Visa, a payment technology company, revealed a 30% annual growth in spending using premium Visa cards in the United Arab Emirates. This growth is driven by an increase in local residency, a rise in tourism activity, and higher spending on dining and entertainment, according to its latest report on consumer spending trends during the winter holiday season 2025 in the UAE, based on the Visa Index for Retail Spending Consultations and Research. The report also showed a significant increase in spending by international tourists using premium Visa cards. Tourists arriving from Europe, particularly the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Poland, saw an increase of nearly 50%, while spending by tourists from Asia, such as Thailand and the Philippines, and from Latin America, like Brazil and Puerto Rico, grew by over 145%. Spending by residents in the UAE using premium Visa cards recorded growth close to 35%. The report also pointed to a rise in travel to Asian destinations, such as Thailand, Japan, and China, by over 75%. It also noted a change in booking patterns, with 75% of travelers booking within a month of travel, while 25% planned in advance (from six months to a month), alongside a nearly 45% increase in spending on dining and entertainment among outbound travelers. Local spending by premium Visa cardholders continued to show strong performance, with a nearly 35% increase in local residency and a 35% rise in spending on luxury goods, such as apparel, cosmetics, jewelry, and gemstones. Salima Gutieva, Visa's Vice President and General Manager for the UAE, stated that the winter holiday season witnessed strong growth in travel, entertainment, and luxury goods trade, with the UAE remaining an attractive destination for tourists and residents keen on enjoying local experiences.
