UAE travellers are planning more overseas holidays in 2027, with nearly half expecting to increase their flight budgets and new destinations gaining popularity.
UAE travel demand remains strong
International travel looks set to remain a priority for UAE residents next year, with 92% of travellers surveyed saying they plan to travel abroad as much as, or more than, they did in 2026.
The findings come from Skyscanner’s Travel Trends 2027 report, which surveyed more than 28,000 travellers globally and examined travel search data.
Despite rising attention to value, 49% of UAE travellers surveyed expect to spend more on flights in 2027, while 39% plan to increase their accommodation budgets.
New destinations gain attention
Search trends show growing interest in destinations outside the traditional favourites.
Van in Türkiye recorded the biggest increase in searches among UAE travellers, rising 2,607% year-on-year. Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan followed with a 137% increase, while searches for Krabi in Thailand rose 88% and Da Nang in Vietnam increased 77%.
For travellers looking for lower airfares, Izmir in Türkiye recorded the biggest year-on-year fall in average flight prices at 46%.
Shanghai saw average fares fall 44%, followed by Sydney at 26% and Krabi at 24%.
UAE travellers look for more value
The report suggests UAE holidaymakers are becoming more deliberate about how they spend their travel budgets.
Among UAE travellers surveyed who consider exchange rates when choosing where to go, 59% said they had changed their destination because currency rates made another option cheaper.
This was even higher among Gen Z, at 64%.
Skyscanner also found that “cheap flights” was the most popular prompt globally on its Explore with AI tool over the previous six months.
Fitness and digital breaks shape travel
Travel choices are also increasingly reflecting lifestyle preferences.
Some UAE travellers are looking for holidays that allow them to disconnect from technology. Among Gen Z respondents, 18% said they planned to get offline or disconnect as much as possible on their next holiday.
Fitness is another emerging factor. Some 88% of UAE Millennials surveyed said they would definitely book, or would be likely to book, a hotel offering breakfast focused on nutritional performance.
Music, shopping and history are also influencing destination choices, with travellers increasingly building trips around concerts, local products and cultural experiences.
Social media drives holiday inspiration
Social platforms remain an important source of travel ideas for UAE residents.
YouTube was the most widely used source among those surveyed, at 63%, followed by Instagram at 59% and TikTok at 51%. Word-of-mouth recommendations were used by 32%.
The research also points to changing priorities among younger future travellers. In a separate survey of 100 UAE 17-year-olds, safety was the most frequently selected consideration when choosing a destination, followed by budget accommodation and affordable airfares.
More than half, 51%, said travel opportunities could influence their choice of university, course or further education.
