Abu Dhabi and Dubai named the safest solo travel cities for 2025
Southeast Asia and Hanoi emerge as favourites for independent travellers
DUBAI – As solo travel continues to surge into the New Year, safety has become the top priority for independent explorers.
Travelbag, a long-haul travel specialist, has analysed the daytime and nighttime safety scores of 36 global destinations using the Numbeo Crime Index, revealing which cities offer the greatest peace of mind for those travelling alone. The results place the UAE firmly at the top of the global safety table, with Abu Dhabi and Dubai occupying the first and second positions worldwide.
The study also reflects a wider travel shift, with 76 percent of Gen Z and Millennials saying they plan to take a solo holiday, and the same proportion ranking safety as one of the most important factors when choosing where to go.
UAE cities take lead
Abu Dhabi ranks as the safest city for solo travel anywhere in the world, recording a daytime safety score of 92 and a nighttime score of 87. These figures put the UAE capital ahead of every other city surveyed, highlighting the strength of its low crime rates and secure urban environment.
Dubai follows closely in second place, with a daytime safety score of 91 and a nighttime score of 83. The emirate’s consistently high performance across both periods of the day underlines why it remains one of the most popular and trusted destinations for independent travellers, particularly those exploring after dark.
Chiang Mai in Thailand, Muscat in Oman and Queenstown in New Zealand complete the global top five for solo travel safety, but both Abu Dhabi and Dubai remain the only two cities with daytime safety scores above 90 in the top rankings.
World’s safest cities for solo travel
| Rank | Destination | Country | Safety score (Day | Night) |
| 1 | Abu Dhabi | UAE | 92 | 87 |
| 2 | Dubai | UAE | 91 | 83 |
| 3 | Chiang Mai | Thailand | 93 | 81 |
| 4 | Muscat | Oman | 89 | 76 |
| 5 | Queenstown | New Zealand | 86 | 74 |
Top destinations
While Abu Dhabi and Dubai dominate safety, Travelbag’s wider Solo Traveller Index, which also considers transport, temperature, visitor acceptance and English proficiency, names Hanoi in Vietnam as the best overall destination for solo travellers in 2025.
Hanoi leads the index with a strong daytime safety score of 82, combined with low public transport costs of £0.25 per journey and an average peak-season temperature of 27°C. Colombo in Sri Lanka takes second place, followed by Kandy, also in Sri Lanka, giving the country two positions in the global top three.
Best destinations for solo travel in 2025
| Rank | Destination | Country | Day safety score (out of 100) | Public transport (£ one-way) | Avg peak temp (°C) |
| 1 | Hanoi | Vietnam | 82 | £0.25 | 27 |
| 2 | Colombo | Sri Lanka | 76 | £0.14 | 29 |
| 3 | Kandy | Sri Lanka | 78 | £0.12 | 28 |
| 4 | Siem Reap | Cambodia | 85 | £0.74 | 26 |
| 5 | Grand Baie/Bay | Mauritius | 85 | £0.79 | 27 |
| 6 | Chiang Mai | Thailand | 93 | £0.69 | 29 |
| 7 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | 57 | £0.53 | 28 |
| 8 | Zanzibar | Tanzania | 67 | £0.24 | 24 |
| 9 | Malé | Maldives | 55 | £0.49 | 28 |
| 10 | Phuket | Thailand | 83 | £1.09 | 27 |
Hanoi’s combination of safety, affordability and accessibility places it ahead of all other destinations for independent travellers, while Colombo’s ultra-low transport costs of £0.14 per trip and Kandy’s peaceful environment continue to attract solo visitors seeking easier, more affordable exploration.
Asia dominates
Southeast Asia stands out as the strongest region in Travelbag’s 2025 rankings, with multiple cities appearing in both the safety and overall destination tables. Chiang Mai records the highest daytime safety score of any city in the study at 93, while Siem Reap, Kuala Lumpur and Phuket all feature among the top ten global destinations for solo travellers.
The region’s appeal lies in its blend of strong safety performance, accessible transport networks and warm peak-season climates ranging between 24°C and 29°C, creating conditions that support year-round independent travel.