UAE has been listed among the top travel destinations for British travellers., with Dubai being the go-to place for breath-taking skyscrapers, sun-kissed beaches and a fast-moving culture that combines east with west.

Abu Dhabi has also gained popularity over the years with its luxurious offerings, with the UAE capital being chosen as the dazzling backdrop setting for the Hollywood movie Sex and the City 2.

The US was the top destination choice for British holidaymakers, with up to 3 million visitors crossing the pond each year. While families favoured Orlando and California for the Disney theme parks – cities like New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas were all hugely popular.

Often described as a friendlier, more liberal cousin to the USA, Canada was second most visited destination by British travellers. Sports has been a big focus for the Canadian tourist boards, culminating in the Winter Olympics of 2010, held in Vancouver. Although Canada is still a hugely popular destination, the data from the ONS suggests that around half as many Brits are holidaying in Canada today as they were in 2006.

Rounding up the top five were India, Mexico and Thailand, which are all popular for its cultural richness.

According to data derived from the Office for National Statistics’ International Passenger Survey, the 10 most popular long haul destinations are as follows:

1. USA
2. Canada
3. India
4. Mexico
5. Thailand
6. UAE
7. South Africa
8. Australia
9. Jamaica
10. Barbados.     - TradeArabia News Service