UAE and Maldives top global luxury hotel bookings in 2025

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The UAE and the Maldives have emerged as the top two destinations for premium hotel stays in 2025, driven by strong demand for high-end accommodation, according to new data from Yalago, part of the Emirates Group. The Dubai-based global platform, a leading partner for the travel trade that offers significant savings on curated, high-end travel experiences, reported particularly strong demand for both destinations.

Yalago revealed that hotel bookings to the UAE and the Maldives rose by 43% and 54% year-on-year respectively, with the Maldives ranking as the fastest-growing destination compared to 2024. Rounding out Yalago’s top five global hotel booking destinations in 2025 were the US, Thailand and Spain.

Among the company’s key source markets, China registered the strongest year-on-year growth in hotel bookings at 90%, followed by India, up 61%, and the UAE, up 40%. Other outbound markets showing notable increases include Spain, Italy, Germany, Brazil and the US, as travellers sought higher-value, premium accommodation options worldwide.

Yalago’s 5 most-booked destinations in 2025:

Maldives
UAE
US
Thailand
Spain

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Demand aligns with UAE travel trends

The rise in bookings to the Maldives and the UAE mirrors wider trends reported by Dnata Travel, which named the Maldives its most popular international destination for UAE travellers in 2025, with December bookings more than doubling year-on-year.

In the UAE, demand for premium stays has helped Dubai’s hotel sector deliver its strongest December performance in nearly 20 years, with citywide occupancy reaching 84.3% in December 2025, the highest December level since 2006, according to CoStar.

Abu Dhabi has also recorded robust growth, welcoming 2.9 million hotel guests in the first half of 2025 and achieving 80% occupancy. The UAE capital was additionally named the world’s most in-demand luxury travel destination for US travellers in 2026 by Travel Guard, topping a global ranking after recording a 421% year-on-year surge in related search activity.

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Yalago sales up 25%

Yalago confirmed that 2025 was its strongest year on record, with total sales up 25% year-on-year and targets surpassed four months ahead of schedule. The company credits its performance to a focus on competitive pricing, strong industry partnerships and its proprietary technology platform, which allows trade partners to book accommodation, resort transfers and in-resort experiences in a single journey.

With an average booking value exceeding US$1,200 (AED4,400), Yalago continues to position itself in the premium travel segment, working closely with global trade partners to deliver added value to travellers seeking high-end stays.

Commenting on the results, Sébastien Doussin, Senior Vice President – Global Travel Services & Destination Management, dnata Travel Group, said surpassing the annual sales record with months to spare underscores the strength of Yalago’s proposition and the trust of its partners.

“As we look to 2026, our focus on quality, competitive pricing, and exceptional service will continue to drive growth across key markets,” he added.

For more information, visit yalago.com