Dubai is the only city in the Middle East to make it into the top 10 of the Best of the Best Destinations list for 2025 by global travel platform Tripadvisor.
The annual Traveller's Choice Awards, which span seven categories, are given to destinations that receive a high volume of “above-and-beyond reviews and opinions from the Tripadvisor community” from October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024.
“Out of our eight million listings, fewer than one per cent achieve this milestone,” says Tripadvisor.
The all-encompassing category, Best of the Best Destinations, lists Dubai in third place, just below Bali and London in second and first respectively. Describing the city as a destination that “mixes modern culture with history,” the platform also highlights Dubai's shopping and entertainment options.
“Catch a show at Dubai Opera, see Downtown from on top of the Burj Khalifa and spend an afternoon along Dubai Creek exploring the gold, textile and spice souqs,” it says.
Dubai has also been ranked in other categories – placing seventh in both the Best Destinations for Solo Travellers and Top Destinations of the Last 25 Years, which is based on all-time reviews on the platform.
From the region, Marrakesh also makes the Best of the Best Destinations list at number eight, as a “magical place, brimming with markets, gardens, palaces and mosques”. The former imperial city in western Morocco also comes up in a few other award categories, such as top food and top culture destinations.
The Turkish city of Istanbul is 17th, with travellers describing it as a place that “isn't just one city, but many cities within one”.
“Over the centuries, many cultures have added their mark to this prized piece of land. Today, you can experience those influences first-hand by exploring Istanbul’s mahalles or neighbourhoods,” Tripavisor says.
Bahrain's Manama on the rise
The awards also include “on-the-up cities”, a list based on year-on-year growth of reviews. Asian cities have a strong showing in this category, headlined by Japan's Osaka on top, followed by the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.
But the breakout star of the list is Bahraini capital Manama, which ranks fourth. Described by Tripadvisor as a “major financial centre with a thriving economy”, the city is known for its decorated skyline and vibrant nightlife.
Modernity aside, cultural charm is part of its overall allure too. “The narrow rows of stalls at the Bab el-Bahrain souq are famous for their vast array of perfumes, spices, and gold,” Tripadvisor says, recommending the attraction for day trips or even half-day trips.
The Egyptian resort town of Sharm El Sheikh is also on the trending destinations list, ranking 14th as “a magnet for divers and ecotourists”. Qatar's Doha ranks 20th on the list, and is highly regarded for its shopping malls and picturesque architecture.
Giza, where travellers set forth to predominantly to see the ever-famous Pyramids, is 22nd.
Top 10 Best of the Best Destinations in the world by Tripadvisor
- London, UK
- Bali, Indonesia
- Dubai, UAE
- Sicily, Italy
- Paris, France
- Rome, Italy
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- Marrakesh, Morocco
- Crete, Greece
- Bangkok, Thailand
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Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
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Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
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