Dubai named one of the world’s top destinations for 2025 by Tripadvisor

Marrakesh and Istanbul also make it onto annual list for the Traveller’s Choice Awards

Dubai is popular among travellers for its mix of modernity and tradition. Getty Images

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,” 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

1. London, UK
2. Bali, Indonesia
3. Dubai, UAE
4. Sicily, Italy
5. Paris, France
6. Rome, Italy
7. Hanoi, Vietnam
8. Marrakesh, Morocco
9. Crete, Greece
10. Bangkok, Thailand