Dubai named world's safest city for solo female travellers

InsureMyTrip puts UAE city back on top of global ranking for 2025

Dubai in the UAE has been named the safest city in the world for solo female travellers by travel insurance comparison site InsureMyTrip.

After falling to sixth place in 2024, the UAE emirate has reclaimed the top spot with an overall score of 7.71 out of a possible 10, putting it well ahead of Krakow in Poland in second place (7.18) and Madrid in Spain in third (7.14).

Dubai received high scores for ‘feeling safe walking alone at night’ (83.11/100), ‘feeling safe despite gender’ (86.23/100), and ‘quality of things to do’ (4.58/5). It also had the highest score for social media mentions with 35.7 million hashtags on TikTok.

The high-profile destination has a very low crime rate and women report feeling safe travelling alone at night, while attractions and luxury experiences add extra appeal.

Solo travel is on the rise worldwide, with women accounting for nearly three-quarters of travellers jetting off on adventures alone

Dubai has a low crime rate

“As more women embrace solo travel, safety remains a top priority,” said Sara Boisvert, Director of Marketing at InsureMyTrip.

“While cities like Dubai and Krakow are leading the way in creating secure and inclusive experiences, it's crucial for travellers to stay informed and prepared. With the right planning, solo female travelers can explore the world with confidence and empowerment." 

Krakow stormed up the rankings, rising 10 places thanks to good safety scores, tourism offering and value for money. In 2022, it became part of Femcities, an international network for gender equality and women’s rights.

Solo female travel is on the rise, with a recent report from luxury travel agencies network Virtuoso saying women account for 71% of solo travellers.

In August 2024, Saudi Arabia's national tourism brand, Saudi, Welcome to Arabia, released an ad campaign featuring a female solo traveller’s first trip to the kingdom.

It’s not just tourism boards that are spotting the opportunity, with hotels also catering to female solo travellers with female-only floors and even boutique properties that are exclusive to women.

Another notable mover on the 2025 list is Singapore, rocketing 25 places to break into the top 10 at number nine, with a score of 6.43.

At the wrong end of the scale, Delhi (3.43), Mumbai (3.63) and Johannesburg (3.86) are considered the three bottom three cities for solo female travel.

When compiling the list, InsureMyTrip considered safety, equality, tourism and cost and then provided an overall rating for each city.

In January 2025, Abu Dhabi was named the world’s safest city for 2025, according to Numbeo’s 2025 Safety Index, with Dubai coming third.

For more information, visit www.insuremytrip.com 

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