From India to Dubai in Just a Click

If you’ve ever stood in line at the Burj Khalifa wondering whether your online ticket would be accepted at the counter, you know how small anxieties can overshadow a big moment. This new partnership between Emaar Entertainment and MakeMyTrip looks to reduce those frictions. Instead of navigating foreign payment gateways or converting currencies, you now have the chance to book in INR on a platform you already use for flights and hotels.

What once felt like an uncertain transaction in an unfamiliar currency now feels as familiar as booking a weekend trip within India. That sense of reassurance is what this partnership is trying to deliver.

The Weight of Numbers

Dubai welcomed 18.72 million international visitors in 2024, according to Dubai Economy and Tourism. India has consistently been one of Dubai’s largest feeder markets. Data from industry sources also shows that more than 80% of MakeMyTrip’s holiday packages already include Burj Khalifa tickets. This underlines the fact that Dubai’s landmarks are firmly placed at the centre of Indian holiday planning.

[Unverified] Other reports suggest the Burj Khalifa attracts around 17 million visitors annually, with as many as 2.2 million visitors from India. While these estimates cannot be independently verified, they provide an idea of how significant India is as a market for Emaar’s attractions.

Emaar Entertainment: Curating Dubai’s Icons

Emaar Entertainment is not just a ticketing partner; it is the custodian of some of Dubai’s most recognisable spaces. From At The Top general observatories overlooking the Burj Khalifa to the Aquarium Desert and Underwater Zoo; from KidZania for kids to the dizzying heights of Sky Views Observatory, it is the name that stands behind Dubai’s global reputation.

Emaar Properties, the parent company, is one of the most well-known real estate developers in the Middle East. It was behind the creation of The Dubai Mall, The Dubai Fountain, and Downtown Dubai. Emaar Entertainment brings a layer of leisure and culture into these spaces, making them more than architectural marvels. It is this collection of experiences that MakeMyTrip is now able to bring closer to Indian audiences.

MakeMyTrip: India’s Travel Powerhouse

Founded in 2000, MakeMyTrip is one of the biggest online travel companies in India today. Listed on NASDAQ, it serves millions of customers every year. From flights and hotels, the company has later gone on to provide services in trains, buses, and now tours and attractions.

The Tours & Attractions vertical was launched by the company in July 2025, offering more than 200,000 activities in 1,100 cities in more than 130 countries, all priced in INR. This marked a major shift for MakeMyTrip, clearly underscoring the intention to strive for a one-stop travel ecosystem. The Emaar partnership is one of the premier large-scale tie-ups under this new vertical and sets a precedent for how the company wishes to cultivate its experience portfolio.

In FY2025, MakeMyTrip reported a gross booking value of USD 9.8 billion, underlining its expanding reach and appetite for growth in outbound travel.

Global Trends in Play

This story is more than an isolated event. Similar partnerships are reshaping the global planning and payment process for experience options around the world:

• In Europe, OTAs have directly integrated city passes and museum tickets into their platforms.
• In the United States, ticketing collaborations that have existed for a long time with Disney and Universal Studios have recently grown into bundled holiday experiences.
• In Southeast Asia, OTAs now partner directly with wellness resorts and adventure parks to capture growing demand from regional travellers.

The common thread across these examples is the same: travellers want convenience and transparency. Local currency pricing, reliable booking channels, and official partnerships provide exactly that.

India’s Growing Outbound Market

According to industry forecasts, India’s outbound travel is expected to cross 50 million trips annually by 2030. This scale means international attractions and tourism boards are increasingly tailoring products for Indian travellers. Dubai has already established itself as one of the top destinations, and with Emaar’s icons included, the link between India and Dubai looks even stronger.

Dubai’s tourism economy reflects this demand. According to WTTC, in 2024, international tourists in the UAE splurged an amount of approximately USD 179.8 billion, a fraction of which is attributed to Dubai. Since there is no city-wise breakdown for tourism spending, exact figures for Dubai are not available. The city recorded 9.88 million overnight arrivals in the first half of 2025, up 6% year on year, reflecting Dubai’s continued emergence as a global hub.

This is a key alliance for Emaar, as its outdoor assets are given visibility and accessibility in one of its most important source markets, while for MakeMyTrip, the alliance works to ironclad their status as the default platform for overseas experiences.

The Traveller’s Advantage

What does this mean for you as a traveller?

• Tickets can be booked in INR without the fear of fluctuating exchange rates.
• Tickets valid and sourced from the official partner are guaranteed.
• Price-hunting on several foreign websites will be needless.
• Unify all of your travel plans – flights, hotels, and attractions – in one booking spot.

That change is subtle but mighty. It snatches away all chance that could be thrown at an opportunity and puts it back into your control.

A Signal for the Future of Travel

This partnership also sparks a larger question: Will other iconic attractions around the world take the same route? If you can book the Burj Khalifa in INR today, will you soon be able to book tickets for the Eiffel Tower or the Statue of Liberty through your local travel platform in the same way?

The Emaar–MakeMyTrip tie-up reflects a bigger shift in travel distribution. Attractions are no longer depending solely on inbound tour operators; they are meeting travellers where they are—on platforms they already trust.

The Quick Stats That Matter

• 18.72 million: International visitors to Dubai in 2024 (Dubai Economy and Tourism)
• 200,000+: Activities listed on MakeMyTrip’s Tours & Attractions platform
• 1,100: Cities already covered worldwide
• 80%+: Share of MakeMyTrip holiday packages that include Burj Khalifa tickets
• USD 9.8 billion: MakeMyTrip’s gross booking value in FY2025
• [Unverified] 17 million: Estimated annual Burj Khalifa visitors, including around 2.2 million from India
• USD 59.2 billion: International visitor spending across the UAE in 2024 (WTTC); Dubai-only figure not specified.
• 9.88 million: Overnight arrivals to Dubai in the first half of 2025 (+6% YoY)

A Closing Reflection

Booking attractions abroad has often been one of the smaller but more complicated parts of travel planning. This partnership changes that. It turns a sometimes stressful process into something as simple as choosing a flight. For Dubai, it secures a reliable pipeline of visitors from India. For MakeMyTrip, it confirms its ambitions to expand far beyond flights and hotels. And for you, it may mean a smoother trip, one less worry, and one more chance to enjoy the view from the top of the world’s tallest building.