The UAE has emerged as the second most popular winter sun destination for British travelers, with more than 1,000 flights, according to global aviation data provider OAG.
The Canary Islands is the most popular destination for UK travelers between December 20, 2025, and January 4, 2026, with 3,685 flights, followed by the UAE (1,006 flights), Morocco (952), Egypt (796), Cyprus (348), Portugal (245), Barbados (240), Mexico (146), Cape Verde (138), and the USA (128).
“The top destination for Brits flying out of the UK this Christmas is the Canary Islands; there will be more than three times as many flights heading to the Canaries as to the second-most popular destination, the UAE,” said OAG.
A large number of tourists from the UK and other European countries flock to the UAE, especially Dubai, during Christmas and New Year celebrations to enjoy the pleasant weather in the Emirates.
The UAE’s carriers — which operate to all the major destinations in the UK — boost their frequency during the festival and holiday seasons to accommodate the growth in passenger traffic.
Importantly, Sharjah-based Air Arabia also announced direct flights to London Gatwick, representing a significant step in strengthening the budget carrier’s global footprint.
The new service, commencing on March 29, 2026, will operate double daily, providing customers with greater choice when traveling between the UAE and the UK.
In terms of airports for British Christmas sun seekers, Dubai International (DXB) will receive 776 flights between December 20 and January 4 — the third highest after Tenerife Sur Airport (Canary Islands) and Lanzarote Airport (Spain).
Other airports which will see the highest inflow of British tourists during Christmas are Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Marrakech, Hurghada, Sharm El-Sheikh, Agadir, and Funchal.
According to Dubai Airports, London topped among the cities with 2.8 million passengers while the UK came third with 4.6 million travelers in the countries’ category in the first nine months of the year at DXB.
“Dubai International (DXB), with 776 flights, remains the most popular long-haul option and the second-most-frequent destination overall. Although well behind the Canaries in total volume, it stands out as the only non-European location in the top tier of UK winter sun travel,” said OAG in its analysis.
