REHLATY’S Tailor-Made Maldives Escape Most Popular With Emirati Travelers In 2020

REHLATY by dnata Travel, the unique travel brand designed by Emiratis for the Emirati traveller, is revealing its most popular travel destination in 2020 as the island nation of the Maldives – with its tailor-made private island resort itineraries proving a success with the local market.

REHLATY, part of the dnata Travel Group, launched in 2019 with its team of UAE nationals providing unique, personalised travel experiences customised for Emirati travellers. Its services and products are carefully selected based on Emirati travel reviews and feedback, and each traveller works with a dedicated Relationship Manager to curate their perfect travel itineraries. In 2020, REHLATY’s most popular holiday packages took UAE nationals on incredible, bespoke Maldives island escapes.

For its 2020/2021 Maldives travel packages, REHLATY’s rich selection of exotic escapes are based on the preferences of Emirati travellers across different themes including family-friendly, gastronomy travel, Instagrammable spots and the ‘once in a lifetime’. Included are unique experiences such as executive over-water villa stays, adrenaline-filled water sport activities, complimentary floating breakfasts and world-class underwater dining – with each package personalised further depending on the needs and wants of each individual traveller or group of travellers.

Rehab Mansoor, General Manager at REHLATY by dnata Travel, commented: “For our Emirati community, choosing the Maldives as the ‘go-to’ travel destination for 2020 was an easy call –  its luscious blue waters and pristine beaches, world-renowned resorts, adventure-filled water activities, and most importantly, hassle-free travel experience, definitely powered our choice.

“With a convenient four-hour flight time from Dubai, and no requirement for a PCR test ahead of returning home for UAE nationals, it’s no surprise that Maldives travel packages proved the top choice for travellers with REHLATY last year. With the popularity of travel bookings, we predict this trend will continue on throughout 2021.

“Adding to all of the perks that REHLATY has secured by partnering with some of the top and most luxurious properties in the Maldives, offering Emirati travellers the best of the featured world-class, private island resorts, is the executive-level and personalised 24/7 assistance that is offered with every booking. Each traveller is provided a dedicated Emirati Relationship Manager who works closely with them for the long-term, allowing them to understand the customer’s personality and desire to build an exceptional, personalised travel experience.”

Since the re-opening of its borders to international tourists in July of last year, Emiratis remained one of the top source markets to the islands of the Maldives in 2020 with more than 6,000 UAE national arrivals recorded by Maldives Immigration between 15 July 2020 and 31 December 2020.

Thoyyib Mohamed, Managing Director of the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation, commented: “On 15 July 2020, the Maldives opened once again to visitors with the smoothest of flows and procedures in which to follow to travel safely. On top of the regulatory measures undertaken by the government in terms of keeping tourism facilities, the airport, and means of transportation safe and in-check, the Maldives is lucky to have natural means of tackling the ongoing situation surrounding COVID-19. Our nation of scattered islands is blessed with a unique geographical advantage in providing visitors an ideal environment to enjoy beautiful surroundings in safety and comfort, enhanced by our ‘one-island-one-resort’ approach.

“In 2019 the Middle East was one of the leading regions in terms of arrivals to the Maldives, and 2020 proved no different. From our July reopening, the UAE took the lead in the Middle Eastern market in terms of post-lockdown arrivals to the Maldives, sitting firmly in the top five source markets to visit our beautiful island nation throughout 2020.”

According to a 2020 survey conducted with Emirati travellers across the UAE by REHLATY, the Maldives was listed as a popular ‘bucket list’ destination for many Emiratis. Representing the popularity of beach destinations including the paradise islands of the Maldives, almost half of the total individuals surveyed revealed their desire to experience a ‘beach resort’ holiday in 2020 and beyond.

“The islands of the Indian Ocean, including the Maldives, have proved a popular choice for Emirati travellers since we launched REHLATY in 2019,” Mansoor continued. “Predicting this demand, REHLATY has partnered with a number of luxury resorts to tailor-make Maldives stays according to the interests and preferences of UAE nationals, with a variety of travel themes tailored to the Emirati community, and with solo to duo, couples and big-family travel packages included.”

The team at REHLATY has identified multi-island Maldives leisure destinations including resorts by the luxurious LUX* Resorts & Hotels and Sun Siyam Resorts as most popular with Emirati travellers in 2020. In addition, the tranquil Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas was a top-booked property for its distinctive pool villas alongside its underwater and over water dining adventures, whilst the highly ‘Instagrammable’ Waldorf Astoria Maldives has been praised by Emirati travellers for its beautiful features and incredible dining experiences.

Emirati travellers can book curated trips to the Maldives with REHLATY by dnata Travel by calling a travel expert on 800-REHLA (73452), emailing rehlaty@dnata.com or following @rehlatybydnata on Instagram. For more information, visit www.rehlaty.ae.