Dubai: An attractive family destination

One of the many reasons why Dubai is in the world’s limelight is because this top tourist destination is also one of the most attractive cities to spend a holiday with your family.

The UAE is positioned high in the new emerging travel market since family values are embedded in the UAE culture. In fact, the country ranked second globally based on criteria set by Crescent rating, a leading Muslim travel rating organisation based in Singapore, receiving a rating of 7.0, the report states. Saudi Arabia and Morocco also figure among the top global destinations with a rating of 6.5 and 6.4, respectively.

“Family tourism is one of the most vibrant areas of the global tourism industry and a key element of the Islamic economy. With Muslim travellers constituting a major segment of the global tourism traffic, the priorities of families have become critical to the tourism industry’s growth and have redefined the focal areas for tourism activities,” said Abdul Rahman Saif Al Ghurair, chairman of the Dubai Chamber.

Citing recent studies related to the Islamic economy, the Dubai Chamber report shows that family tourism has grown in value from $137 billion in 2012 to $140 billion in 2013, and is expected to surpass $181 billion by 2018. Driven by population growth in Islamic nations and the healthy economic performance of these economies, industry experts forecast that family tourism sector will enjoy solid growth of 4.79 per cent annually until 2020 — higher than the global average of 3.8 per cent growth — reflecting its growing significance in the Islamic economy.