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165% surge in UAE domestic travel searches for summer
Skyscanner ranks Dubai as world’s 5th most in-demand destination
Domestic travel in the UAE has surged this summer, with searches for local trips jumping 165% in late June, new Skyscanner data shows.
This trend carried strongly into July, marking the busiest month for staycations across the emirates, highlighting how residents are increasingly choosing to explore the wide range of cultural, nature and adventure destinations across the UAE.
Dubai topped the charts as the leading staycation destination, while also ranking as the fifth most popular global location for hotel searches between June and August.
This comes amid record-breaking 2025 numbers, with Dubai welcoming 8.68 million international tourists in the first five months — a 7% increase year-on-year — and firmly on pace to surpass last year’s all-time high of 18.72 million visitors.
Abu Dhabi attracted more travellers seeking cultural experiences and family resorts, and Sharjah along with Al Ain gained traction for their cultural and nature-focused breaks.
Ras Al Khaimah rounded out the top five cities as a favourite for road trips and adventure-seekers, altogether showcasing the UAE’s diverse domestic travel appeal.
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Affordability played a significant role in fuelling this rise, according to Skyscanner data. The average nightly hotel rate within the UAE started at approximately AED 322, considerably cheaper than comparable trips to Oman (from AED 621) and Turkiye (from AED 376).
Additionally, the growth in car rentals – anchored by Dubai and Abu Dhabi as principal pick-up and drop-off points – added flexibility and comfort, making domestic travel more accessible.
Ayoub El Mamoun, Travel Expert at Skyscanner, commented: “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.”
For more information, visit www.skyscanner.com
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