A recent research study titled “Vedic Assessment of the Travel Market and Standards for Online Travel Agencies,” presented during the Arab Travel Market, projects that the air travel market in the UAE will reach approximately $5.4 billion by 2028, driven by a compound annual growth rate of 6.9%.
According to the report by Vedic Consulting, the air travel market in the UAE was valued at around $4.2 billion in 2024, reflecting a 32% increase compared to 2019.
The estimation methodology is based on a travel price index that evaluates market opportunities from the demand side, focusing exclusively on bookings made through local sales points.
Virendra Jain, founder and CEO of Vedic, noted that the UAE possesses unique factors that bolster the growth of the travel market, including a digitally connected young population, high purchasing power, advanced air infrastructure, and cultural and religious proximity, making it a preferred destination for tourism, shopping, and luxury.
The report highlighted that online flight ticket bookings through electronic travel agencies in the UAE reached approximately $679 million in 2024, showing a 20% annual increase. Additionally, bookings made directly through airline websites or apps accounted for around 56% of the total value of online travel bookings, amounting to $851 million, which represents one-fifth of the travel ticket market in the country.