Wego data shows that homecoming trips continue to dominate this winter, with Manila (+32.21%), Cairo (+67.29%), and Kozhikode (+30.61%) emerging as the top three most-searched destinations. These trends point to UAE-based expat communities prioritizing family reunions and festive gatherings during the Christmas and New Year period. Alongside family travel, UAE residents are increasingly seeking destinations with pleasant climates and outdoor experiences during the winter break. Flight searches for Doha (+32.12%), Cape Town (+28.16%), Mauritius (+34.48%), and Zanzibar (+53.68%) all recorded strong growth. These destinations combine sunny skies with cultural and nature-driven activities, making them attractive holiday choices in December and January. Wego revealed key insights into UAE travellers’ booking behavior and preferences for the winter season, highlighting strong year-on-year (YoY) growth in searches and evolving trip patterns. Overall flight searches surged by 30% compared to last winter, with bookings rising by 23%, reflecting continued demand for international travel despite a 6% increase in average ticket prices. Booking behavior from last year shows that one in four travelers (25%) booked flights just 2–7 days before departure, underscoring the region’s last-minute planning culture. Another 15% booked only a day or less in advance. While solo travel remains the most common traveler type (84.59%) making winter flight searches, Wego observed an increase in shared travel experiences this year. Family trips rose from 5.34% to 7.84% YoY, while couple and group trips also gained momentum, reflecting a growing desire among UAE travelers to spend winter breaks together.

Emirates will add six weekly flights to its London Heathrow schedule from 26 October 2025. The boosted schedule for the winter season follows record growth and demand, providing more convenience and departure time choices for travellers journeying to and from London Heathrow, and is well-timed to serve the year-end travel peak. Emirates already flies six times a day to and from London Heathrow, and all flights are served by its flagship Airbus A380. The additional flights will operate on all days except for Fridays during the winter period with the airline’s Boeing 777-300ER, offering over 350 seats each way in a three-class configuration split between First, Business, and Economy. Strategically timed overnight departures from London Heathrow to Dubai provide convenient onward connections to destinations like Durban, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Jakarta. Flights to London Heathrow offer well-timed connectivity for travellers coming from cities across West Asia like Ahmedabad, Lahore, Maldives, Hyderabad and Chennai, Beijing and Shanghai in the Chinese mainland as well as several points within the Middle East including Bahrain, Dammam and Riyadh. Flight EK41 will depart Dubai on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 13:40hrs, arriving in London Heathrow at 17:40hrs*. The return flight, EK42, departs London Heathrow at 22:35hrs on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday, arriving in Dubai at 09:35hrs the next day. The return flight, EK42, departs London Heathrow at 21:20hrs on Tuesday and Saturday, arriving in Dubai at 08:20hrs the next day. On Thursdays, EK41 will depart Dubai at 12:55hrs, arriving in London Heathrow at 16:55hrs. The return flight, EK42, departs from London Heathrow at 21:20hrs, arriving in Dubai at 08:20hrs the next day. All times are local. For more …

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host the 26th session of the UN Tourism General Assembly from 7 to 11 November. The session will take place under the theme “AI-Powered Tourism: Redefining the Future” and will mark the 50th anniversary of the United Nations’ specialized agency for tourism. Represented by its Ministry of Tourism, Saudi Arabia will welcome more than 160 member states, international organizations, and global industry players to commemorate five decades of cooperation under UN Tourism and engage in dialogue aimed at securing a brighter, more sustainable future for the industry. Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, H.E. Ahmed Al Khateeb, invited the world to Riyadh to take part in a momentous milestone for global tourism diplomacy: “We look forward to hosting the world’s leading organization for tourism in a session that will redefine global action in this increasingly vital sector and beyond.” On being the first GCC country to host a UN agency’s general assembly, Minister Al Khateeb said: “This adds to the significance of this session and underscores the global vote of confidence given to Saudi Arabia as a convener and a trusted platform for international dialogue on tourism. Our mission—as hosts—is to bring the world together, unite views, and foster international cooperation that capitalizes on the growing tourism industry to advance the Sustainable Development Goals.” “The Kingdom firmly believes in the transformative power of tourism and its potential to enable comprehensive, sustainable development across economies and communities. This impact is evidenced by our own journey of unlocking the full potential of tourism and transforming the sector into a key driver of economic growth and diversification and an enabler of Saudi Vision 2030,” H.E. Al Khateeb added. …

Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group)joined the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) as its official Sustainability Data. This strategic partnership was designed to strengthen global collaboration on sustainable tourism, leveraging data to shape policies, foster accountability, and accelerate positive impact across the sector. The partnership reinforced OMRAN Group’s commitment to advancing sustainability and driving data-driven decision-making within the global tourism industry. As part of this collaboration, OMRAN Group supported the launch of the Environmental & Social Impact Data Index at the WTTC Global Summit, which took place recently in Rome. The Global Summit, which gathered CEOs and decision-makers from the world’s leading travel and tourism organizations, served as the stage for the unveiling of this groundbreaking index — designed to measure, benchmark, and advance the sector’s impact on people and planet. In a highlight moment of the Summit, the CEO of OMRAN Group delivered a keynote speech entitled “Examples of Excellence,” showcasing the Group’s comprehensive human capital development strategy — #IAmTourism — ” as a pioneering model for empowering and developing human capital, aligning with the national objectives of Oman Vision 2040 and translating the pillars of the National Tourism Strategy into tangible outcomes. The CEO also reaffirmed that this partnership with WTTC represents a pivotal milestone in the Group’s journey to embed sustainability, ESG principles, and In-Country Value at the core of tourism development. By harnessing data-driven insights and fostering global collaboration, OMRAN Group has advanced the creation of destinations that empower communities, celebrate culture, and safeguard the environment. The launch of the Environmental & Social Impact Data Index marks a significant step toward greater transparency and accountability, ensuring that the tourism sector delivers meaningful and measurable economic, …

Based on Wego platform trends for Fall 2025, searches are rising for five standout destinations as travellers trade peak‑summer crowds for cooler weather and culture. The season is also well-timed with late-October school breaks at many Kuwait private schools, ideal for family-friendly getaways. Trending destinations this season begins with Paris, France with a search growth +54.64% YoY indicates that Kuwaitis are opting for shoulder-season escapes. Expect lighter crowds after August, crisp weather ideal for neighborhoods, museums, and riverside walks. Followed by Barcelona, Spain with searches up 20.73% YoY on Wego, showing that Kuwaiti travelers seek out architecture, tapas markets, and mellow beaches without peak‑summer pressure. In third position is Vienna, Austria with searches climbed 23.67% YoY, as travelers lean into coffeehouse culture, operas, and parks awashed with fall colours. In terms of Asia, Guangzhou, China was the standout as searches surged 156.49% YoY for this Chinese city. Fall brings cooler weather for visits to teahouses, but the uptick is likely attributed to easier travel thanks to visa-free entry for Kuwaitis (applicable through June 2025–June 2026). Phuket, Thailand in October brings milder weather post-monsoon, perfect for family trips around mid-terms. 22.43% YoY growth in searches prove Kuwaitis’ increasing interest in Phuket for this season. Families can pair gentler conditions with Old Town strolls, markets, and island‑hopping.

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) hosted its second Al Midhyaf training programme completion ceremony, honouring 15 leading hotels and their dedicated frontline staff for their commitment to elevating guest experiences across the emirate. The event forms part of DCT Abu Dhabi’s ongoing initiative to embed authentic Emirati hospitality across every visitor touchpoint. The Al Midhyaf programme, meaning ‘the host’ in Arabic, is a government-endorsed initiative designed to unify and elevate guest service standards across Abu Dhabi. It equips participants with essential principles including professionalism, proactive engagement, cultural sensitivity, clear communication, and effective problem-solving, all aimed at delivering exceptional, consistent, and authentic guest experiences that truly reflect Emirati values. The training focused on fostering a Genuine, Enriching, and Memorable (GEM) experience for every guest. Participants learned how to effectively share their knowledge of Abu Dhabi’s rich culture and attractions, ensure openness and respect for all backgrounds, and demonstrate integrity in every interaction. These skills ensure that every guest encounter, from arrival to departure, is welcoming, respectful, and truly unforgettable. During the ceremony, general managers from 15 prominent hotels were recognised for their teams’ successful completion of the ‘Al Midhyaf Code of Conduct for Service Excellence’ training. These included Al Raha Beach Hotel; Bab Al Qasr Hotel Abu Dhabi; Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi; Conrad Abu Dhabi at Etihad Towers; Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi; Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Emirates Pearl; Grand Millennium Al Wahda Abu Dhabi; InterContinental Abu Dhabi; Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan Abu Dhabi by Rotana; Le Méridien Abu Dhabi; Radisson Blu Hotel & Resort Abu Dhabi; Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island; Shangri-La Hotel Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi; Traders Hotel Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi; and …

Miral  announced the launch of Atheer, a state-of-the-art hybrid communication and production centre, designed to elevate storytelling and digital engagement. The cutting-edge centre houses various systems designed to share Miral’s stories, using the latest multimedia systems to deliver high-quality video and audio production, podcasting, and live-streaming capabilities. Meaning ‘radiance’ in Arabic, Atheer reflects Miral’s aspirations to craft elevated and refined content by embracing innovation, creativity, and excellence. Its launch represents a strategic development geared towards digital content creation, amplification, and skill enhancement, harnessing advanced AI technologies and data analytics to ensure captivating and impactful storytelling that resonates with diverse audiences. Inaugurated by Dr. Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral, Atheer reflects Miral’s commitment to innovation in elevating storytelling within Abu Dhabi’s leisure, entertainment, and tourism sector. The centre will further enable partnership opportunities with content creators, industry professionals, and key stakeholders to showcase Abu Dhabi’s destinations and experiences to a global audience while playing a crucial role in training and nurturing future talents in line with Miral’s CSR Strategy. Taghrid Alsaeed, Executive Director of Marketing, Communications & Events at Miral, emphasised the transformative impact of the new facility, saying, “The inauguration of Atheer marks a significant milestone in our innovation journey. It is poised to deliver long-lasting value to our destinations – Yas Island and Saadiyat Island – and the broader leisure, entertainment, and tourism sectors within Abu Dhabi. This modern facility will amplify our storytelling capabilities, leveraging AI systems for data-driven decision making and automation to deepen our engagement with our community and partners. We are excited to introduce a dynamic space where creativity, innovation, and collaboration unite to bring to life the joyful stories behind our world-class attractions and …

The Emirates Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub has been cleverly designed so that it can be seamlessly and swiftly updated with new information and improvements, as accessible travel requirements continue to evolve. In the design and build of the hub, Emirates utilised inclusive research methods including engaging a diverse range of users including those with disabilities, in the usability studies. Emirates new Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub on the flagship Emirates.com, is designed to contain all the information needed for accessible and inclusive travel, featuring accessibility-friendly navigation that allows customers to find information easily and explore the many ways that Emirates can provide travel assistance and support. Emirates’ Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub will continue to evolve and grow to meet customer needs. Aiming to reduce anxiety before travelling, the Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub spent a year in development, resulting in a design that features a seamless visual style and thoughtful and user-friendly navigation options. To provide consistent, inclusive experiences, the website is built on a token-based architecture to enable seamless updates and simplified customization. Even the colour palette is rigorously tested for contrast compliance to support clarity and readability, and designs are tested with assistive technologies such as screen readers, voice control, and keyboard navigation. Customers can choose to view and explore sections by disability; including Mobility Assistance, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impairment and Hidden Disabilities. If preferred, customers can search by looking at specific parts of the journey, which have been clearly arranged – Before your flight, Departure from Dubai, Onboard your flight, Connecting in Dubai and Arriving in Dubai. A third option allows customers to browse by specific needs, including Book Special Assistance, Prepare for travel with …

Set to open in Riyadh by June 2027, IntercityHotel Riyadh Al Rayaan is developed in partnership with Wahat Sudair Hotels Company Limited, and will feature 216 modern guestrooms, designed to blend comfort and functionality, ideal for discerning travellers. Guests will enjoy a range of dining options, including a sumptuous all-day dining restaurant and its signature café – The Breakery, where lively urban energy meets the IntercityHotel brand’s German roots. The hotel will also feature a dynamic range of amenities, including an expansive ballroom, eight versatile meeting rooms, fully equipped gym, and swimming pool.  Siegfried Nierhaus, Vice President and Head of Development, Middle East, India & Africa H World International, stated: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been a driving force in our expansion strategy and an important source market with significant growth potential. We are committed to addressing the evolving needs of our discerning guests, and the launch of IntercityHotel Riyadh Al Rayaan, our second IntercityHotel in Riyadh, underscores the confidence and trust placed in our brands in the region. As our seventh IntercityHotel in the Middle East, the new hotel will showcase both the strength of our partnerships and our commitment to delivering a harmonious fusion of young and fresh aesthetics, coupled with unparalleled functionality and long-term commitment to shaping Riyadh’s hospitality landscape.” The signing of IntercityHotel Riyadh Al Rayaan aligns with H World International’s ambitious expansion plans, which focus on diversifying its presence through new signings across the region. This reflects the rising demand from both leisure and business travellers, particularly from key source markets such as Germany and China. Addressing this demand, H World International has already welcomed guests to the IntercityHotel brand in the region including IntercityHotel …

Oman is set to open 9,600 new hotel rooms between now and 2030, with 2,600 scheduled for completion by the end of 2025, says leading real estate advisory group and property consultant, Cavendish Maxwell. The upcoming keys will boost Oman’s existing inventory of 36,000 rooms by more than 25%, the company said. Cavendish Maxwell’s latest Oman Hospitality Market Performance insight and analysis reveals that 3-5 star hotel revenues rose to OMR141.2 million (US$367 million) in the first half of 2025, an increase of 18.2% on H1 last year. Room revenues contributed OMR83.7 million (US$217.5 million) – up nearly 22%. The strong hotel performance has led to 4.8% growth in hospitality sector employment in the country, with 10,800 people now working in the industry. 3-5 star hotels welcomed 1.1 million guests between January and June, up 9.2% from 2024. Khalil Al Zadjali, Head of Oman at Cavendish Maxwell, said: “Oman’s hospitality sector is entering a new era, driven by population growth, evolving travel patterns and strategic Government investment. H1 2025 recorded impressive increases in visitors, hotel bookings, revenues, room rates and employment, and we expect this trend to continue in the second half of the year, and beyond. “Oman’s population grew by 4.5% last year and 5% in 2023, with similar increases predicted through the decade. Domestic travel has risen in line with population growth, with Omanis taking longer trips and spending more per visit. While Gulf visitors still account for more than 25% of arrivals into the country, the number of visitors from further afield, including Europe, India and China, is increasing. With tourism expected to contribute 5% to GDP by 2030 – and 10% by 2040 – the sector is set to …