Dubai has been named one of the top 10 most popular cruise destinations globally for the British market, according to new research by insurance specialists AllClear Travel.

By analysing the most popular cruise-related Google searches, using terms, such as ‘cruise to X’ and ‘X cruise holidays’ combined with different locations, AllClear Travel created a list of the 10 most in-demand cruise destinations for the UK.

The British cruise market is the third-largest in the world after the United States and Germany, and is a particularly large cruise source market for the Middle East, where MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, TUI and others homeport annually in Dubai.

Dubai, UAE

The city was the only destination in the Middle East to be included in the top 10, coming in at number eight with 5,204 searches each month.

The most popular country among the British for cruises was Norway, with a total search volume of 134,018 per month.

Highlights for cruise passengers in Norway include UNESCO-protected fjords, the Jostedal Glacier National Park, and the Kjenndalen glaciers.

Greece came in second on the list, with an average monthly search volume of 41,378, thanks to island stops such as Mykonos, as well as cities history-steeped cities, chief among them Athens.

Italy came in third place with an average search volume of 29,889 each month. With ports in Naples, the Amalfi Coast, and Sorrento, Italy has many coastline landmarks and, of course, the famous Italian cuisine.

The top 10 cruise destinations:

Norway

Greece

Italy

Iceland

Australia

Croatia

Canada

Dubai

Spain

Bahamas

Dubai serves as a gateway to the Middle East, enabling cruisers to explore neighboring countries and experience a variety of cultures.

It is the primary cruise port in the Middle East, hosting several cruise lines every year during the winter cruise season between November and March.

Cruise lines such as MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises, AIDA, TUI and others sail 7-night roundtrip itineraries in the Arabian Gulf, visiting Abu Dhabi and Sir Bani Yas Island in the UAE, Doha in Qatar, Muscat and Khassab in Oman, as well as Bahrain and, more recently, Damman in Saudi Arabia.

Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal

Dubai is a popular cruise destination as a result of its Singapore-esque modernity and cultural richness and history.

The city boasts iconic architectural marvels like the Burj Khalifa and Palm Jumeirah, as well as duty-free shopping, extravagant malls, and vibrant souks offering diverse retail and cultural experiences.

The city is also blessed by an all-year warm climate and pristine beaches, making it an ideal summer sun destination for Brits looking to escape the European winter.