UAE Leads as Top Travel Destination for Indian Nationals in 2024

According to the latest data from the India Ministry of Tourism, the UAE has retained its position as the leading travel destination for Indian nationals in 2024. Following the UAE, the top travel destinations include Saudi Arabia, the United States, Thailand, Singapore, the UK, Qatar, Canada, Kuwait, and Oman. These ten countries collectively accounted for approximately 71.1% of all departures by Indian nationals.

The findings are part of the India Tourism Data Compendium 2025, which highlights that Indian nationals primarily traveled abroad for leisure and recreational purposes, making up 42.5% of total departures. Visits connected to the Indian diaspora followed closely at 34.6%, while business and professional travel accounted for 14.9%. Other reasons for travel included pilgrimage at 3.9%, education at 2.4%, and other purposes at 1.4%.

The compendium notes a significant trend in the growth of Indian outbound travel. Departures have surged from 1.9 million in 1991 to 30.8 million in 2024, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7%. Although the Covid-19 pandemic led to a dramatic decline of nearly 73% in travel in 2020, a robust recovery commenced as restrictions eased. Departures saw an increase of 152.6% in 2022 and surpassed pre-pandemic levels in 2023 with a total of 27.8 million, marking a 29% year-on-year rise.

In 2024, Indian outbound travel continued to grow, recording an increase of 10.7% compared to the previous year. Contributing factors to this trend include higher disposable incomes, enhanced air connectivity, and greater exposure to international destinations.

Travel Demographics and Destination Trends

Analysis of traveller demographics indicates that the majority of Indian nationals travelling abroad are from the working-age population. The 25-34 age group accounted for the highest share at 27.4%, followed by the 35-44 age group at 24.5%. Gender distribution shows that females represented 34.1% of travellers in 2024, while males comprised 65.8%.

In examining the popularity of various destination countries over the years, the UAE has consistently ranked first. In 2024, approximately 7.8 million Indian nationals travelled to the UAE, representing 25.2% of total departures. This figure marks a steady increase from 6.3 million in 2019 and 7.2 million in 2023.

Saudi Arabia held its second position, attracting 3.4 million Indian travellers in 2024, an increase from 3 million in the previous year. The United States maintained its third place with 2.1 million departures in 2024. While the absolute numbers grew, its share of total departures slightly declined from 7.2% in 2019 and 7.3% in 2023 to 6.9% in 2024.

Travel to Thailand, ranked fourth, experienced a revival in 2024 with 1.9 million departures, compared to 1.4 million in 2023. This trend underscores a broader recovery in international travel preferences among Indian nationals.

Overall, the data reveals a vibrant and growing trend in Indian outbound travel, with the UAE remaining a favored destination for millions.