Maldives took the top spot as the most popular destinatinon for UAE travellers this summer, accounting for one in five international hotel bookings.
Thailand, Mauritius, Canada and Australia followed the Maldives as the top five most-booked international destinations for the season.
Nine in 10 hotel bookings were made for overseas destinations, with Canada, Australia, Japan and the United States also featuring in the top 10 for summer 2026, according to recent data fromdnata Travel.
“International travel is proving more popular than ever this summer, with nine in 10 hotel bookings made for overseas destinations,” said Meerah Ketait, Head of Retail and Leisure UAE at dnata Travel.
“While traditional favourites such as the Maldives, Thailand and Mauritius continue to attract strong demand, we are also seeing rising interest in long-haul travel as customers seek new destinations and more experience-driven holidays.”
International travellers are staying for an average of around five nights with long-haul trips often extending beyond this.
Demand for four and five-star properties remains strong, while average booking values are up approximately 16 per cent year on year.
“UAE staycations remain an important segment of the market, particularly for short weekend getaways, with Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah among the most popular domestic destinations this summer,” Ketait said.
dnata Travel is promoting holiday packages across several of its most-booked and featured summer destinations.
A three-night stay at Kagi Maldives Resort & Spa in a Lagoon Pool Villa starts from AED7,055 per adult, including return flights, speedboat transfers, a complimentary full-board upgrade, 45 per cent savings and free stays for children.
A three-night stay at Mida Grande Resort Phuket starts from AED4,775 per adult, including return flights, half-board accommodation, 50 per cent savings on the stay, 40 per cent savings on dining and free stays for children.
In Mauritius, a three-night stay at Long Beach, a Sunlife Resort, starts from AED6,085 per adult, including return flights, half-board accommodation, 35 per cent savings and free stays for children.
dnata Travel is also offering a three-night stay at Niva Labriz Seychelles from AED7,685 per adult, including return flights, daily breakfast, 30 per cent savings and free stays and meals for children.
A three-night stay at Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel & Conference Center starts from AED3,250 per person, including return flights and daily breakfast.
