The number of international travellers from India to the UAE is set to grow from 2.6 million this year to 3.3 million in 2023, increasing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1%, according to GlobalData, a data and analytics company.

The rising disposable income with middle class families and the growing perception among Indians that their social status will be elevated while travelling to fashionable cities in the Middle East will continue this growth trend for years to come, stated GlobalData in its latest report, ‘Tourism Source Market Insight: India.’ It reveals that a combination of the UAE’s world-class shopping facilities, single-digit flight schedules and similar cultural traditions will continue to spur international travel from India to the Middle East.

Ralph Hollister, travel and tourism analyst at GlobalData said: “The emirates such as Dubai act as a home away from home for the Indian source market. Several varieties of Indian food and a wide range of activities such as sports, night-clubbing and heritage tours help to attract different age segments within the Indian source market to the UAE.”