Dubai ‘the world’s most popular city’ on TikTok: Bounce

Dubai has been named the world’s most popular city on TikTok, racking up a staggering 29.7 million posts in the first half of this year, according to the 2024 TikTok Travel Index published by travel specialist Bounce.

The UAE, with Dubai leading the way, was also named the number one most-watched destination in 2024, according to Bounce.

Dubai’s unique blend of tourism and cultural attractions continues to captivate TikTok users, making it the most posted-about city on the platform, easily surpassing London, which secured second spot on the list with 10.3 million posts.

Even more remarkably, both Dubai and London welcomed approximately nine million visitors in the first half of 2024, yet Dubai generated almost three times the number of TikTok posts.

According to Bounce, this recognition places Dubai at the forefront of global travel destinations, particularly among the younger generation of travellers who increasingly rely on social media for inspiration.

Rounding out the top five cities in the 2024 Travel Index were third-ranked Paris, with 8.8 million posts, fourth-placed Istanbul with 8.1 million posts, and New York, which garnered 7.2 million posts.

This is not the first time Dubai has set a TikTok benchmark. In 2023, Bounce revealed that TikTok video searches conducted that year, which included the hashtag #Dubai, topped a remarkable 140 billion, marking a rise of 72% year on year. “If you like a vacation with golden beaches, futuristic architecture, and traditional Arabic culture, then Dubai is the place for you,” the firm noted at the time.

The latest data from Bounce also highlights TikTok’s growing influence as a travel planning tool. With more than 1 billion monthly active users, TikTok has quickly established itself among the world’s most popular social media platforms.