The residents are equally split between those who prefer to remain inside the Kingdom and those who opt to pack and travel abroad.

The first group usually goes to rest houses on the outskirts of Makkah and Jeddah or travel to Madinah, which will be less crowded during Haj, as pilgrims will be busy doing the rites in Makkah and the holy sites. The good weather this time of the year all over the Kingdom is also an incentive for them to remain in the country.

An official source at the Saudi Arabian Airlines, who did not want his name to be published, told Arab News that the majority of the Saudis who travel abroad during this period opted for Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and Indonesia.

He said the number of travelers to Egypt, though picking up slowly, had greatly reduced following the political incidents there. He, however, said the number of travelers to Sharm El-Sheikh had not been greatly affected.

The source said due to the rising number of Saudis going to the UAE, the airline was operating four flights daily to Dubai.

Talking to Arab News, a number of residents who preferred to spend the Eid holidays within the Kingdom said they would go to Madinah or to rest houses in Jeddah. As the weather was nice and the vacation short, they said it was OK for them to remain inside the Kingdom.

Siham Al-Kahldi, a Saudi housewife, said she was keen on spending the Eid in Jeddah, because the short vacation did not enable her husband to travel abroad. "The weather is good, so we go to the sea or rent a rest house," she said.

Hassan Jaber, a young Saudi, said he preferred to spend the Eid holidays inside the Kingdom. "I prefer to remain beside my mother and fast the first nine days of Dul Hijjah with her," he said.

Jaber said he would visit relatives and friends and would go to the sea and rest houses, as the weather had cooled down remarkably.

Um Ayman, a Saudi housewife, said she made use of every vacation to travel abroad. "I have always loved to travel to Egypt, but after the latest political events, I have changed my destinations to Dubai and Beirut," she said.

Muhammad Al-Fahd, a young Saudi, said he was keen on spending any vacation, no matter how short it might be, outside the Kingdom. "Makkah and Jeddah become very crowded these days, so I will pack up and go out," he said.

Al-Fahd said he would never be deterred by any incidents to travel to Egypt, because of his deep love for the country. He, however, said he would go to Sharm El-Sheikh this time, as the city had been away from the political events.