Saudi Arabia’s tourist accommodation facility management registrations rose 29 per cent year-on-year to 20,560 by Q3 2026, with Makkah leading at 8,075, followed by Riyadh and Madinah, according to Ministry of Commerce figures.
Travel technology start-ups must demonstrate clear differentiation, solve specific customer problems and prepare for lengthy enterprise sales cycles as artificial intelligence reshapes the industry, according to speakers at the Travel Tech Association’s second annual Start-Up Summit.
CONNECT.XCITE 2026 MENA concluded its third edition in Abu Dhabi, bringing together selected Chinese luxury travel buyers and premium tourism partners from across the Middle East and Africa for business meetings, networking and destination discovery.
Dubai’s Rose Rayhaan by Rotana has won Best City Hotel Globally and Best Hotel View in the Middle East at the 2026 Haute Grandeur Global Awards, marking its strongest performance to date on the international hospitality stage.
Sugee Group, a leading international real estate developer with nearly four decades of experience, has announced a strategic partnership with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts to develop the world’s first Vienna House branded residences on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah.
flydubai’s purpose-built Aircraft Maintenance Centre (AMC) at Dubai South is nearing construction completion, with the multimillion-dollar facility scheduled to be finalised by the end of 2026 and expected to become operational in the first quarter of 2027.
The Middle East's travel story is often told through regional growth: rising visitor numbers, expanding aviation capacity and sustained investment in tourism infrastructure. But Amadeus booking data points to another important evolution- the emergence of distinct mobility behaviours within the Gulf itself.
Abu Dhabi will host the Hexagon World Series padel season finale in October 2027, marking the competition’s first appearance in the emirate. Organised by Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and International Padel Federation (FIP), the international series will feature four events across three continents.
SalamAir celebrated its expanding regional network with new routes from Muscat to Erbil and Damascus. Flights to Erbil will begin on October 25, 2026, while services to Damascus will launch on October 28, marking the first time an Omani airline has operated the route.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and OneVasco are integrating visa concierge services into IATA’s Timatic Solutions, allowing travellers to move directly from checking entry requirements to applying for visas through a streamlined digital process.
