The Arabian Travel Awards, one of the Middle East’s most prestigious platforms celebrating excellence in travel, tourism, and hospitality, is set to return for its landmark eighth edition on 25th November 2025. This invite-only event will bring together the region’s top leaders and innovators to honour outstanding contributions that continue to define the Middle East’s global travel identity. A symbol of credibility and industry recognition, the Arabian Travel Awards has become a trusted benchmark for excellence across the GCC. Backed by TravTalk Middle East and TravelTV News, the 2025 edition will feature awards across four dynamic segments: Personal Awards, Business Awards, Trending Awards, and Partner Awards—each designed to spotlight individuals and organisations leading change and driving growth. This year’s award categories include industry benchmarks such as Best Business Hotel, Best Green Hotel, Best Destination Management Company, Best B2B Travel Portal, and Best Luxury Hotel, reflecting the diversity and depth of the region’s tourism ecosystem. Winners are selected through a transparent, online voting system, ensuring credibility and inclusiveness. Speaking on the occasion, San Jeet, Mentor, Arabian Travel Awards, noted: “The awards this year come at a pivotal time. With the region witnessing historic growth and tourism becoming a strategic economic pillar, it’s more important than ever to recognise those leading the way. From sustainability champions to digital disruptors, the Arabian Travel Awards is a tribute to those redefining the future of travel in the GCC.” In a testament to its growing influence, the 2025 edition welcomes Embassy Suites by Hilton as its Hospitality Partner, marking the brand’s debut in the UAE. Ziad Tantawi, Cluster General Manager, Embassy Suites by Hilton, said: “As Embassy Suites by Hilton makes its debut in the …

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) announced that Sharjah attracted approximately 1.6 million hotel guests in 2024, reflecting an 11% increase compared to 2023. This growth highlights the continuous development of the tourism sector in Sharjah. The announcement was made during a press conference held today with the participation of SCTDA alongside more than 25 government and private entities at the “Sharjah Pavilion” during Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which runs from April 28 to May 1 at Dubai World Trade Centre. The authority revealed key statistics for Sharjah’s tourism sector in 2024, noting that Russian guests ranked first with over 270,000 guests, representing an 18% increase compared to 2023. Indian guests came second with over 170,000 guests, marking a 6% rise compared to 2023. European guests saw a 16% increase compared to 2023, reaching over 100,000 guests, while Chinese guests surged to over 60,000 guests, an exceptional increase of 828% compared to 2023. Among Arab countries, Oman topped the list of hotel guests in Sharjah, accounting for 6% of total guests in 2024, followed by Saudi Arabia at 5%, Egypt at 4%, and Syria and Iraq at 3% each. His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, highlighted the latest developments from the authority, including the official launch of Sharjah’s new tourism brand campaign “Visit Sharjah.” The campaign focuses on showcasing Sharjah’s diverse tourist destinations, blending heritage, adventure, natural beauty, and modern experiences. It emphasizes the emirate’s ability to offer varied experiences catering to different types of travellers who are seeking adventure, tranquillity, family entertainment, or cultural immersion. The campaign also spotlights major events such as the Sharjah Light Festival and other annual highlights that create memorable moments …

As part of its strategic expansion plan to strengthen inbound tourism to the UAE, Al Rais Travel announced the appointment of a Representative Office in India. This initiative aims to significantly increase the number of Indian visitors to Dubai and the UAE. The announcement comes in conjunction with Al Rais Travel’s participation at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, reaffirming its commitment to expanding its global network and building new partnerships with travel agencies and tour operators across India, one of the UAE’s key source markets. Commenting on the expansion, Mohamed Jassim Al Rais, Executive Director of Al Rais Travel and Prem Sagar, General Manager, said: “Establishing a Representative Office in India is a strategic move to enhance our presence in one of the most vital tourism markets for Dubai and the UAE. We aim to forge strong partnerships with the Indian travel trade and offer tailored, high-quality travel solutions that meet the expectations of Indian travelers and support the growing momentum of travel between our two nations.” India remains one of the largest source markets for inbound tourism to the UAE, driven by deep-rooted cultural, economic, and tourism ties. Through the new office, Al Rais Travel will provide direct support to travel agents and tour operators across India, while launching innovative promotional campaigns and creating bespoke travel packages designed specifically for the Indian market.

Dubai International (DXB) welcomed 23.4 million guests in the first quarter of 2025, maintaining strong momentum and reinforcing its position as the world’s leading international airport. The performance reflects both Dubai’s growing appeal as a global destination and DXB’s continued role as the gateway of choice for millions of travellers. Traffic was up 1.5% compared to the same period in 2024, despite a record-breaking Q1 last year. January alone saw the highest monthly traffic ever recorded at DXB – welcoming 8.5 million guests – an achievement made possible not just by infrastructure, but by the coordinated effort of thousands of people behind the scenes. India retained its position as DXB’s top destination country, with 3 million guests, followed by Saudi Arabia (1.9 million), the UK (1.5 million), Pakistan (1 million), the US (804,000), and Germany (738,000). At the city level, London led with 935,000 guests, followed by Riyadh (759,000), Jeddah (627,000), Mumbai (615,000), and New Delhi (564,000). Leisure travel also surged during the quarter, driven by a seasonal peak at the start of the year, Eid holidays, and spring break, with double-digit increases in traffic to destinations such as the Czech Republic (+30.6%), Vietnam (+28.6%), and Spain (+20.2%). Cargo volumes registered a minor contraction of 3.6% year-on-year during the first quarter, with DXB handling 517,000 tonnes of cargo. While the numbers tell one story, it’s the people behind DXB’s peak performance who continue to make the real difference. Across its terminals, the dedication, quick thinking, and guest-first mindset of the entire oneDXB community – from Dubai Airports’ teams to its government partners, airlines, and commercial operators – plays a critical role across every touchpoint, turning operational excellence into exceptional guest experiences. …

The Oman Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, in collaboration with Dhofar Municipality, officially announced the much-anticipated Dhofar Khareef 2025 season during a press conference held on the sidelines of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai. Held annually from 21 June to 20 September, the Dhofar Khareef season transforms the southern region of Oman into a lush, verdant paradise, offering visitors moderate temperatures, misty landscapes, and rich cultural experiences. In 2024, the Khareef season recorded a 9% year-on-year increase in tourist arrivals, reaching approximately 1.048 million visitors, reflecting Dhofar’s growing status as a premier regional and international tourism destination. The announcement was led by His Excellency Dr Ahmed bin Mohsen Al Ghassani, Chairman of Dhofar Municipality, and His Excellency Azzan bin Qasim Al Busaidi, Undersecretary for Tourism at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, highlighting Oman’s commitment to promoting one of the Arabian Peninsula’s most unique tourism seasons to the world. During the press conference, His Excellency Dr Al Ghassani outlined the new and expanded activities enriching the visitor experience during Dhofar Khareef 2025. He emphasised that the season’s main and accompanying events will be distributed across existing and newly developed sites, with diverse entertainment, cultural, and family-oriented attractions. Building on the success of its new location last year, “Return of the Past” will have an expanded program showcasing the spirit of Oman’s traditional life. Visitors will experience authentic folk performances, bustling heritage markets, and exhibitions of traditional crafts. Significant site development has enhanced the historical ambience, creating an immersive experience that blends heritage with modern amenities. Emerging as a key entertainment hub, Athens Square will host major international shows, cultural events, and shopping experiences. Upgraded facilities include an open-air theatre, integrated …

The new partnership between Emirates and Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) explore and implement promotional activities and offer bespoke packages for tour operators and the wider travel trade in key markets. Emirates and SCTDA will also explore opportunities to create unique products and packages marketed directly to Emirates’ customers via ‘Dubai Experience’ on the airline’s website. This is in addition to advertising and cross promotional marketing campaigns, familiarisation programmes for travel trade and media, as well as promotional competitions aimed to encourage visits to Sharjah as part of their overall UAE holiday.

Healthtrip announced a strategic partnership with Satguru Travel Group aimed at expanding inbound medical tourism from Pan-African countries to leading healthcare providers in the UAE, India, Turkey, Germany and Saudi Arabia. Africa is a growing source market for hospitals in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Germany and India, offering advanced treatments, proximity, shorter wait times, and cost-effectiveness—making it an ideal choice for patients seeking high-quality care. “Healthtrip’s mission is to connect patients with trusted healthcare providers globally,” said Danish Ahmed, CEO and founder of Healthtrip. “Our partnership with the Satguru Group marks a significant step in creating a connected, accessible health travel ecosystem for African patients. This partnership brings together Healthtrip’s digital-first health travel solutions with Satguru’s trusted on-the-ground travel support, creating a seamless experience for patients across borders.” Mr. Anil Chandirani, Chairman of Satguru Travel Group, stated, “As a home-grown multiplatform travel group with a presence in 80+ countries, we have been addressing travel needs since our inception in 1989. Combined with Healthtrip’s tech-powered platform, this partnership brings added value to African health travelers seeking trusted medical treatments, with a strong track record of success in the Middle East, India, and the United Kingdom. Our partnership offers a seamless experience to patients across their treatment and travel needs.” The partnership supports broader regional goals of positioning the UAE, Turkey, Germany, India, and Saudi Arabia as leading destination markets and global hubs for medical and wellness tourism. Healthtrip and Satguru Travel Group will jointly offer integrated service packages for African patients seeking care across specialties – from health screening to advanced procedures – aiming to expand their reach across the region. The alliance also represents a key milestone in Healthtrip’s …

Qatar Tourism and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) unveiled a strategic partnership designed to strengthen regional tourism ties through a new twin-centre holiday offering. This initiative enables travellers to seamlessly combine Doha and Abu Dhabi into a single, multi-city itinerary, making it easier than ever to explore both destinations in one trip. At the heart of this collaboration are Qatar Airways Holidays and Etihad Holidays operated by Capital Holidays, part of ADNEC group, who will jointly curate customised travel packages. Each will draw from a selection of hotels and experiences to design integrated itineraries that capture the essence of both destinations. These packages will be promoted to tour operators across key markets in Europe and North America. The initiative underscores a shared vision to broaden the region’s tourism offerings, tap into new source markets, and position the Gulf as a cohesive, world-class travel destination. By streamlining travel between Qatar and the UAE, the twin-centre packages provide visitors with a richer array of cultural, leisure, and hospitality experiences. This collaboration not only enhances international visibility for both Qatar and Abu Dhabi but also stimulates cross-border tourism and economic growth.

The German National Tourist Office GCC (GNTO GCC) announced that GCC visitors to Germany have grown steadily to over 489,689 in 2024, a steady year-on-year increase of 1.2% and an impressive 21% increase when compared with the total visitor numbers in 2022. The announcement was made during a press conference, which was held on the opening day of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025. Yamina Sofo, Director at the German National Tourist Office GCC (GNTO GCC), an affiliate of the German National Tourist Board (GNTB), commented, “We have now witnessed considerable growth in visitor numbers from the GCC countries since the end of the pandemic. “These figures underscore Germany’s increasing post pandemic popularity with GCC visitors and bodes well for 2025. With direct flights from the GCC countries to Munich, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Berlin, Hannover, Stuttgart, Cologne and Hamburg, this year we want to encourage GCC residents to visit Germany and experience our diverse year-round tourism offering.” Luis Monreal, Senior Director Sales Middle East Lufthansa Group Airlines, commented: “Lufthansa Group is proud to team up this year with the DZT as their official carrier. We connect the GCC with Germany nonstop since 1960 with its flights to Saudi Arabia. Lufthansa and Eurowings offer both to our passengers German hospitality already on board. Lufthansa, as a premium carrier, offers stable and year-round connections to Frankfurt and Munich from Dubai, Riyadh and Dammam. Our value-airline Eurowings is expanding substantially since 2023 in the GCC by offering more direct connections to other German such as Berlin, Stuttgart, Cologne and Hanover. They meet their GCC customers much closer to their homes as they offer departures also from Dubai World, Abu Dhabi and Jeddah. The strong increase in …

Sharjah is preparing to participate in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, scheduled to take place from 28 April to 1 May 2025, at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). Sharjah pavilion, under the auspices of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), will include representatives from more than 25 entities across the public and private sectors. The participation aims to highlight Sharjah’s latest tourism, cultural, and developmental initiatives while showcasing variety experiences that Emirates of Sharjah has to offer its guest and tourists which reinforce the emirate’s position as a leading destination on both the regional and global tourism map. This event will bring together experts, thought leaders, and decision-makers in the fields of tourism, travel, hospitality, and hotel establishments from around the world to explore the impact that this field has on the leisure and business travel sectors, focusing on how it can streamline operations and enhance customer experiences for travellers, hotel guests, and other. This year’s edition of the exhibition is held under the theme ‘Global Travel: Shaping the Future of Tourism through Enhanced Connectivity’, making it an ideal platform for exchanging expertise and exploring best practices in one of the most dynamic sectors, while contributing to both global and national economic growth. The Emirate of Sharjah’s participation at the event is focused on presenting its current and future tourism plans and innovative initiatives that promote the sector’s development. It will also introduce new projects, variety of accommodation and staycation options, thrilling adventures, and integrated tourism activities, along with a showcase of the year-round calendar of key events designed to enhance the guests and tourist experience and strengthen the sustainability of the emirate’s tourism offerings. The …