RateHawk reveals GCC summer travel...

UAE-based B2B booking platform lists top destinations and traveller preferences

Türkiye, Italy and France are the top three destinations for Gulf travellers this summer, while Indonesia is the fastest-growing emerging travel hotspot, according to UAE-based online B2B travel booking platform RateHawk.

The company, whose platform offers access to 2.7 million hotels and flights from over 450 airlines across 150 countries, says there has been a surge in demand for destinations in Europe and Asia for 2025, driven by improved long-haul connectivity.

RateHawk's top 10 outbound markets for GCC residents include Türkiye, Italy, France, Thailand, Spain, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria, Greece and the United States, with the average stay coming in at five nights and average transaction value for accommodation bookings at US$1551.

Summer in the GCC sees two main demand peaks, says Serkan Ozbay, RateHawk's Regional Director in the Middle East region.

The first is during Eid Al-Adha, with Dubai as the "most popular choice for a staycation" and Istanbul as the top outbound spot, while the second peak comes with the summer school break in late June, bringing "bigger interest in long-haul summer getaways to Europe and Asia."

RateHawk platform

European destinations, including culture-rich cities London, Paris, Milan, Munich, Venice, and Barcelona, have long been favourites among Gulf travellers seeking to escape the Middle East’s stifling heat, but the roll-out of new direct routes connecting the GCC with these cities has increased visitor numbers from the region.

New routes include a Saudia service connecting Riyadh and Venice, Flydubai flights from the UAE to Greek resorts, such as Corfu, Santorini and Mykonos, and a new Muscat-Amsterdam route starting this summer.

Indonesia, while not breaking into the top 10, has emerged as one of the fastest-growing travel choices for Gulf travellers, with bookings doubling year-over-year, according to Ratehawk, with visitors to Asia typically opting for longer stays and often spending up to a week in a single hotel.

This reflects the findings of the recently released Connecting Travel Insight Report 2025, which lists Indonesia in the top 10 outbound markets from the GCC for the first time.

Ratehawk data reveals that more than half (53%) of Indonesia bookings are in Bali, particularly in areas such as Ubud, Kuta and Munduk. The island’s natural appeal has been further boosted by a visa-free policy and enhanced air connectivity, including the recent launch of a Saudia flight between Jeddah and Bali.

Bali, Indonesia

A perennial favourite among regional travellers, and the second most-popular outbound market for GCC residents, according to Connecting Travel’s Insight Report, Thailand continues to make gains with a steady 48% growth in summer bookings compared to last year, with hotspots including Bangkok and Phuket, according to Ratehawk.

RateHawk helps travel agents find attractive offers from its extensive global inventory of 2.7 million accommodations. What's more, its consolidation strategy, which combines sourcing from over 320 wholesalers, 100 DMCs and 130,000 direct contracts, allows partners to quickly adapt to growing interest in emerging destinations.

The platform provides a fast and user-friendly API with dedicated 24/7 customer support.

For more information, visit www.ratehawk.com