Events trigger UAE travel rush

With the announcement of numerous international concerts, events, and shows, searches for travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have grown exponentially. It is not just the international tourists flocking to the cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but domestic travellers too are planning staycations around the events, as the emirates ups its offerings for the winter season.

TT Bureau

The UAE has established itself as an epicentre for world-class entertainment with recent concert announcements from global superstars, including a multi-award-winning rapper hailing from Boston to the iconic British band behind “Yellow” and “Fix You”. Demand for overseas performances like the long-awaited reunion of the legendary Mancunian brothers are increasing. “The UAE has become a top destination for some of the world’s biggest entertainment acts. This demand is driving more visitors to cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi to enjoy international concerts, events, and shows. But it’s not just international tourists taking advantage. Our data shows a rise in UAE residents planning staycations around these performances as well. We are seeing a growing trend of ‘tour tourism’, where travellers plan entire trips around concerts by their favourite stars, which is reflected in our latest search figures,” said Rehan Asad, VP-Global Markets, Expedia.

Charm of global superstars

As some of the world’s most celebrated stars descend on Dubai and Abu Dhabi, it is little surprise that many fans flock to see their idols perform live. Interest among international travellers and UAE residents soared, with searches for trips increasing by a staggering 75 per cent on 16 November compared with the same period last year to see their favourite rapper.

World-class sporting events

The UAE offers a heart-pumping selection of motor racing events which attract petrol heads from around the world for the event in December. The race takes place at a critical point in the sport’s calendar and Expedia reported a 65 per cent surge in travel searches between 1-8 December compared to the same timeframe in 2024, as fans from around the world scrambled to make sure they witness the exciting event. As the UAE’s list of events peaked from 6-8 December with motor racing and concerts, so have searches in the UAE with an astounding 210 per cent increase. This matches the anticipation levels of fans eager to see their favourite artists for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

2025 starts with a bang

Figures from Expedia have seen a remarkable 335 per cent jump in travel searches from 9-14 January, for the concert happening in Abu Dhabi, where fans of “Yellow” and “Fix You” can hear their favourite songs. This reflects the global nature of the event and further reinforces the UAE as a must-visit destination for 2025.