Dubai rises as UK’s 3rd most popular Christmas holiday destination
Abu Dhabi tops Christmas searches as travellers plan festive escapes
DUBAI – With the first flurries of winter snow already falling across the UK, many are seeking sunshine and warmth this Christmas.
Long-haul travel specialists Travelbag have revealed that Dubai is the third most in-demand festive destination for 2025, following a surge in online searches and bookings. The study, combining Google search data and internal booking records, shows an 82% increase in searches for “Christmas in Dubai” over the past three months.
UK travellers’ appetite for festive warmth continues to grow, with Abu Dhabi topping the list of destinations, seeing a 91% surge in searches. Vietnam comes in second with an 86% increase, while Dubai takes third place. The study highlights how the desire to escape chilly UK winters is driving long-haul travel planning earlier than ever.
Top destinations
Travelbag’s research shows the rise in festive holiday interest goes beyond Dubai, with New Zealand emerging as the UK’s top Christmas destination for 2024. Bookings there jumped 105% during the festive season, offering visitors a summer Christmas experience, complete with carols, gifts, and even traditional roast dinners. Costa Rica followed with a 79% increase in festive bookings and a remarkable 600% year-on-year rise, reflecting its mid-20s°C temperatures in December.
Other popular long-haul destinations include Australia, with bookings 66% above its yearly average, and Thailand, up 63%. Dubai itself saw a 20% rise in bookings over the 2024 festive period, while Abu Dhabi’s popularity is set to increase sharply for 2025, indicating continued interest in Gulf destinations.
Booking trends
Analysis from Travelbag shows a clear trend: UK travellers are increasingly searching for warm-weather Christmas breaks. Abu Dhabi leads the 2025 list, with a 91% increase in searches over the last three months. Vietnam follows with an 86% increase, and Dubai completes the top three at 82%. This growth is driven by both the desire for sunshine and the appeal of luxury travel experiences in these regions.
Fiona Wood, Travelbag’s Australia Destination Expert, explained that Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere provides a unique alternative to the traditional UK winter experience. “December down under is the beginning of summer, so prepare for sun rather than snow. Temperatures hit highs of around 20°C in Hobart and 30°C in Sydney and Brisbane, but you can still enjoy a traditional Christmas with festivals, markets, and celebrations,” she said.
Seasonal insights
As the UK faces shorter days and colder weather, festive travel bookings continue to rise. The Travelbag study highlights the dual appeal of escaping the chill while still enjoying Christmas traditions abroad. New Zealand, Costa Rica, Australia, Thailand, and Dubai are among the destinations seeing the strongest festive booking growth.
For 2025, Abu Dhabi’s surge in searches indicates that Gulf destinations are capturing the attention of UK travellers seeking warm weather, cultural experiences, and luxury festive breaks. Dubai’s continued popularity, combined with strong growth in bookings, confirms the city’s position as a must-visit destination for those planning long-haul Christmas holidays.
Travelbag expertise
Travelbag, an award-winning long-haul travel company operating since 1979, provides tailored holiday experiences to destinations around the globe. From Asia to Africa, the Caribbean, and the USA, Travelbag’s specialists create bespoke itineraries designed to simplify travel planning while offering unique and memorable holidays. Their data-driven approach, using both booking and search volume trends, allows them to identify emerging destinations and growing seasonal demand.