UAE Winter 2025 Travel Trends: Where Residents Are Going and How They’re Saving

Winter 2025 is proving that UAE residents are more travel-savvy and experience-driven than ever. Recent data from Expedia and regional travel platforms shows three clear themes for this season: cultural city breaks, alpine adventures, and tropical escapes, all booked with a sharp eye on timing and value.​

On the city-break front, destinations like Madrid and Amsterdam are seeing demand from the UAE jump by well over 100%, driven by residents looking for walkable neighbourhoods, museums, food scenes, and winter markets rather than beach clubs. These trips are often short—four to five nights—and planned around long weekends like UAE National Day or minimal time off work.​

At the other extreme, snow holidays are trending strongly. St. Moritz, Toronto, and other cold-weather hubs are gaining traction with UAE travellers chasing proper winter, from skiing and snowboarding to Christmas markets and ice rinks. For many families, these trips are timed around school holidays and booked as once-in-a-few-years experiences.​

For travellers who still crave warmth, tropical escapes in Asia and the Indian Ocean remain classics. Islands and beach destinations are popular for those who want to unwind rather than sightsee, with packages that bundle flights and hotels helping keep costs under control.​

What’s different in 2025 is how strategic UAE residents have become. Travel outlooks highlight specific dates—early and mid-February, for example—as the cheapest days to stay, with early January flagged as a less crowded, value-friendly window following the New Year rush. Many residents are leveraging Black Friday and Cyber Week deals, where hotel discounts of up to 50% and bundle savings have made advanced planning more attractive than last-minute getaways.​

Domestically, the UAE itself continues to shine as a winter hotspot. Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s mix of shopping festivals, desert safaris, cultural attractions, and new immersive experiences keeps many residents choosing staycations over expensive long-haul trips. Trends show rising interest in beach resorts in Ras Al Khaimah and Saadiyat Island, as well as mountain escapes in Hatta, where cool temperatures, hiking, kayaking, and glamping-style stays offer a totally different vibe.​

For UAE residents planning now, the formula is clear:– Lock in flights early for long-haul trips.– Use weekday departures and returns for cheaper fares.– Consider bundled flight+hotel packages for international and domestic stays.– For those staying in the UAE, combine DSF offers, winter attraction passes, and staycation deals to build a holiday-level experience without leaving the country.​

Winter 2025 is less about simply “going somewhere” and more about curating experiences—culture, snow, or sunshine—while stretching dirhams and annual leave days as far as they can go.