The Maldives accounts for one in five overseas hotel bookings made by UAE travellers this summer, according to dnata Travel’s booking data. Thailand, Mauritius, Canada and Australia complete the top five most-booked international destinations for the season.
The broader top 10 includes Japan and the United States alongside the Indian Ocean favourites, a shift dnata Travel attributes to growing demand for longer, experience-led trips. Nine in 10 hotel bookings through the agency are for overseas destinations, the company said.
“International travel is proving more popular than ever this summer, with nine in 10 hotel bookings made for overseas destinations. While traditional favourites such as the Maldives, Thailand and Mauritius continue to attract strong demand, we are also seeing rising interest in long-haul travel as customers seek new destinations and more experience-driven holidays. UAE staycations remain an important segment of the market, particularly for short weekend getaways, with Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah among the most popular domestic destinations this summer. Internationally, travellers are staying for an average of around five nights, with long-haul trips often extending beyond this. Demand for four- and five-star properties remains particularly strong, with average booking values up approximately 16% year-on-year,” Meerah Ketait, Head of Retail and Leisure UAE at dnata Travel said in a statement.
Average stay duration for international trips is running at around five nights, with long-haul itineraries typically extending beyond that. Demand is concentrated at the top end of the market, with average booking values up approximately 16% year-on-year, according to the company.
Domestically, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah are the most popular staycation choices, Ketait said, particularly for short weekend getaways.
The data reflects dnata Travel’s own booking volumes and is not an independent survey of UAE outbound travel demand. The agency’s summer campaign is focused on last-minute packages to beach and city destinations.
