Egypt was ranked as the top destination, followed by Saudi Arabia, with India in third place.

This is a significant indication of Saudi Arabia's progress as a global tourist destination, as it aims to attract 150 million visitors by 2030 as part of its National Tourism Strategy.

Mamoun Hmedan, chief business officer at Wego, expressed excitement about Egypt's position as the leading choice for travelers seeking unique cultural experiences and diverse attractions.

The text discusses the results of a study conducted by Wego, which found that the United Kingdom is the preferred European destination for travelers from the Middle East.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia held the top two spots among Middle Eastern destinations, with the UAE in fourth place.

The report was based on traveler searches and hotel booking data from Wego's website.

The UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia have consistently been the top three destinations for over a decade.

The UAE, Pakistan, Kuwait, and Turkiye followed in the top six spots.

China dropped one spot to become the 27th favorite destination among Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) travelers.

The UK has been the top European destination for MENA travelers for the past 10 of the last 11 years.

Italy has moved up from the fourth to the second most popular destination for Middle Eastern travelers in 2023.

This is due in part to increasing ties between Italy and Saudi Arabia, including joint investments and direct flights by ITA Airways to Riyadh and Jeddah.

Countries farther from the Gulf region, such as Morocco, Indonesia, and the US, have experienced the most decline among top destinations.

In 2024, Malaysia, the Philippines, and the US dropped out of the global top 10, while Kuwait, Pakistan, and Jordan remained preferred destinations for MENA travelers.