What the UAE travel update means for multi-destination holidays

For many travellers, the UAE has always been more than a destination in its own right. It’s the gateway to some of the world’s most rewarding long-haul holidays – a place where a few nights of winter sunshine, exceptional hotels and world-class dining can be paired with a private island in the Indian Ocean, a cultural Sri Lankan adventure or a longer escape into Asia.

Following the latest update from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), which no longer advises against all but essential travel to the United Arab Emirates, many of those travel plans are firmly back on the table.

The update follows a period of uncertainty across parts of the Middle East, during which many travellers understandably pressed pause on their plans. Today, Dubai and Abu Dhabi remain fully operational, major airlines like Emirates, Etihad and Qatar continue to fly as scheduled, and the UAE resumes serving as one of the world’s most important international aviation hubs. As always, we recommend checking the latest FCDO advice before travelling and ensuring you have comprehensive travel insurance in place. You can find the latest guidance on the official UK Government website here.

For travellers, the reality is that much of what makes the UAE such a compelling stopover destination remains unchanged. The hotel scene continues to evolve at remarkable speed, from architectural statements such as Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab and One&Only One Za’abeel to some of the region’s most exciting restaurants, beach clubs and cultural attractions. Just as importantly, Dubai and Abu Dhabi remain among the easiest places in the world to combine with destinations further afield.

And that’s where we’re seeing interest return most quickly.

Few destinations pair as naturally with the Indian Ocean as the UAE. One trip might combine a few nights in Dubai with a week of barefoot bliss in the Maldives. Another could blend Abu Dhabi’s museums and coastline with the sugar-soft beaches of Mauritius, the Seychelles or Sri Lanka.

The appeal hasn’t really changed: direct flights, exceptional hotels, winter sunshine and the chance to experience two completely different destinations within one seamless itinerary.

Here are some of our favourite multi-destination holidays right now.

Dubai & the Maldives

If there’s one UAE combination that continues to earn its place on luxury travel wish lists, it’s Dubai and the Maldives.

The pairing works because the contrast is so satisfying. A few nights in Dubai brings rooftop restaurants, ambitious architecture, beach clubs, exceptional hotels and that unmistakable sense of energy the city does so well. Then, just over four hours later, you’re stepping off a plane in Malé and beginning the final stretch of the journey by speedboat or seaplane, bound for a tiny island surrounded by every shade of blue imaginable.

Right now, we’re particularly excited by Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab. One of the newest additions to Dubai’s luxury hotel scene sits on a private peninsula overlooking the Burj Al Arab, with yacht-inspired architecture, sweeping sea views and some of the city’s most exciting new restaurants. Looking ahead to September, Six Senses Dubai The Palm is an opening we’re watching closely, bringing the brand’s wellness-led approach to one of Dubai’s most sought-after addresses.

From there, the Maldives offers two very different directions.

For travellers seeking the ultimate castaway fantasy, Soneva Jani remains one of the most extraordinary resorts in the Indian Ocean. Water slides plunge from overwater villas into a lagoon so brilliantly blue it barely looks real, observatories point towards some of the clearest night skies in the region, and days unfold at a wonderfully unhurried pace. It’s playful, imaginative and unapologetically spectacular.

For something more restorative, Six Senses Laamu feels like a natural continuation of the wellness journey. Set in one of the Maldives’ most remote atolls, the resort is surrounded by exceptional marine life, with yoga overlooking the ocean, thoughtful wellness programmes and a strong focus on sustainability woven throughout the experience. It’s the sort of place where people arrive intending to switch off for a few days and leave wondering whether they really need to return home at all.

One practical note worth knowing: if your chosen island requires a seaplane transfer, luggage allowances are often lower than international flight allowances. Most resorts handle the logistics seamlessly, but it’s something we always discuss when designing a multi-destination itinerary – particularly if you’re planning on spending a few stylish days in Dubai before embracing barefoot island life.

Abu Dhabi & the Seychelles

If Dubai and the Maldives is the classic, Abu Dhabi and the Seychelles is its slightly more sophisticated cousin.

The pace is gentler from the outset. A few days in Abu Dhabi offers a different perspective on the UAE, where striking architecture, world-class museums and beautiful beachfront resorts sit alongside mangrove forests and a growing culinary scene. It’s a city that rewards slowing down a little.

For this combination, we’d check into one of Saadiyat Island’s exceptional resorts. The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort remains a favourite for its sweeping beach, excellent dining and direct access to one of the UAE’s most beautiful stretches of coastline, while Jumeirah Saadiyat Island brings a lighter, more contemporary feel, with sea-facing rooms and a strong focus on wellbeing.

From Abu Dhabi, direct flights reach Mahé in around four and a half hours, making this one of the easiest Indian Ocean combinations to pull together. And while the flight time is similar to the Maldives, the arrival feels entirely different.

The Seychelles has a wonderfully untamed quality to it. Granite boulders spill onto powder-soft beaches, jungle-covered hills tumble towards the sea, and giant tortoises wander through gardens as if they own the place. It’s one of the few destinations that still feels genuinely wild in places.

On Mahé, Four Seasons Resort Seychelles remains one of the most spectacular addresses in the archipelago. Villas are tucked into the hillside amongst tropical vegetation, each with its own private pool overlooking Petite Anse, a crescent of white sand regularly cited amongst the most beautiful beaches in the Indian Ocean.

For something newer, Cheval Blanc Seychelles has quickly become one of the most exciting addresses in the Indian Ocean. Set along the white sands of Anse Intendance on Mahé’s southern coast, the resort combines Jean-Michel Gathy-designed villas, exceptional dining and the polished service the brand is known for. The setting is spectacular too, with granite boulders, lush tropical vegetation and one of the island’s most beautiful beaches right on the doorstep.

Dubai & Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is the combination we often suggest to travellers who want their holiday to feel a little more layered.

A few days in Dubai delivers sunshine, exceptional hotels and a dose of city energy before the pace changes entirely. Just over four hours later, you’re landing in Colombo, where the itinerary might involve tea plantations, ancient temples, wildlife safaris and Indian Ocean beaches – often all within the same trip.

What makes Sri Lanka so compelling is the variety. One morning could begin aboard one of the world’s most scenic train journeys through the Central Highlands; the next might be spent watching elephants gather around a watering hole in Yala National Park before finishing the day beside the ocean.

For history and atmosphere, few hotels capture Sri Lanka quite like Amangalla. Occupying a beautifully restored Dutch colonial building within the UNESCO-listed Galle Fort, it feels deeply connected to the destination itself. Verandas shaded from the afternoon heat, ceiling fans turning slowly overhead, and one of the most serene spas on the island create a stay that encourages guests to settle into Sri Lanka’s slower rhythm.

Further along the southern coast, Cape Weligama occupies one of the country’s most spectacular positions. Perched above the Indian Ocean on a dramatic clifftop headland, the resort combines panoramic sea views with elegant villas, exceptional dining and easy access to some of Sri Lanka’s best beaches.

For travellers leaning towards wellbeing, Santani Wellness Resort offers something entirely different again. Hidden amongst the mountains near Kandy, this pioneering wellness retreat has become known for its thoughtful approach to health, nature and sustainability. Days revolve around hiking trails, Ayurvedic treatments, yoga and uninterrupted views across the surrounding hills.

And if you’re not quite ready for the holiday to end, Dubai works beautifully as a stop on the journey home too. After wildlife safaris, train journeys and beach days, a final night beside the Arabian Gulf can feel like a very welcome soft landing before returning to everyday life.

Thinking about travelling to the UAE again?

The last few months have left many travellers navigating a fast-changing situation, with travel advice, insurance implications and regional developments shifting regularly. It’s completely understandable that some people chose to wait for greater clarity before making plans.

Now that the latest FCDO guidance is in place, we’re seeing renewed interest in some of our most-requested destinations, from the Maldives and Mauritius to Sri Lanka and the Seychelles.

One of the advantages of working with a travel advisor is having someone who understands not just the destinations themselves, but how they fit together. The difference between a good holiday and a great one often comes down to the details — choosing the right island in the Maldives, knowing whether Mauritius or the Seychelles better suits your travel style, or understanding which hotels are genuinely worth the journey.

At More Travel, we work closely with our hotel and airline partners across the UAE and Indian Ocean, helping clients navigate everything from flight routes and resort transfers to room choices, upgrades and the finer details that can make a trip feel effortless.

If you’re considering a winter sun escape, an Indian Ocean adventure or simply want to understand what’s possible now, we’d be delighted to help. Get in touch with our team, and we’ll help create a journey that’s perfectly tailored to you.