Kuwaiti travel in 2025: Stable numbers, new destinations, and a shift back to agencies
Europe leads as Kuwaiti travelers redefine their destinations in 2025; from the Dolomites to Vietnam: How Kuwaiti travel patterns changed in 2025
While 2025 recorded only marginal growth in the number of Kuwaiti travelers compared to 2024, the year marked a decisive shift in travel preferences, destination choices, and booking behavior, with Europe rising to the forefront and new destinations gaining traction.
According to statistics from the Public Authority of Civil Aviation (PACA), Kuwait International Airport handled 14.93 million passengers in 2025, reflecting sustained travel momentum. Of this total, 7.64 million passengers departed, averaging 644,400 travelers per month, while 7.295 million arrivals were recorded, with a monthly average of 628,600.
Commenting on the figures, Mohammad Al-Mutairi, Chairman of the Federation of Tourism and Travel Offices, told Al-Rai that traveler numbers in 2025 were nearly identical to 2024, with a modest increase of around 1 percent.
He noted that local travel agencies have successfully adapted to digital transformation, entering the world of online platforms and travel applications, while meeting growing demand for integrated, end-to-end travel services.
Al-Mutairi added that the Kuwaiti travel market witnessed a notable expansion in the number of licensed travel agencies, closing 2025 with 590 registered offices under the Civil Aviation authority, compared to 370 agencies at the end of the Covid-19 period, reflecting renewed confidence in the sector.
PACA data shows that August 2025 recorded the highest passenger traffic, with 926,400 travelers, followed by September (775,400) and January (720,900). In contrast, November was the least active month, with 498,900 passengers, highlighting the strong seasonality of Kuwaiti travel patterns.
From the private sector perspective, Abdullah Al-Mansouri, partner at Elite Holidays, said that 2025 saw exceptional activity during peak seasons, driven by a surge in demand for new and alternative destinations.
Northern Italy — particularly the Dolomites region — emerged as a standout destination, followed closely by Madrid, which captured a significant share of Kuwaiti bookings. The Czech Republic also rose as a preferred option, alongside Russia, which is witnessing steadily increasing demand.
Traditional European favorites such as France, London, and Switzerland remained strong, while travel behavior in Asia showed notable diversification.
Al-Mansouri noted that many Kuwaitis chose Vietnam as a new Asian destination in 2025, often using Thailand as a transit hub, alongside continued demand for Dubai, Beirut, and Egypt, particularly Egypt’s North Coast. He added that Abu Dhabi emerged as the preferred family travel destination for Kuwaitis.
The average travel budget per person to high-demand destinations ranged between 500 and 1,300 Kuwaiti dinars, typically covering airfare and accommodation. Travelers increasingly opted to add services such as transportation, train tickets, domestic flights, and guided experiences, enhancing trip quality and flexibility.
Al-Mansouri pointed out that Kuwaitis have returned strongly to local travel agencies, with reliance on agents increasing threefold compared to the post-Covid period. He explained that widespread online booking errors and service gaps prompted many travelers to seek the reassurance, customization, and accountability offered by local agencies.
According to travel platform Wego, Paris and London topped the list of most searched destinations from Kuwait in 2025, while interest in Barcelona and Vienna rose noticeably. In Asia, Manila recorded the highest number of flight searches, followed by Guangzhou and Thailand.
Data from Flightradar24 confirms that Dubai remained the most connected destination from Kuwait, with 113 flights per week, followed by Jeddah (89), Cairo (85), and Riyadh (56). Doha ranked fifth with 48 weekly flights, followed by Bahrain (45) and Abu Dhabi (44), with Madinah, Mumbai, and Amman also featuring prominently.
