Raffles Doha has been named a Five-Star hotel in the 2026 Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards. The property earned a new Five-Star rating and is featured among this year’s honourees on ForbesTravelGuide.com.
Mandarin Oriental strengthened its standing in the 2026 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Awards, earning strong global recognition. The Group received the highest number of newly awarded Five-Star hotels this year, adding four properties: Mandarin Oriental Savoy, Zurich; Mandarin Oriental Qianmen, Beijing; Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona; and Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi.
Messe Frankfurt Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Aviation Club have announced the launch of AERO Middle East x Sand & Fun 2026, a landmark aviation platform.
Aman Group has joined hands with H&H, a Dubai-based developer, for the launch of Janu Residences - the visionary lifestyle brand's debut project in the region. The development comprises a 150-key hotel alongside a limited collection of two- to five-bedroom apartments.
Dida Holdings, an AI-first travel distribution platform, has announced a seven-year strategic partnership with HBX Group, a B2B TravelTech marketplace. The agreement establishes HBX as a core partner within Dida’s global distribution network, supporting international travel demand from China, Asia, and beyond.
BlueFive Capital, a global investment platform with $7.4 billion in assets under management (AUM), has announced the launch of BlueFive Leasing, the Gulf region's first dedicated aircraft leasing asset management platform, based in Muscat, Oman.
InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah Mina Al Arab Resort & Spa has been recognised as Forbes Recommended Hotel 2026, one of the highest distinctions in global luxury hospitality.
Emirates is expanding Premium Economy across its network with aircraft deployments and product upgrades. As part of its retrofit programme, the airline will complete the upgrade of its first high-density, two-class A380 by mid-April, enhancing consistency and customer experience.
Abu Dhabi’s hotels saw strong January performance, with occupancy at 85.2% (-0.5% YoY), while average daily rate (AED 846.34/$230.45) rose 10.4% and RevPAR increased 9.9% to AED 720.98, driven by strong demand and higher room rates, according to CoStar data.
Armenia has introduced a temporary visa exemption from January 1 to July 1, 2026, for residents of 113 countries holding valid US, EU, Schengen, or Gulf residence permits. Eligible visitors can stay up to 180 days within a year with permits valid for six months.
