 CAD in summer. The malls, indoor theme parks, aquariums and water parks (all air-conditioned) make summer Dubai a viable option for families who can handle the outdoor heat.
Abu Dhabi's Yas Island (Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros World) and Saadiyat Island (Louvre Abu Dhabi, beach clubs) are entirely accessible in summer. Every restaurant is halal (UAE law). The trendy destinations list consistently ranks the UAE at the top. Budget: 5 000-12 000 CAD for a family of four, 7 days.
Comparison table
Temperature: Turkey 30-35, Saudi 40-50, UAE 40-50. Halal infrastructure: all three are 100%. Cost (10 days, family of 4): Turkey 6-10K, Saudi 8-16K, UAE 5-12K. Beach quality: Turkey excellent, Saudi emerging, UAE excellent. Cultural depth: Turkey exceptional, Saudi deep, UAE moderate. Umrah combinable: Turkey yes (via Istanbul), Saudi direct, UAE yes (via Dubai).
All three destinations pair beautifully with an Umrah stopover. Contact our team for a customized summer itinerary. Check our Hajj packages, all destinations and visa guide.