As winter’s chill descends upon the United Kingdom, British travelers are increasingly turning their gaze toward sun-drenched destinations for their seasonal holidays. Recent data analytics reveal a remarkable trend: the United Arab Emirates has emerged as a premier choice, with both Abu Dhabi and Dubai securing positions among the UK’s top three most searched winter destinations.
Travelbag, a prominent UK-based travel specialist focusing on long-haul journeys, conducted comprehensive research combining their internal 2024 booking metrics with three months of Google search volume analysis. The findings demonstrate a significant shift in British holiday preferences during the critical Christmas and New Year period.
The search data reveals extraordinary growth in interest for the UAE capital. Queries for ‘Christmas in Abu Dhabi’ surged by 91 percent, propelling it to the number one position in destination searches. Vietnam followed closely with an 86 percent increase, while Dubai captured the third spot with an 82 percent rise in search volume. Mauritius and Costa Rica completed the top five with increases of 56 and 55 percent respectively.
Historical booking patterns from 2024 provide additional context for this emerging trend. While New Zealand led with a staggering 105 percent booking increase last year, Dubai already demonstrated strong appeal with a solid 20 percent growth, securing fifth place. The dominance of warm-weather destinations with renowned coastlines—Costa Rica, Australia, and Thailand rounded out the top five—signals a clear preference for temperate climates during the UK’s coldest months.
Aviation data from global provider OAG corroborates the UAE’s popularity, identifying the federation as the second most popular winter sun destination for British travelers. Between December 20 and January 4, Dubai International Airport (DXB) is scheduled to receive 776 flights from the UK, representing over 1,000 total flights between the two nations during this peak travel period. This substantial air connectivity facilitates the growing demand for Emirati holidays among UK residents seeking refuge from winter’s rain and wind.