Dubai: Emiratis are the UAE’s most well-traveled residents, a new study that looks at the travel behaviors of different nationalities, revealed.
The average Emirati takes about four leisure holidays a year, the highest among residents in the UAE, followed by Westerners and Arab expatriates, who take three trips a year, according to Expedia, a full service online travel site that commissioned the study, on Wednesday.
Asians, on the other hand, are the least traveled, taking an average of two leisure trips every 12 months, lower than the average. Across nationalities, UAE residents take a holiday about three times a year, spending about 15 days per trip.
Expedia’s study included 1,000 respondents in the country who were asked a series of questions about their travel patterns. The findings showed differences in travel behavior across different demographics and nationalities residing in the UAE.
When looking at the average number of days the UAE residents take per trip, Expedia found that Asian expatriates take the longest stretches of holidays, averaging 16 days.
Western and Arab expatriates take the second spot, averaging 15 days, while Emiratis normally spend 12 days. Nearly half of the residents in the country (48 per cent), however, said they take holidays that last more than two weeks.
It appears that family affects the frequency of travel among UAE residents, with married couples who don’t have children taking the most number of holidays annually (four trips), followed by singles who take three trips a year.
In comparison, those who have children take on average two holiday trips a year.
However, when families travel with their children, they tend to stay longer, with an average trip of 17 days, compared to single travelers who spend 13 days on average.
Age is a factor as well, with UAE residents who are 40 years and older taking 17 days, compared to those aged 30 to 39, who take 16 days and those aged 18 to 29, who take the least with 14 days.
“The study also asked UAE residents who they travel with. Sixty per cent of UAE residents reported that they travel with their families, including 65 per cent of Arab expats, 61 per cent of Asian residents, 54 per cent of Emiratis and 45 per cent of Westerners,” said Eman Barhoumeh, Expedia director of e-commerce.
About 20 per cent of the residents reported they travel with their life partners.
When it comes to business trips, the average UAE resident takes two trips a year and spends roughly eight days on each travel.
Western expatriates top the table in terms of frequency, taking on average 2.7 business trips every 12 months, but Emiratis are following closely behind, averaging 2.5 times a year. Asians record the least number of company-paid trips, taking only 1.7 business trips a year.
