UAE, Saudi travellers embrace ‘Whycations’

Trend reflects desire among Gulf residents to rest, reconnect, and seek meaningful experiences

- BY DHANUSHA GOKULAN Chief Reporter

UAE and KSA residents are increasingly seeking out 'why-cations' to foster greater emphasis on personal enrichment, cultural immersion, and community engagement, according to a recent study by the President of Hilton, MEA.

Move aside bleisure travel and microcations, ‘whycations’ are here. UAE and Saudi Arabia travellers are reshaping how they explore the world — choosing trips that are driven more by emotion and purpose than destination, according to Hilton’s 2026 Trends Report.