Dubai-based Wego, MENA’s largest online travel marketplace, is reporting a significant shift in user behavior, with new data showing a massive uplift in travel searches from the UAE in May. The trend suggests a more price-aware and strategic traveler is emerging, actively planning trips to secure better value before the summer travel season drives up costs.
Quick Facts
- 173% month-on-month growth in summer travel searches.
- Travelers are planning more than a month ahead.
- Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman lead regional interest.
A Shift to Smarter Planning
According to Wego’s internal data for May 2026, the 173% month-on-month surge in summer travel searches is one of the strongest pre-summer increases recorded on the platform this year. This activity points to a change in mindset among UAE travelers.
Instead of just hunting for the lowest possible fare, users are demonstrating more deliberate, research-led behavior. The longer planning windows allow them to optimize for value across higher-rated hotels, better cabin classes, and more flexible itineraries—options that typically become more expensive as summer demand kicks in. Wego notes that average airfares and hotel rates searched in May remained stable, giving early planners a clear advantage.
Regional Getaways and Long-Haul Trips Gain Traction
The data highlights a strong preference for short-haul regional trips, with Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman seeing the most significant month-on-month growth in search volume.
At the same time, interest in long-haul destinations is also building. China and Poland, in particular, are emerging as popular choices for UAE travelers looking for experiential trips during the summer break. This dual interest in both regional and international travel underscores the broad recovery and confidence in the travel market.
About Wego
Wego is the number one travel app and the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Combining a dynamic travel marketplace with on-platform bookings, Wego enables travelers to easily search, compare, and book flights and hotels across hundreds of airlines, hotels, and online travel agencies. Beyond its B2C marketplace, Wego also operates WegoPro, a next-generation business travel platform, and WegoBeds, a MENA-focused bedbank. The company is backed by Tiger Global, Ares Management, Square Peg Capital, MBC Group, and Arqaam Capital, and is dual headquartered in Singapore and Dubai with offices in Bangalore and Mumbai.
Source: Zawya
