The United Arab Emirates is one of the Middle East’s largest outbound travel markets. UAE residents took an estimated 3.5 million outbound trips in 2024, with international tourism expenditure surpassing US $25 billion. India, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt remain the most-visited destinations, while the UK is the leading long-haul market.
UAE travellers typically plan digitally, mix DIY bookings with premium packages, and balance frequent regional short-haul travel with long-haul leisure, shopping, and cultural trips.
ForwardKeys noted strong outbound surges during Eid and summer 2024, confirming entrenched seasonal peaks for UAE residents.
In This Market Guide
Key Takeaways
High outbound value: ~3.5 million outbound trips and US $25B+ spend in 2024.
Mixed booking behaviour: OTAs (Booking.com, Wego, Cleartrip) are popular, but Emirates Holidays, Etihad Holidays, and luxury advisors dominate packages.
Stable peaks: Summer, Eid, and year-end continue to drive record outbound demand.
Overview
Over the past five decades, UAE outbound travel has grown with aviation expansion, rising household incomes, and simplified visa access. Emirates and Etihad’s global networks anchor long-haul growth, while low-cost carriers (flydubai, Air Arabia) sustain short-haul demand. India, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt lead near-shore traffic, while the UK and Europe dominate long-haul.
Booking Behaviour
UAE residents balance independent digital planning with luxury advisor services.
OTAs & marketplaces: Booking.com, Cleartrip, Wego, MakeMyTrip, and Airbnb. Wego data shows India, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt dominate searches.
Direct/loyalty: Emirates Skywards and Etihad Guest programs strongly influence bookings.
Advisors: dnata Travel, Emirates Holidays, and Virtuoso-linked agents handle high-value packages.
Phocuswright-style estimates suggest OTAs account for ~25% of UAE travel bookings, but premium tours, cruises, and multi-stop itineraries remain advisor-driven.
Travel Motivations
Leisure leads UAE outbound demand, followed by VFR (India, Pakistan, Egypt, GCC), business, and medical travel. Premium shopping and cultural events are key draws. Families favour all-inclusive packages; multigenerational trips are common. Younger residents seek adventure and beach holidays; older travellers lean toward premium Europe and North America.
Destination Preferences
Top outbound countries for UAE residents (2023–24):
- India – 2.2 million trips
- Saudi Arabia – 1.3 million
- United Kingdom – 1.1 million
- Pakistan – 1.0 million
- Egypt – 0.9 million
- Türkiye – 0.8 million
- United States – 0.6 million
- Thailand – 0.5 million
- Germany – 0.4 million
- Oman – 0.3 million
Note: Figures are based on GlobalData and GCC preference trackers; UK inbound reports confirm the UK as the leading long-haul.
Seasonal Patterns
Outbound peaks align with Eid/Ramadan holidays, July–August summer escapes, and December–January winter travel. ForwardKeys reports sustained surges during Eid, with Europe seeing increasing shoulder-season demand (April–May, September–October).
Transport & Accommodation
Air: Emirates, Etihad, and flydubai dominate outbound demand; Air Arabia leads low-cost short-haul. Emirates and Etihad handle the bulk of Europe/US long-haul.
Bureau of Transportation Statistics • Wikipedia
Accommodation: Luxury hotels, resorts, and serviced apartments dominate; branded residences are growing with multigenerational family demand.
Spending Patterns
The UAE is one of the world’s highest per-capita outbound spenders. Residents spent US $25B+ abroad in 2024, led by premium airfares, shopping, fine dining, and education/medical-linked trips. Families optimise packages; high-income households drive long-haul premium spend.
Emerging Trends
Premium family & multi-gen travel: Growth toward Europe and Asia.
Event-led travel: Football, Formula 1, and concerts boosting short-haul demand.
Connectivity expansion: Added capacity to India, Türkiye, and Southeast Asia sustaining outbound growth.
Comparison Notes
Compared with other groups:
UAE travellers are more luxury- and family-oriented than Continental Europeans.
They combine frequent short-haul VFR with select long-haul leisure (UK/Europe/US).
They are highly loyalty-driven, more so than most Asian or Latin American markets.
Compared with North Americans, they travel more frequently short-haul but spend similarly on long-haul.
Conclusion
The UAE is a premium-heavy, diaspora-driven, globally connected outbound market. Success lies in family-focused luxury packages, event-led marketing, and loyalty-aligned offers via Emirates and Etihad. Destinations should emphasise premium experiences, seasonal flexibility, and cultural familiarity.
Sources & References
UNWTO / World Bank – UAE outbound trips & spend (2024).
HotelManagement-Network / GlobalData – UAE outbound destinations.
VisitBritain – UK long-haul visits from UAE.
Wego – GCC demand signals.
ForwardKeys – Eid and summer outbound peaks.
Connecting Travel (Mabrian) – GCC traveller preference trends.
Global Traveller Groups at a Glance
UAE travellers – High-spend, luxury-driven; frequent short-haul (India/GCC/Egypt) + long-haul (UK/Europe/US).
Continental Europeans – Structured planners, earlier bookers, strong summer peaks.
North Americans – Frequent short-haul + periodic long-haul; loyalty- and credit-driven; higher per-trip spend.
Asian markets – Tech-led, multi-gen and group-oriented, rising premium share.
Middle Eastern travellers – Family/group-heavy, high retail and resort spend.
Latin Americans – Longer but fewer trips; cultural/diaspora ties.
African travellers – Growing market, affordability and diaspora-driven.