• Dubai attracted 16.73 million tourists in 2019, before the pandemic. Reuters
    Dubai attracted 16.73 million tourists in 2019, before the pandemic. Reuters
  • Hatta is an exclave of Dubai high in the Hajar Mountains. Tourism in the area is being developed, with a focus on outdoor activities such as canoeing on the Hatta Dam.
    Hatta is an exclave of Dubai high in the Hajar Mountains. Tourism in the area is being developed, with a focus on outdoor activities such as canoeing on the Hatta Dam.
  • Ras Al Khaimah has positioned itself as the adventure emirate in the UAE and is home to the world's longest zipline.
    Ras Al Khaimah has positioned itself as the adventure emirate in the UAE and is home to the world's longest zipline.
  • Flyboard demonstrations at the Abu Dhabi International Boat Show. Christopher Pike / The National
    Flyboard demonstrations at the Abu Dhabi International Boat Show. Christopher Pike / The National
  • Sand dunes in the empty quarter area of the Rub al Khali desert in Abu Dhabi. Getty
    Sand dunes in the empty quarter area of the Rub al Khali desert in Abu Dhabi. Getty
  • Views of the famous Dubai skyline at sunset. AP Photo / Kamran Jebreili
    Views of the famous Dubai skyline at sunset. AP Photo / Kamran Jebreili
  • Sunset at Al Majaz waterfront in Sharjah. Reem Mohammed / The National
    Sunset at Al Majaz waterfront in Sharjah. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • An aerial view of the mountains of Hatta in Dubai. Photo: Moadh Bukhash
    An aerial view of the mountains of Hatta in Dubai. Photo: Moadh Bukhash
  • Dubai was ranked the most liveable city in the Middle East and North Africa in 2019. Getty
    Dubai was ranked the most liveable city in the Middle East and North Africa in 2019. Getty
  • A sandy beach in Fujairah. Getty Images
    A sandy beach in Fujairah. Getty Images
  • Water taxis on Dubai Creek take people from Bur Dubai to Deira and back again at sunset. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Water taxis on Dubai Creek take people from Bur Dubai to Deira and back again at sunset. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The Burj Khalifa skyscraper (centre left) stands above the city skyline seen through the Dubai Frame architectural landmark in Dubai. Christopher Pike / Bloomberg
    The Burj Khalifa skyscraper (centre left) stands above the city skyline seen through the Dubai Frame architectural landmark in Dubai. Christopher Pike / Bloomberg

Destinations

The UAE is officially the best travel destination in the world

The conclusion has been drawn based on the number of awards the Emirates have won in the past five years

Panna Munyal
Panna Munyal

December 22, 2019

  • English
  • Arabic

It seems like the UAE is forever breaking records, winning awards, and claiming titles that begin with biggest (frame) and best (spa), among other superlatives. Consequently, when UK online travel agency LoveHolidays compiled a list of about 3,000 “destination awards” given over the past five years, the UAE topped the list in the travel, hospitality, business and entertainment categories.

The country won a total of 282 awards overall across all six categories, followed by the United States at 188 and South Africa at 113. Among these, the UAE collected 35 awards in travel; notably, LovehHolidays reports that the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital has collected the World Travel Awards' Middle East's Responsible Tourism Award every year between 2015 and 2019. The Emirates were followed by Jamaica and the United States, which each got 26 and 24 awards within the travel segment.

The UAE also scored high in the hospitality category – winning 182 awards in five years, compared to 88 won by the United States, the second-place-holder and 78 by Thailand in position 3. A contributing factor here, notes the travel agency, is the fact that Burj Al Arab has won the Leading All Suite Hotel award every year between 2015 and 2019.

With its 25 awards, UAE also topped the business category for its conference destinations, club lounges and convention centres. Finally, the country came first in the entertainment sector, thanks in part to Warner Bros World in Abu Dhabi being named the Middle East's Leading Tourist Attraction by the World Travel Awards.

Warner Bros World theme park on Yas Island. Antonie Robertson / The National
Warner Bros World theme park on Yas Island. Antonie Robertson / The National

Coming in at second place in the destination category (for hotels, resorts and retreats), the UAE claimed 23 award compared to the 38 won by the United States.

The final category, conservation, was dominated by African and European countries in the top 10 spots, including Kenya, Spain and South Africa.

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What to see and do in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah:

  • The region’s first commercial Via Ferrata and UAE's largest outdoor zip line opened in RAK in 2016. Photo Credit Action PR Group
    The region’s first commercial Via Ferrata and UAE's largest outdoor zip line opened in RAK in 2016. Photo Credit Action PR Group
  • Haitham Mattar, and Emirati adventurers Huda Zowayed and Hamad Al Mazrouey were the first to try out the trail. Photo Credit Action PR Group
    Haitham Mattar, and Emirati adventurers Huda Zowayed and Hamad Al Mazrouey were the first to try out the trail. Photo Credit Action PR Group
  • The new waterfront in RAK opened in 2011.
    The new waterfront in RAK opened in 2011.
  • Ras Al Khaimah announces the launch of the world's longest and highest zip line near the summit of Jebel Jais. Courtesy RAK Tourism Development Authority
    Ras Al Khaimah announces the launch of the world's longest and highest zip line near the summit of Jebel Jais. Courtesy RAK Tourism Development Authority
  • Ras Al Khaimah announces the launch of the world's longest and highest zip line near the summit of Jebel Jais. Courtesy RAK Tourism Development Authority
    Ras Al Khaimah announces the launch of the world's longest and highest zip line near the summit of Jebel Jais. Courtesy RAK Tourism Development Authority
  • RAK is known for its big New Year's Eve fireworks displays. Courtesy Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
    RAK is known for its big New Year's Eve fireworks displays. Courtesy Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
  • RAK is known for its big New Year's Eve fireworks displays. Courtesy Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
    RAK is known for its big New Year's Eve fireworks displays. Courtesy Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
  • RAK is known for its big New Year's Eve fireworks displays. Courtesy Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
    RAK is known for its big New Year's Eve fireworks displays. Courtesy Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
  • Ras Al Khaimah offers some beautiful sunsets over the Arabian Gulf. Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
    Ras Al Khaimah offers some beautiful sunsets over the Arabian Gulf. Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
  • The Ibn Majid Museum in Ras Al Khaimah. RAK Tourism
    The Ibn Majid Museum in Ras Al Khaimah. RAK Tourism
  • The Ibn Majid Museum in Ras Al Khaimah. RAK Tourism
    The Ibn Majid Museum in Ras Al Khaimah. RAK Tourism
  • The Ibn Majid Museum in Ras Al Khaimah. RAK Tourism
    The Ibn Majid Museum in Ras Al Khaimah. RAK Tourism
  • The RAK shuttle service takes tourist from DXB to RAK. Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
    The RAK shuttle service takes tourist from DXB to RAK. Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
  • Ras Al Khaimah boasts 64km of coastline, a unique desert landscape and the UAE’s highest mountain. Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
    Ras Al Khaimah boasts 64km of coastline, a unique desert landscape and the UAE’s highest mountain. Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
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