Sri Lanka is among the top destinations for UAE residents to travel this summer, according to new data released by Emirates.
UAE media, Khaleej Times reports that per the data, UAE residents are searching for flights to Sri Lanka, Jordan, Morocco, France, India and Lebanon this summer.
Sri Lanka saw a 32 per cent rise, driven by interest in beach holidays, cultural sites, and budget-friendly luxury. Emirates offers several daily flights to Colombo, the report states.
Data by Emirates further reported a 13 per cent rise in flight searches from the UAE compared to last year, reflecting strong outbound demand ahead of the peak travel season.
The trend aligns with a wider global shift in travel behaviour. Emirates says overall searches for summer travel are up by 7 per cent across its network, with destinations in Asia, the Indian Ocean and parts of Europe gaining the most traction.
Vietnam recorded a 61 per cent surge in search interest, making it the fastest-growing destination on the Emirates network. The airline operates 25 weekly flights to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang (via Bangkok). The growing demand is tied to Vietnam’s mix of nature, food and heritage sites, with Da Nang offering access to multiple UNESCO-listed landmarks and untouched coastline.
Mauritius, Sri Lanka also see strong growth
Searches for Mauritius are up 41 per cent, with Emirates operating two daily A380 flights to the island. Sri Lanka saw a 32 per cent rise, driven by interest in beach holidays, cultural sites, and budget-friendly luxury. Emirates offers several daily flights to Colombo.
France, Japan complete the top five
France saw a 25 per cent increase in searches, with Emirates operating multiple daily flights to Paris, Nice and Lyon. Japan followed with a 28 per cent rise, supported by 21 weekly flights to Tokyo (Narita and Haneda) and Osaka.
Who’s going where?
The data shows regional travel preferences vary:
- UK travellers are searching more for long-haul destinations like Japan, Sri Lanka and Mauritius.
- Indian travellers are focused on Australia, New Zealand and Ireland.
- German travellers are showing more interest in Japan, Vietnam, South Korea and the Seychelles.
- US travellers are leaning towards Africa, especially Egypt, Kenya and South Africa.
- Australian travellers are largely searching for flights to Europe, particularly France and the UK. (Newswire/ Khaleej Times)
