UAE Residents Flock to Island Getaways as Travel Demand Soars

Island destinations are experiencing unprecedented demand from travelers based in the United Arab Emirates, according to new data from online travel platform Expedia. The company reports dramatic year-on-year surges in searches for several tropical hotspots:

Madagascar: +265%
Seychelles: +205%
Phuket: +210%
Malta: +170%
Cyprus: +140%
Expedia representatives recommend traveling during off-peak seasons when hotel rates can drop by up to 50%. Significant savings are also available through bundled flight-and-hotel packages. Accommodation costs vary considerably across destinations, ranging from approximately $150 (550 AED) per night in Bali to $655 (2,405 AED) in the Maldives.

This trend aligns with Emirates airline’s recent summer 2025 booking data, which highlights Vietnam, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka as emerging favorites with remarkable growth. Japan and France completed the airline’s top five most-searched destinations. Emirates has recorded a 7% overall increase in flight searches compared to summer 2024, driven by growing demand for cultural experiences and unconventional itineraries.

To accommodate Vietnamese demand, Emirates now operates 25 weekly flights to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang, offering convenient connections from Europe, the U.S., and Gulf countries. The airline also observed distinct booking patterns: nearly one-third of travelers from India, Germany, the UK, and Australia book trips exceeding one month, while American tourists typically opt for 2-3 week vacations.

This surge reflects UAE residents’ increasing preference for extended, immersive travel experiences to diverse island and cultural destinations during the summer season.