With the global travel technology market currently valued at $10.7 billion, this year’s traveltech exhibitors at the Arabian Travel Awards will witness an increase of 25% year-on-year with leaders and innovators from around the world are preparing to steer the future of the tourism industry at the 32nd edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from 28 April to 1 May 2025. ATM 2025’s extensive conference programme and exhibition reflect this year’s theme, ‘Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow’s Tourism Through Enhanced Connectivity’. With Travel Tech exhibitors experiencing year-on-year growth of 25% and the segment’s exhibition space expanding by 22%, this year’s event will explore how technology is transforming the tourism sector, presenting new growth opportunities for enterprising start-ups and established multinationals alike. The Future Stage at ATM 2025 will host a range of expert speakers, who will explore how advances in fields such as analytics and machine learning, workplace collaboration, blockchain, next-gen mobility and augmented reality are driving our sector forward. This year’s event represents an unparalleled opportunity for exhibitors to showcase their innovations in front of an international audience of senior decision-makers and purchase influencers. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “ATM Travel Tech draws together the best and brightest from across our industry, creating an unrivalled forum for discovery, debate and deal-making. Now more than ever, opportunities related to connectivity and integration are at the forefront of our minds, and they will take centre stage at ATM 2025.” According to IMARC Group, the global market for travel technology is on course to hit $18.6 billion in the next eight years, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) …

Almosafer announced a strategic partnership with Jisr to integrate the Almosafer Business travel management portal on its platform to enable clients and partners to book their business travel, with flights, hotels, and other services available through Almosafer’s proprietary channel. The strategic integration underscores Almosafer’s commitment to supporting local startups and expanding their digital offerings across a wider platform. By joining forces with Jisr as a leading HR software platform in the Kingdom, Almosafer reinforces its position as a trusted partner for Saudi companies seeking seamless digital-first travel and booking services. Khalid Alyahia, VP of Almosafer, said: “At Almosafer, collaborations and partnerships are key to driving our strategic agenda to reinforce our leadership in the digital travel sphere. By aligning Almosafer Business with Jisr, a company focussed on leading the digital transformation of HR across Saudi Arabia, we are reaffirming our commitment to be at the forefront of driving Saudi Arabia’s digital-first agenda, while providing state-of-the-art travel management services to Jisr’s wide portfolio of clients in the Kingdom.” Mohammed Akkar, CEO of Jisr, said: “In our ongoing commitment to delivering a 360-degree comprehensive platform that empowers HR benefits and finance departments to manage all their needs in one place, we have elevated our enablement efforts and expanded our services from just handling travel requests for business trips and expats home visits to enabling HR teams and employees to directly book their preferred tickets on the same platform, through our partnership with Almosafer, the leading travel partner in the region. Our collaboration with Almosafer marks a significant step toward satisfying a critical business need across all sectors in Saudi Arabia, and offers a user-friendly solution, marking this service’s first time in the …

Organised by Visit Qatar for the first time, the Sealine Season has been an exceptional success to date, attracting more than 48,000 visitors since its launch on 3rd January 2025. The Samaritan Night, held on Friday 24 January, was one of the highlights of the season, attracting a large audience who experienced the rich cultural heritage of the Arabian Peninsula. The Samaritan Band, which has more than 400 members, dazzled more than 23,000 visitors with its traditional musical and poetic performance. The site was fully prepared in just 72 hours, reflecting outstanding planning and execution. During the final weekend of Celine Season, visitors also witnessed drone displays, a spectacular fireworks display, and the thrill of the Celine Season digital draw. Celine Season continues to offer visitors a variety of experiences until 27 January, including desert safari adventures, family fun activities such as football and volleyball, children’s activities and creative workshops. The high turnout underscores Celine’s position as a seasonal destination that celebrates Qatari culture and adventure experiences.

Blueberry Travel (Friends Travel & Tourism LLC) won the ‘Fastest growing travel management company’ at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2024. “We feel happy as we won the title of fastest-growing travel management company which is a huge achievement for all of us. It showcases our dedication towards creativity along with the quality within the travel sector. This special honor raises the bar for the sector which will motivate our team and upgrade our brand reputation. For me, it is a proud moment that boosts my enthusiasm for teamwork and development.” Pradeep Kishnani, Vice President of Blueberry Travel (Friends Travel and Tourism LLC)

In a special interview with TravTalkME, Dr. Abdelrazzak Arrabiyat, Managing Director of Jordan Tourism Board shared that Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is their source market in the region and last year had seen 1.2million visitors, standing in its second position was Kuwait, followed by the United Arab Emirates. ” Last year, almost 60% of our tourists came from GCC. Number one market is Saudi Arabia. We received more than 1.2 million, because of the proximity and especially as Jordan is a family destination. Kuwait stands at number two with over 50,000 travellers and the United Arab Emirates at 25,000. Internationally United States of America is among the top markets where we received over 200,000 visitors and 100,000 from the Italy. In the summertime, the weather is very nice. People come to Jordan to enjoy the summertime where they can do outdoor activities. The temperature is about 19degrees in the night, which is very comfortable for people and most importantly there is no humidity. You must experience Jordan weather as its fresh and people love to go out and do activities, especially at night.”

Strengthening its position as a global leader in smart technologies and innovation, Dubai and Abu Dhabi announced a high-speed train project between the two emirates. The project will enable seamless connectivity between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, significantly reducing travel times. It will also enhance the quality of life for citizens, residents and visitors while strengthening socioeconomic ties between the two emirates. Additionally, the high-speed train will reinforce infrastructure to drive business growth and unlock new investment opportunities across key sectors such as logistics and tourism, contributing to sustainable development for generations to come. The project further strengthens the UAE’s position as a global leader in smart transportation. By integrating cutting-edge and innovative technologies, the project elevates the nation’s transport infrastructure, reflecting the UAE’s commitment to sustainable economic growth and environmental stewardship, while contributing significantly to achieving the objectives of the UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategy. Under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, and H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, have witnessed the announcement of a new high-speed train project linking Abu Dhabi and Dubai, in an official ceremony organised by Etihad Rail at Al Faya Depot. H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan emphasised that this ambitious project reflects the UAE leadership’s vision to advance national infrastructure and elevate mobility services to the highest standards. He also underscored that the high-speed train aims to bolster the UAE’s global competitiveness, support sustainable …

Turkish Airlines has resumed its flights to Damascus, which were first started on February 1984 and suspended since April 2012. Resuming from 23 January, Turkish Airlines will operate three flights per week to Damascus on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. On the resuming of the Damascus flights, Turkish Airlines CEO, Bilal Ekşi stated: “As Turkish Airlines, we are excited to recommence our flights to Damascus, capital of Syria. With the historical ties we share between the two countries, we believe that the return of Turkish Airlines will further reinforce these bonds and contribute to trade and cultural potential of the region. As we continue to diversify the Middle East’s gateways to the world, we continue our mission of building bridges between countries and peoples around the globe with our unparalleled flight network.” Turkish Airlines passengers can travel round-trip from Istanbul to Damascus for prices starting from 299 USD, inclusive of all taxes and fees. These fares are based on Turkish Airlines’ official website pricing and may vary in sales offices and agencies. Flight Schedule: FLIGHT NO START END DAYS DEPARTURE ARRIVAL TK  846 23.01.2025 27.03.2025 Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday IST 09:00 11:00 DAM TK  847 23.01.2025 27.03.2025 Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday DAM 13:00 15:10 IST *All times are in LMT Operating flights to 352 destinations in 131 countries, Turkish Airlines continues to expand its seamless connectivity through new destinations, while offering unmatched service quality worldwide.

akbartravels.com won ‘Best B2B travel portal’ at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2024 “Winning this award reinforces our commitment to excellence and highlights our dedication to empowering travel agents across the region with innovative solutions. This accolade has strengthened our brand reputation, motivated our team, and underscored the vital role of B2B platforms in shaping the travel industry. Moving forward, we aim to enhance user experiences, expand our offerings, and introduce cutting-edge technologies to serve our partners better.” Ashiya Nazar, CEO, Akbar Group International Division.

Qatar Airways announced its latest expansion into the Americas with the launch of two new weekly flights on Wednesdays and Sundays, starting early summer 2025. These flights will connect Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha to Bogotá El Dorado International Airport (BOG) in Colombia, and then continue to Caracas Simon Bolivar International Airport (CCS) in Venezuela. The return flight from Caracas will operate non-stop to Doha. This new service makes Qatar Airways the first and only airline to offer non-stop flights from the Middle East to Colombia and the only Middle Eastern carrier operating in Venezuela. With the addition of Bogotá and Caracas, Qatar Airways expands its Americas network to a total of 16 destinations, joining major cities like Dallas, Miami, New York City, São Paulo, and Toronto. Operated by Boeing 777-200LR aircraft equipped with 42 Business Class seats and 234 Economy Class seats, the new Bogotá and Caracas services will provide travellers from two of South America’s busiest cities with convenient access to the Middle East and beyond, owing to Qatar Airways’ strong global network reaching over 170 destinations. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “The launch of flights to Bogotá and Caracas marks a transformative moment for Qatar Airways and for travellers to South America. As the first airline to offer nonstop service from the Middle East to Colombia and the only Middle Eastern carrier flying to Venezuela, we are creating new opportunities to connect people, cultures, and commerce. “Passengers can look forward to experiencing Qatar Airways’ world-class in-flight hospitality as we continue to reach new heights in long-haul travel with our second longest flight into the Americas. These routes embody our commitment to …

Amsa Hospitality clinched the award for ‘Excellence in sustainable operations’ at the seventh edition of Arabian Travel Awards 2024. “We are proud to have been recognised with the Excellence in Sustainable Operations Award. Sustainability is a core pillar of Amsa Hospitality’s ethos. We invest in ecofriendly practices, such as energy-efficient buildings and graywater systems.”-Aamir Riaz, COO, Amsa Hospitality.