Today's Edition
TAARIQ HALIM (ABU DHABI)
New travel data shows a shift in summer vacation trends, with an increasing number of UAE residents choosing to explore domestic destinations.
The summer months of July and August traditionally see holidaymakers in the UAE booking trips to cooler climes to beat the heat.
According to Skyscanner, however, searches for travel in the UAE have soared in 2025, with the momentum carrying into July, the busiest month for local travel.
Domestic searches increaseDomestic searches rose by 165% in late June, highlighting a sharp pivot toward staycations, said the global travel search engine.
Dubai, which ranked first for staycation locations, emerged as the fifth most popular choice for global destination hotel stay searches, for trips between June and August.
For July and August vacations, Abu Dhabi also saw a heightened demand for searches amongst travellers seeking a cultural and/or family getaway.
Sharjah and Al Ain were also popular for cultural and natural experiences.
Ras Al Khaimah, a favourite for road trips and adventure-seekers, completed the top five UAE cities.
Affordability played a key role in shaping this trend, said Skyscanner.
The average nightly hotel rate for domestic hotel stays started from approximately Dh322 per night, significantly lower than comparable getaways in Oman (from Dh621) and Türkiye (from Dh376).
Car hire also picked up during the summer period, showing customers opted for the flexibility to move around freely and get around in comfort and convenience during their trip.
The UAE car rental market experienced growth, Skyscanner said, with data pointing to Dubai and Abu Dhabi as the top pick-up and drop-off locations.
Ayoub El Mamoun, Travel Expert at Skyscanner, said: “This summer proved that the UAE residents showed more interest in staycations and domestic trips within the country. This is no surprise as the UAE is already a leading global destination for tourism with many landmark attractions, hotels, restaurants and cultural experiences and activities for all to visit and enjoy and will continue to be a busy hub for both residents and citizens and tourists in the future.
Family travel increasesAccording to Visa’s latest Travel Pulse: UAE – Summer Holidays Edition, summer 2025 marked a strong increase in family travel, which accounted for 20% of outbound trips — nearly double the rest-of-the-year average of 12%.
Ticketing spend grew 48% over this summer period, with families of two to five people spending an average of $2,195 on tickets alone.
The study also found that 40% of leisure travellers took multiple trips this summer, averaging 14 days per trip, with premium cardholders driving 88% of spend, and a 17% rise in premium segment spending.
Top outbound destinations
Travel Pulse: UAE found that London remained the leading international destination, with a 7% traveller share, followed by Muscat (7%). Riyadh claimed 6% of traveller share, alongside Istanbul (5%) and Bangkok (5%). Brasilia, 12,000km away, was the most far-flung destination visited by UAE travellers.
Kids shape the itinerary
The study noted the increasing influence of children on family holidays. Spending on amusement parks soared 150% by UAE-issued Visa cards. On average, UAE travellers spent $145 per card on entertainment and $925 per card on accommodation, while spending at toy merchants surged 70% globally.
Salima Gutieva, Visa’s VP and Country Manager for the UAE, said: “Summer travel has always been a family affair, but it is interesting to see how children are increasingly shaping where and how families spend their holidays.
“These insights help us, as well as our partners across banks, governments and merchants design travel experiences that are more rewarding, seamless, and family-friendly.”
