Personal safety is the leading concern of UAE travellers -- cited by 44% of respondents to a travel survey -- followed by fears of extreme weather events, financial constraints, and flight disruptions.
Higher-income travellers are especially mindful of geopolitical tensions, while younger travellers place importance on protecting travel documents and digital assets while abroad, according to the “Allianz Partners Travel Index 2025” report.
The survey covered 500 people in the UAE regarding their travel plans, preferences and concerns for the year ahead. 2025 is the first time that the Travel Index is launched.
Travel insurance purchases are on the rise, as 26% of respondents say they intend to purchase policies through travel websites. Among those purchasing insurance, 50% state that the main reason for purchasing travel insurance is for their own security/peace of mind. Furthermore, 35% of respondents highlight medical emergency benefits and coverage limits as the most crucial factors influencing their insurance purchase, especially for longer international trips.
Where surveyed respondents in the UAE are heading: UAE travellers favour regional and European escapes; Caribbean hotspot for young adults
The Index finds that the Middle East and North Africa remain the most popular regions for outbound travel from the UAE, attracting 30% of travellers, followed by the UK and Europe at 26%. Meanwhile, younger travellers under 30 are increasingly drawn to central America and the Caribbean Islands, indicating emerging destination trends among Gen Z and millennial audiences.
How often, how long and how much they'll spend: Respondents in the UAE plan multiple trips, longer stays, and budgets over $3,000
One third of the surveyed respondents in the UAE plan to travel at least twice this year, with high income earners likely to take up to five or more trips annually. The typical holiday lasts between 9-15 days, with most travellers preferring to travel with family or companions, reinforcing the region's preference for shared experiences.
While budgets are dependent on household income, 34% of travellers plan to spend more than $3,000 on their next holiday. Most of the respondents, take up to three months to plan and book trips, relying on recommendations from family, friends and social media – particularly YouTube, Facebook and Instagram – for travel inspiration. Furthermore, when it comes to using a travel app, 45% of respondents indicate that storing travel documents is the feature they would utilise the most while traveling.
Travel Index
Allianz Partners commissioned Kantar Consumer Link to survey 500 respondents in the UAE between 11 February and 19 February 2025. Sampling is nationally representative, and is post-weighted by age, gender and region to ensure it matches the underlying population as published by UAE.Stat, the country’s official statistics portal.