Khaberni - Last year, 146,000 Emirati tourists visited the United Kingdom, according to data from the British Tourism Authority "Visit Britain".
The data, obtained by "Emirates Today", shows that Emirati visitors spent more than 1.1 million hotel nights across various UK destinations, while their total tourist spending amounted to about 336 million British pounds (approximately 1.65 billion dirhams).
"Visit Britain" indicated that these figures confirm the UK's continued status as a prime destination for travelers from the Emirates, thanks to a variety of tourist experiences that combine history, culture, shopping, and entertainment.
The authority explained that visitors benefit from regular direct flights between the Emirates and Britain, connecting Dubai and Abu Dhabi with several British cities, alongside facilities provided by British authorities for travelers from the Gulf states. It noted that the UAE is one of the most important tourist markets in the Gulf region for Britain, with an increase in family trips, short vacations, and a high rate of repeat visits for this market.
The British authority stated that last year, the United Kingdom welcomed 374,000 visitors from the Emirati market (Emiratis and residents), with total spending amounting to 613.2 million British pounds, averaging 1,641 pounds per visit.
According to "Visit Britain", visitors aged between 25 and 54 years comprise about 77% of the total Emirati visitors, highlighting that 76% of tourists from the UAE (excluding British residents) had previously visited Britain in the past ten years.
The authority mentioned that Emiratis prioritize enjoying natural beauty and good value for money in their tourist interests and view Britain as a destination rich in history and heritage.
According to the data, last year, there were 199 weekly direct flights between the Emirates and Britain, with a capacity exceeding 87,000 seats, covering three airports in the Emirates and eight in Britain. 67% of this capacity was allocated to London, while the operational capacity of the flights exceeded pre-pandemic levels during the year 2024.
"Visit Britain" clarified that 98% of Emirati visitors arrived in Britain by air in 2024, while flights to London accounted for 67% of the total direct seat capacity from the Emirates to the United Kingdom. It pointed to a continuous increase in seat capacity on flights between the two countries. It added that the capacity of direct flights between the UAE and the United Kingdom last year exceeded pre-pandemic levels (2019) recorded a growth of 101%.
The British authority noted that promotional campaigns targeting visitors from the Emirati market usually increase before national and religious holidays, including special offers for short vacations during holiday breaks, national days, and New Year's Eve. Emiratis prefer long stays during the summer and school holidays in various cities and destinations in the United Kingdom.
It reported that 81% of Emirati tourists (excluding British residents) said they are "very likely" to recommend visiting Britain, a rate close to the global average of 82%.
