The Gulf hospitality sector is expected to begin recovering in the fourth quarter of 2026 as geopolitical tensions ease, although hotel occupancy is unlikely to return to pre-war levels before the end of 2027, according to S&P Global Ratings.
Syria recorded a 111% rise in visitor arrivals during the first half of 2026, welcoming 3.52 million visitors. International tourism surged 448%, reaching 719,000 arrivals, according to Ministry of Tourism data.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries tourist arrivals hit a record 847 million in 2025, up 3.4%. However, geopolitical tensions, climate events and cost pressures are creating uncertainty and shifting travellers toward cheaper, shorter, safer trips.
The Ajman Department of Tourism, Culture and Media has appointed Hunan Overseas Travel Co as its official representative office in China.
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with Etihad Airways and key tourism stakeholders, has concluded a strategic familiarisation visit for senior travel industry leaders from China, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s long-term focus on one of its most important international source markets.
Saudi Arabia’s Jazan Region recorded over 4 million domestic and international overnight visitors in 2025, marking a 47% increase compared to 2024, according to tourism figures. Total visitor spending exceeded SAR3 billion, reflecting a 19% year-on-year rise.
Future Fund Oman (FFO), a portfolio of the sultanate's sovereign wealth fund Oman Investment Authority (OIA), has announced a new package of 105 strategic projects and investments worth $1.74 billion, spanning renewable energy, manufacturing and tourism industries.
The global travel industry is entering a new era of growth, with consumer demand remaining strong despite geopolitical challenges and market disruptions affecting parts of the Middle East, according to new research from Arabian Travel Market’s (ATM) official research partners STR and Euromonitor International.
According to Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director–UAE at RX Global, Dubai and the GCC are reinforcing tourism resilience through innovation, collaboration and long-term planning, with ATM 2026 highlighting AI and travel technology as key drivers of future industry growth.
Bahrain could become only the second country in the region to host a Six Flags theme park under an ambitious proposal designed to create a world-class entertainment destination that complements, rather than competes with, the successful Saudi attraction, a Gulf Daily News report said.
