The UAE has reaped a windfall of tourists from Qatar this year, in part due to strife in other Arab countries, travel agents have told Al Arab.

Between January and November 2012, travel agencies say they have witnessed a 40 percent increase in the number of overall travel reservations, with Dubai taking the top spot.

The emirate, home to the world’s largest mall, boasts a host of tourism and recreational offerings, and is in close proximity to Qatar, which are among the main reasons it was so popular, Al Arab said, as translated by the Peninsula.

Turkey and other European nations, including the UK, also ranked highly.

According to Hannan Qaura, director of public relations and tourism at Trans Orient Travel and Tourism Centre: 

The demand for Dubai as a tourist destination is high due to security disturbances in other neighbouring destinations such as Bahrain which are no longer safe destinations from a tourism point of view. 

Have you found Dubai to be a more appealing vacation spot this year?

Thoughts?

Credit: Photo of aquarium at Dubai Mall by Salis