UAE residents are showing strong interest in international travel this summer, with destinations like Sri Lanka, Jordan, Morocco, France, India, and Lebanon topping their search lists. According to new data released by Emirates, flight searches from the UAE are up 13 percent compared to last year, signalling a robust demand for outbound travel ahead of the peak season.
This rising trend is part of a broader global increase in travel activity. Emirates reported that summer travel searches across its entire network have climbed 7 percent, with particular momentum in parts of Asia, the Indian Ocean, and Europe.
Vietnam stands out as the fastest-growing destination, seeing a 61 percent jump in interest. The airline, which runs 25 weekly flights to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang, attributes this growth to Vietnam’s appeal as a nature-rich, culturally vibrant, and culinary-forward destination. Da Nang, in particular, offers access to several UNESCO heritage sites and pristine beaches.
Mauritius and Sri Lanka are also drawing attention, with search volumes up by 41 and 32 percent respectively. Emirates currently operates two daily A380 flights to Mauritius and several daily services to Colombo. France and Japan round out the top five, with 25 and 28 percent increases in search activity. Emirates offers multiple daily flights to cities across both countries, including Paris, Tokyo, and Osaka.
The data also reveals unique travel patterns by nationality. UK travellers are favoring long-haul destinations such as Japan and Mauritius, while Indian travellers are setting their sights on Australia and New Zealand. German interest leans toward East Asia and the Seychelles, and American travellers are gravitating toward African destinations. Australians, on the other hand, are focusing on European cities, especially in France and the UK.
Extended holidays are becoming increasingly common, particularly among travellers from India, the UK, Germany, and Australia—many of whom are booking trips lasting over a month. US travellers typically choose shorter getaways of two to three weeks.
Dubai is also expected to remain a busy inbound destination this summer, with Emirates noting strong interest from solo travellers, especially from the US, India, and Australia, as well as continued demand for family trips and month-long stays among younger couples.