The emerging travel patterns show an integrated and eco-friendly travel outlook, as travelers will be looking for increasingly substantial and memorable experiences. This will impact how travelers from the UAE will value their trip arrangements in the following years. They will tend to focus on culturally immersive experiences that allow for city escape and local connectivity.
Destinations of the Year: Lesser-Known Sites to Discover
Expedia’s most recent report emphasized a noticeable increase in the popularity of lesser-known places around the world. This is the second year in a row that the company’s “Destinations of the Year” report has highlighted places that are growing in popularity, but also still retaining some of their local character. This is to be expected, as many travelers are seeking out destinations that are less commercialized and more focused on sustainability, as travelers seek to avoid the crowds.
It is worth noting that six of the top growing destinations also meet the requirements of Expedia’s newly launched Smart Travel Health Check, developed in collaboration with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). For travelers from the UAE, these places are of great value as they are able to interact with local communities and economies to avoid the impacts of over-tourism, which is prevalent in most cities around the world.
UAE travelers are most interested in Big Sky, Montana, and Okinawa, Japan, out of the top growing destinations. These locations offer not only more enriched cultural experiences, but they also provide opportunities to practice eco-friendly tourism, which is of growing interest to travelers from the UAE.
The 2026 trend forecast highlights another important development: the rise of Fan Voyages on offer. With big international sporting events happening in 2026, travelers from the UAE focus on more immersive experiences that let them get involved with the local culture associated with the sport. Fan Voyages are about much more than attending a sporting event, like sumo in Japan or baseball in South Korea. They aim to get travelers involved with community rituals, practices, and traditions to give them a full and rich experience.
According to Expedia, 86% of travelers from the UAE going overseas do so to attend a sporting event, particularly younger travelers from Gen Z and Millennials. For them, it transcends mere spectating; it involves an experience deeply rooted in the culture of the sport and the country, building lasting memories from their travels. The Fan Voyage trend in 2026 will be characterized by popular sports like Muay Thai in Thailand and Australian Rules Football in Australia, as well as the more immersive experiences associated with them.
Traveling to Popular Cinematic Locations
Set-jetting is traveling to places based on popular movies and TV shows. For 2026, this trend is back, and 81% of travelers from the UAE show interest in it. Most travelers to the UAE are of the Gen Z age group. Out of these, 59% are planning a movie or series-based trip. By 2026, the interest in set-jetting among travelers from the UAE is likely to increase.
For travelers from the UAE, set-jetting means movie-perfect, beautiful places and popular shows and movies. Like Greece, which is likely to be a big set-jetting location, after the movie releases this year. Other places getting attention are the Dalmatian Coast in Croatia and Tuscany, Italy. Travelers here can relive scenes from the movies, which makes this trip even more memorable. Watching popular shows or movies is a major motivation for travelers from the UAE, and with this motivation, they can expect set-jetting to translate into a billion-dollar industry.
Other Emerging Trends in 2026
Greater personalization in travel is another emerging trend expected to dominate in 2026.
Salvaged Stays. People enjoy staying in repurposed buildings like old schools, train stations, and banks. These places offer a one-of-a-kind blend of modern services and historical charm. They cater to those looking for an alternative to mainstream hotels.
Hotel Hop. UAE travelers are booking multiple hotels in a single destination to experience different neighborhoods. This helps them enjoy different budgets and a variety of experiences. The trend is especially popular among younger travelers and provides diverse stays from budget to luxury. This ensures adventure, relaxing boredom, and avoiding burnout.
Farm Charm. The slow travel movement is growing, and more people are interested in working farm stays. This helps travelers unplug, connect with nature, and experience a slower pace of life. Activities like hiking, birdwatching, and harvesting a lot of farm produce are attracting people to travel.
Conclusion: New Horizons in Travel for UAE Adventurers
Looking ahead to 2026, travelers from the UAE will have the ability to travel to different corners of the world to experience many amazing things. The future of travel will include more authentic cultural experiences centered around sustainability, including immersive sports or cinema vacations. The trends highlighted in the report “Unpack ’26” by Expedia made it clear that the travel industry is making changes, and UAE travelers have the opportunity to be the first to experience that change.
The travel trends reported by Expedia seem to indicate changes in the world and the way people travel; it suggests that people prefer experiences that are more personal and less in the realm of conventional tourism. As the new trends allow more meaningful exploration, travelers from the UAE will positively influence many of the world’s new travel experiences.
Tags: Ternds in Travel, Expedia, UAE