Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah clinched a podium finish in the top 10 cities visited by UAE travelers, beating international hotspots Bangkok (fourth place), Singapore (seventh place), and London (10th place), according to 2018 booking data from Agoda, one of the world’s fastest growing online travel agents (OTAs).

With thousands of accommodation choices, the world’s tallest building, largest indoor theme park, biggest shopping mall, and fastest rollercoaster, the UAE is known as one of the ultimate tourist destinations in the world.

As new luxury hotels and other vacation rental options, shopping centres, theme parks and attractions open in the country, staycations have become popular, offering unique experiences for every kind of traveler. While the appeal of many staycations is that they are an escape from the hustle and bustle, some of the UAE’s most incredible deals are at luxury hotels in the heart of the city. Properties such as the One&Only Royal Mirage and Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat al Beri enable residents to relax in style and experience UAE’s stunning sights from the perspective of a tourist.

2018 top travel destinations for UAE & KSA travelers:

Saudi Arabia

Top destination countries

1. Saudi Arabia
2. United Arab Emirates
3. Bahrain

Top destination cities

1. Manama
2. Dubai
3. Mecca
4. Riyadh
5. Medina
6. Jeddah
7. Istanbul
8. Kuwait
9. Manila
10. Kuala Lumpur

UAE

Top destination countries

1. United Arab Emirates
2. Saudi Arabia
3. India

Top destination cities

1. Dubai
2. Abu Dhabi
3. Sharjah
4. Bangkok
5. Mecca
6. Ras Al Khaimah
7. Singapore
8. Manama
9. Ajman
10. London

Global traveler top destinations across Asia, Europe and the United States

Bangkok, London and Las Vegas were the top city destinations in Asia, Europe and the US for Agoda’s travelers, while Japan and Thailand, and United Kingdom and Italy were the most popular Asian and European countries respectively in 2018.

From ephemeral sights like cherry blossoms, to the endless quirky, wonderful experiences such as robot cafes, Japan has something for every traveler. The Land of the Rising Sun has claimed the crown for top Asian destination, and its vibrant cities, Tokyo and Osaka, attracting adventurous explorers from across Asia and the globe.

While London and Paris continue to win the hearts of travelers, the cosmopolitan Istanbul is quickly gaining popularity, climbing four ranks up to fifth most-booked city in Europe since 2016.

America’s party city, City of Angels and The Big Apple have taken the top spots in the United States. Apart from Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York, two other noteworthy destinations came up in 2018 – whether it’s due to the year-round sun in Phoenix or the southern hospitality in Houston, these two places are rapidly growing in popularity among travelers to America.

Top cities in Asia	Top cities in Europe		Top cities in America
1.          Bangkok 2.          Tokyo 3.          Kuala Lumpur 4.          Hong Kong 5.          Osaka 6.          Taipei 7.          Seoul 8.          Singapore 9.          Bali 10.      Pattaya	1.       London 2.       Paris 3.       Rome 4.       Barcelona 5.       Istanbul 6.       Amsterdam 7.       Milan 8.       Madrid 9.       Venice 10.   Prague		1.       Las Vegas (NV) 2.       Los Angeles (CA) 3.       New York (NY) 4.       Orlando (FL) 5.       San Francisco (CA) 6.       Chicago (IL) 7.       Phoenix (AZ) 8.       Houston (TX) 9.       Oahu Hawaii 10.   San Diego (CA)
Top countries in Asia		Top countries in Europe
1.          Japan 2.          Thailand 3.          Malaysia		1.       United Kingdom 2.       Italy 3.       France