Travel is a profound way to heal and uncover unknown aspects of yourself. “Genealogical quest” is a transformative experience gaining popularity in the UAE. People are eager to learn about their ancestors, their homeland, and must-visit places to explore their family history.
Abhishek Dadlani, founder of Lushescapes, a boutique travel curator in Dubai, states: “Globally, genealogical tourism is on the rise. In the UAE, there’s a tremendous opportunity due to the country’s diverse population. Families are seeking meaningful journeys, not just luxury. I believe this will define travel trends this decade.”
Luxury travel should extend beyond indulgence to be meaningful. Over the years, Dadlani has observed that many UAE families desire more than perfect vacations. “They crave journeys with purpose and connection. This inspired me to create genealogical quests, reconnecting families with their roots and offering something more valuable than a passport stamp—an anchor to their heritage,” he explains.
Cultural Immersion
Recently, the firm organized a multi-million-dollar genealogical trip for a European family, covering three continents and 15 cities to trace their ancestral origins. They stayed in private lodges, exclusive islands, and opulent palaces, enjoying unrivaled luxury and cultural immersion.
Travelers embark on genealogical quests for various reasons. Some seek purpose and meaning, others feel responsible for knowing their past to strengthen identity. Dadlani says: “Exploring familial historical sites and ancestral origins holds significance. Walking where your ancestors lived or standing in a home built by your great-grandparents creates continuity between past, present, and future. These quests, deeply personal and transformative, instill pride, belonging, and identity across generations.”
However, genealogical quests are challenging. Crafting an itinerary is a massive task. “Every quest starts with research. We collaborate with genealogists, historians, and archivists to map a family’s lineage. Once key milestones are uncovered, our team turns this into a journey, arranging private archive access, visits to ancestral homes, and immersive cultural experiences to bring the family’s story to life.”
Genealogical trip planning begins with gathering family records, birth certificates, photographs, oral histories, verified archival data, census records, and sometimes, DNA tools. The travel curator manages everything: research, logistics, interpreters, private tours, and personalized keepsakes. Once facts are established, the curator crafts this narrative into a living journey, merging research with storytelling.
“An unforgettable experience was for an Indian-origin family in Dubai. Their history spanned East Africa and India. We curated a journey from Zanzibar, through Nairobi, ending in Gujarat, where a reunion with distant relatives in their ancestral home was arranged. Watching three generations embrace was a career highlight,” recalls Dadlani.
UAE is becoming a hub for such trips. “Many families here are only one or two generations from their ancestral homelands. For them, exploring roots isn’t just nostalgia; it grounds their children in a fast-paced world.”
Research-based, meaningful, and connecting, genealogical trips are luxuriously crafted with high price tags.
Each bespoke journey varies in cost based on research depth, destinations, and luxury level. A regional quest typically starts at $25,000 (Dh91,812) per family for a week, while multi-country quests spanning weeks may exceed $100,000 (Dh367,250). “It’s the connections, witnessing a child listen eagerly to great-grandparent stories, or tears of recognition in an ancestral home. These experiences transcend material luxury. Clients invest in a legacy, not just a trip,” he concludes.
