UAE named world’s 6th most Muslim-friendly destination
AI, digital trust and seamless connectivity reshape faith-based tourism
DUBAI – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been ranked the sixth most popular Muslim-friendly travel destination globally in the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2026, reinforcing its position as a leading destination for halal tourism and faith-based travel services.
The latest report, released by Mastercard and CrescentRating, highlights the growing influence of artificial intelligence, digital trust, regional mobility and destination readiness in shaping the future of Muslim travel. It also projects another strong year for the sector, with international Muslim travel continuing its rapid expansion.
International Muslim visitor arrivals are expected to reach 208 million in 2026, up from 196 million in 2025. By 2030, the market is forecast to grow to 262 million international arrivals, generating annual expenditure of $310 billion.
Global ranking
The 11th edition of GMTI assessed 150 destinations representing more than 98% of global Muslim visitor arrivals using the Access, Communications, Environment and Services (ACES) framework. This year's report places greater emphasis on AI readiness, digital visibility, smart destination infrastructure, traveller confidence and resilience planning as destinations respond to a changing global environment.
Explore the latest rankings and discover which destinations are leading the way in Muslim-friendly travel.
— CrescentRating (@Crescentrating) July 6, 2026
???? Read the full report: https://t.co/6puEJeSktE
???? info@crescentrating.com#GMTI2026 #MuslimTravel #HalalTravel #MuslimFriendlyTravel #TravelInsights #CrescentRating pic.twitter.com/sMMgqt22aP
The UAE secured sixth place with a score of 75, reflecting its strong performance in halal tourism, Muslim-friendly services and destination marketing. It was also placed in the Trailblazers quadrant, which comprises 27 destinations recognised for leading efforts to accommodate Muslim travellers.
The report also maintained the UAE's position among the world's most accessible destinations, supported by extensive air and land connectivity, internationally recognised airports, efficient public transport systems and streamlined visa policies. The country achieved a perfect score of 100 for the availability of halal dining options and prayer facilities.
Digital shift
GMTI 2026 found that 80% of travellers surveyed worldwide now use AI-powered tools during different stages of their travel journey, signalling a significant shift in how trips are researched, planned and experienced. Digital technologies are increasingly becoming part of the trust infrastructure that travellers rely on when choosing destinations.
AI-powered platforms now assist travellers in locating halal restaurants, identifying nearby prayer facilities, comparing transport routes, receiving personalised recommendations and navigating unfamiliar destinations more confidently.
For Muslim travellers, these digital capabilities are particularly valuable because they help verify multiple faith-based requirements before and throughout a journey. The report notes that destinations failing to digitise Muslim-friendly services risk becoming less visible in AI-driven recommendation systems, regardless of the quality of their tourism infrastructure.
As a result, competition among destinations is moving beyond simply providing services to ensuring those services are digitally discoverable. Making reliable information machine-readable, regularly updated and easily accessible is becoming increasingly important in converting travel interest into confirmed visits.
Smart tourism
The report highlights the growing adoption of digital tourism technologies, including e-visas, biometric border systems, AI chatbots, digital travel assistants, real-time translation services and smart destination management platforms. These innovations are helping reduce uncertainty while making travel easier from planning through to arrival.
Despite the widespread use of AI and automated translation tools, GMTI stresses that direct human assistance and native-language support remain essential. Arabic and English continue to be the primary languages used by much of the global Muslim travel market.
According to the report, the UAE has emerged as one of the leading destinations in multilingual visitor support through trained frontline staff, dedicated tourism portals, intuitive transport signage and comprehensive travel guides. These measures help visitors access services more easily while promoting a culturally inclusive travel experience.
Changing trends
The report says Muslim travel demand remains resilient despite global uncertainty, although traveller preferences are evolving. Rising fuel costs, geopolitical tensions, airspace disruptions and security concerns are encouraging more travellers to choose destinations that are closer to home and offer greater stability.
GMTI 2026 identifies this as a shift towards "home-continent" mobility, where travellers modify itineraries instead of cancelling trips altogether. Regional travel corridors offering fewer disruptions and greater confidence are becoming increasingly attractive compared with longer journeys requiring multiple transit points.
The report also introduces the Destination Activation Stack, a strategic model combining the ACES framework with the RIDA framework, which measures responsible, immersive, digital and assured travel experiences, and the TRUST framework, which evaluates the factors that convert traveller interest into bookings.
Together, these frameworks reflect how Muslim-friendly tourism is evolving beyond the provision of halal food and prayer facilities. Destinations are increasingly assessed on whether those services are accessible, digitally visible, reliable and aligned with traveller expectations for safety, sustainability, inclusivity and high-quality experiences.