One in three UAE residents is planning to travel abroad at least twice this year, with overall travel intent remaining high, according to the Allianz Partners Travel Index 2025. The survey, conducted between February 11 and 19 among 500 UAE respondents, explored travel habits, destination preferences, and emerging concerns for the year ahead. High-income travellers were more likely to take five or more trips annually. Travel budgets varied by income, but 34% of respondents plan to spend more than $3,000 (around Dh11,000) on their next holiday.
Where are UAE residents heading?
The Middle East and North Africa remained the most popular regions, attracting 30% of respondents, while 26% preferred the UK and Europe. Younger travellers under 30 showed growing interest in destinations across Central America and the Caribbean, pointing to emerging trends among Gen Z and millennials. The average trip duration falls between nine and fifteen days. Most travellers said they prefer travelling with family or companions.
What influences travel decisions?
Travel planning typically begins up to three months in advance. Social media platforms especially YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram along with family and friend recommendations, remain top sources of inspiration. When it comes to digital tools, 45% of travellers highlighted the ability to store travel documents digitally as the most useful feature in travel apps.
Safety, insurance, and digital assets take priority
Safety and peace of mind are now top priorities for UAE travellers. Personal safety topped the list of concerns, cited by 44% of respondents, followed by fears of extreme weather, flight disruptions, and financial pressures. Higher-income travellers were more concerned about geopolitical tensions, while younger travellers placed added emphasis on securing digital assets and travel documentation. Interest in travel insurance is on the rise, with 26% of travellers saying they intend to purchase policies through travel websites. Among these, 50% said the main reason was for overall peace of mind, while 35% pointed to the importance of medical emergency coverage and benefit limits especially for longer international trips.
