Tag Archives: 2026

RX has confirmed that the 2026 edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, originally scheduled to take place from 4–7 May 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre, will now take place from 17-20 August 2026, with the venue remaining unchanged. The decision to reschedule the event has been made to prioritise the safety and well-being of customers, partners and colleagues, and to give the global travel and tourism community greater confidence and flexibility to attend. Now in its 33rd edition, Arabian Travel Market serves as a key global platform connecting destinations, travel suppliers, hospitality brands, airlines, technology providers and industry professionals from across the travel ecosystem. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “Arabian Travel Market has long served as a vital platform for bringing the global travel and tourism community together in Dubai, enabling destinations, suppliers and industry leaders to connect, collaborate and shape the future of the sector. “The safety and well-being of our customers, partners and colleagues remains our highest priority, and the decision to reschedule ATM 2026 to August reflects our commitment to ensuring that everyone can participate at this important industry gathering. We look forward to welcoming the international travel community back to Dubai later this year.” The RX team remains committed to supporting all participants and will work closely with exhibitors, partners and stakeholders to ensure a seamless transition to the new dates.

Bahrain, Morocco and Turkiye among15 destinations signalling intent to host WTTC Global Summit. The list includes Bahamas, Bahrain, Canada, Colombia, Greece, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Türkiye and the USA. The success of the WTTC 2025 Global Summit in Rome, Italy has created a surge in destinations competing to host future editions in the coming years. A record 15 destinations across four continents have formally expressed interest, signalling renewed confidence in the global Travel & Tourism sector. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which represents the private sector in the Travel & Tourism industry, hosts an industry-leading Global Summit each year, bringing together hundreds of chief executives, government ministers and investors to shape the future of one of the world’s fastest growing economic sectors. Malta is the host of the 2026 Global Summit, to be held in October. Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of WTTC, said “The level of interest we are seeing reflects the strength and resilience of Travel & Tourism worldwide. Hosting a WTTC Global Summit is a powerful statement of economic ambition. It brings global leaders together to shape policy, attract investment and drive sustainable long-term growth.” Over three days, leaders debate technology, talent, cross-border travel, sustainability, digital transformation, workforce development and long-term investment priorities. With global Travel & Tourism GDP forecast to grow by 6.7% in 2025 – creating one in four new jobs worldwide – destinations are increasingly seeking to align themselves with the sector’s economic resurgence. WTTC will now begin a competitive evaluation process, with the 2027 host destination to be announced at the Global Summit in Malta.

A new European-inspired luxury retreat is set to open this year at The Heart of Europe, expanding the growing hospitality portfolio on The World Islands. The upcoming Marbella Resort Dubai, managed by IHG Hotels & Resorts, will bring Spanish coastal charm to the destination. Inspired by the vibrant town of Marbella, the property will feature 150 rooms, including suites, chalets and cabanas overlooking the sea, a snow plaza and the destination’s signature raining street. The resort will be surrounded by nine coral reefs covering more than 500,000 square metres, reinforcing its immersive island experience. Dining will reflect authentic European flavours across six venues. Guests can enjoy live cooking and sangria at Descanso, tapas at Casa Bougainville and Spanish coffee and pastries at The Citrus Gem. The launch marks another milestone in the evolution of the World Islands project.

In its milestone anniversary year, ITB Berlin reinforces its standing as the global travel industry’s leading B2B trade show, with Egypt taking centre stage among more than 160 participating countries. The strong presence of Egypt highlights its renewed tourism momentum and strategic global outreach, alongside prominent participation from Thailand, Türkiye and Italy. As the world’s travel trade gathers in Berlin, the event once again serves as a pivotal platform for innovation, partnerships and emerging trends shaping the sector. Industry leaders, tourism boards and hospitality players are leveraging the show to unveil new strategies, strengthen alliances and capture evolving global demand.

Spanish luxury brand Gran Meliá has confirmed the opening of its new five-star property in Dubai in 2026. The highly anticipated hotel will rise on the tip of La Mer, occupying a prime double-fronted plot overlooking Port De La Mer Marina. The upper-luxury beachfront property will feature 140 metres of private beach frontage and uninterrupted panoramic sea views, positioning it among the most exclusive coastal developments in the city. Located within Dubai’s prestigious Jumeirah district, La Mer is renowned for its curated mix of retail, dining, hospitality and leisure attractions, making it a vibrant lifestyle destination for residents and visitors alike. The site also benefits from close proximity to Port De La Mer’s upscale residential apartments and is within short driving distance of Dubai’s key corporate hubs and leisure landmarks, reinforcing its appeal to both business and high-end leisure travellers.

The sixtieth anniversary edition of ITB Berlin opened on 2 March 2026 with Host Country Angola staging a large-scale cultural gala in Berlin. The ceremony set the tone for the trade show, which ran from 3–5 March, highlighting Angola’s tourism ambitions and heritage. Under the theme ‘The Rhythm of Life’, around 700–800 invited guests from politics, the tourism industry, media, and international institutions attended the opening. The programme featured official speeches, music, dance, and visual installations presenting Angola’s cultural diversity and natural landscapes. Among those present were Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin; Christopher Ploß, Federal Government Coordinator for Maritime Economy and Tourism; Gloria Guevara, President and CEO, World Travel & Tourism Council; and Shaikha Nasser Alnuwais, Secretary-General, UN Tourism. Mario Tobias, CEO, Messe Berlin, represented ITB Berlin. The evening was hosted by Márcio Daniel, Minister of Tourism, Republic of Angola, and José de Lima Massano, Minister of State, Republic of Angola. The artistic production, Travessia – From Traditional to Modern, traced Angola’s musical evolution, blending traditional instruments such as the dikanza with contemporary arrangements, choreography, and LED visuals depicting landmarks including Kalandula Falls and the Namib Desert. Angola also spotlighted its new brand identity, ‘Visit Angola – The Rhythm of Life’, positioning the destination to the global travel trade during the anniversary edition.

Chapman Freeborn’s UAE office exceeded its monthly targets across passenger, cargo and ACMI charter operations in January 2026, marking a strong start to the year for the company’s IMEA (India, Middle East and Africa) region. According to the company, all three operational divisions reported performance above plan, supported by steady regional charter demand, cross-team collaboration, and disciplined execution across operational units. While January results represent only the first month of the year, they indicate stable operational activity across the UAE hub. The passenger charter division achieved the highest performance, reaching 140% of its January target under the leadership of Claudia Krajhanzl. The cargo division, led by Gerhard Coetzee, reached 170% of its monthly target, driven by a mix of regional logistics demand and intercontinental charter shipments. The ACMI division, headed by Daniel Huggins, recorded 107% of target, reflecting ongoing airline demand for short-term capacity and operational support. “The strong start to the year reflects both market demand and the experience of our regional teams,” said Linas Dovydenas, President – IMEA at Chapman Freeborn. “Although it is still early in the year, these results give us confidence that our UAE operations are well positioned to support customers as charter aviation needs continue to evolve across the region.” Chapman Freeborn expects charter demand across the IMEA region to remain dynamic through 2026, supporting the company’s broader operational objectives for the year ahead. Airlines, logistics operators, and corporate customers are expected to continue relying on flexible charter capacity to respond to changing operational requirements.

Oman Air announced the launch of a new direct service between Dubai and Salalah, commencing 3 July 2026. Operating three times per week year-round, the route will further strengthen connectivity to the Dhofar Governorate while expanding travel options for both residents and international visitors in time for khareef season. The introduction of the service reflects growing demand between Salalah and Dubai and underscores Oman Air’s continued commitment to enhancing domestic connectivity and strengthening regional corridors across the GCC. Con Korfiatis, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air, said, “The launch of our Dubai-Salalah service highlights our strategic commitment to strengthening regional connectivity in line with Oman’s national priorities. Demand for access to and from Salalah continues to grow and we are adding capacity where we’re able to, providing more choices for travel while actively supporting tourism growth and economic activity in the Governorate. Oman Air remains a key enabler of connectivity and economic diversification under Oman Vision 2040.” Continuing to serve Oman’s most popular destinations with a focus on frequency and reliability, Oman Air has consistently increased capacity in response to rising demand. In January 2026, available seats to Salalah increased by 20% compared to the previous year. During the 2025 khareef season, capacity was increased by 15%, enabling greater access for visitors during the peak tourism period. The airline also recently launched its first direct Moscow–Salalah charter service, targeting the growing Russian leisure market and expected to bring more than 7,000 visitors to the Governorate, providing a meaningful boost to tour operators and local businesses. Further schedule enhancements, including expanded services during Ramadan, will continue to provide guests with increased flexibility and travel options throughout the year.

The Bench announced the launch of Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Egypt, taking place 10-11 November 2026 at Sofitel Downtown Cairo Nile. FHS Egypt joins The Bench’s expanding portfolio of hospitality investment summits, including FHS World (Dubai), FHS Saudi Arabia (Riyadh), FHS Africa (Kenya) and the Branded Residences Forum series across multiple regions. Under the theme ‘Where Heritage Inspires Investment’, FHS Egypt will convene owners, investors, operators, developers and government leaders to explore the next chapter of hospitality and real estate development in Egypt. Egypt’s hospitality story is moving fast, supported by infrastructure momentum, tourism incentives and policy reform, and backed by the national agenda of Egypt’s Vision 2030. With a record 19 million tourists welcomed in 2025 and forecasts valuing Egypt’s hospitality sector at $9B by 2034, the market has both demand and runway. A key driver of this momentum is the rapid rise of branded residences, as leading real estate developers increasingly partner with global hospitality brands to unlock new value across mixed-use and resort destinations, with 45% of high-net-worth investors interested in Egypt’s property market selecting branded residences as a key asset class. Reflecting this growing demand, branded residences will form a core focus of the FHS Egypt agenda, with dedicated content, expert insights and targeted networking opportunities designed to turn momentum into outcomes. The action-packed two-day agenda will feature a wide range of topics covering investment, development and operational performance, including sessions focused on Egypt’s investment outlook, mega projects and incentives, smart tourism and digital transformation, sustainability, capital flows and deal structures, and sector growth across lifestyle, leisure, wellness, restaurants and branded residences. “Egypt’s Vision 2030 is helping unlock a new era of opportunity across tourism and …

Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026 is projecting a significant increase in exhibitors from Asia-Pacific countries, underpinned by a strong 13.95% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in participation from Asian exhibitors over the 2024–2026 period. The burgeoning participation from Asian destinations runs in parallel with the continued strong growth of GCC outbound travel to the Asia-Pacific region. Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Japan remain among the most in-demand destinations for Gulf travellers, supported by robust air connectivity and increasingly competitive airfares. Asia-Pacific remains a significant air travel market, with Southeast Asia in particular experiencing significant growth, contributing to a projected 5.9% increase in Middle East air passenger traffic in 2025, according to the Airports Council International (ACI) World’s 2025 global air traffic forecast. This is further compounded by data from the 2025 ATM Travel Trends Report, developed in collaboration with Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, which shows that destinations such as Thailand are set to attract more travellers from the Middle East region as preferences shift and more destination choices open up. “Thailand is the standout performer, as Asia-Pacific takes an even greater share of outbound travel from the Middle East, with over ten million extra tourism nights expected in 2030 compared with current levels, according to our report,” said Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market. “It is one of the top outbound destinations for the UAE and broader GCC in 2025, with 12% growth year-on-year. Excluding inter-regional travel in the Middle East, Thailand is forecast to capture the second largest volume of outbound leisure nights for the period 2025-2030, with 33%,” she added. Tourism boards from across Asia confirmed for ATM 2026 include the Tourism Authority of Thailand, …