UAE travel demand jumps in 2025 as fares ease and flexibility rises
One-way trips dominate changing travel habits across the region
DUBAI – WINGIE, the leading travel marketplace in MENA, has released its latest data-driven insights for 2025, pointing to a strong rebound and reshaping of travel demand across the region.
Bookings in 2025 rose by 50% compared with 2024, highlighting sustained appetite for regional and long-haul travel. The findings also reveal how travellers are adapting their plans amid easing airfares and greater flexibility in trip choices.
Dubai features prominently among the destinations benefiting from this growth.
Booking growth
The data shows a notable shift in pricing trends, with the average fare per person falling by 5% year-on-year, from $306 in 2024 to $288 in 2025. This decline has coincided with higher booking volumes, suggesting travellers are responding quickly to better value options.
Dubai recorded a significant rise in bookings, alongside Jeddah, Riyadh and Istanbul, supported by major events and strong connectivity across the region.
Destination demand
Cairo remained the most-searched destination in 2025, underlining continued interest in North Africa. At the same time, Dubai strengthened its position as a regional hub, attracting travellers from across the Middle East and beyond. The top 10 most-booked routes highlighted heavy traffic between the Middle East and North Africa, with Saudi Arabia to Egypt leading volumes, while Egypt to UAE and Kuwait to Egypt emerged as fast-growing routes.
Fare patterns
Flight prices in 2025 showed sharp contrasts, ranging from a $15 fare on the Kuwait to Abu Dhabi route to a $6,000 booking from Dubai to New York.
One-way trips accounted for 72% of all bookings, reflecting a growing preference for flexible travel planning rather than fixed return itineraries.