Wego recorded more than 2 million total trip searches to the UAE during the peak winter holiday, from December 2025 to January 2026. Hotel searches increased by 7% year on year, while flight searches are up 5%, reflecting sustained interest in short urban stays and leisure travel. Wego released new seasonal insights showcasing a rise in searches to the UAE for winter city breaks, driven by cooler weather, retail-led travel, and short-stay urban experiences. Wego search data shows that international and regional travellers from key markets are increasingly planning winter trips to the UAE, with UAE-bound searches recording year-on-year growth across multiple regions during the current winter period. Flight searches from India increased by 20% YoY, followed by Egypt at 42.74% YoY, highlighting broad-based demand across both short-haul and international markets. Dubai and Abu Dhabi continue to rank as the most searched UAE destinations globally on Wego, accounting for 80% of total UAE-bound searches. Demand indicates a preference for compact, experience-rich city breaks that allow travelers to optimize long weekends and flexible time off. Wego’s data also points to a shift in planning behavior. Travelers searching for UAE winter city breaks are planning trips 30 days ahead on average, with 22% of searches occurring within a week of the travel date. This reflects a mix of planned and shorter-lead bookings during peak winter periods. Shopping-led travel remains a key demand driver throughout the season. City-wide retail activations, seasonal promotions, and winter programming, including the Dubai Shopping Festival, year-end sales periods, and New Year calendar events, continue to shape winter travel patterns. The concentration of retail districts alongside dining, entertainment, and waterfront areas adds practical value to short stays, supporting frequent, …

Etihad Airways has announced the launch of flights to Luxembourg, marking a historic milestone as the first airline from the Middle East to serve the country. When services commence on 29 October 2026, Etihad will also become the only airline offering nonstop flights between Luxembourg and Abu Dhabi, creating a new direct air link between two important European and Middle Eastern centres. The new route reflects growing demand from travellers across Luxembourg, the Benelux region, France and Germany for direct access to Abu Dhabi. Services will operate to Luxembourg Airport (LUX), providing guests with direct access to the beautiful emirate of Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s vibrant capital and a gateway to Arabian culture, world-class hospitality, and year-round sunshine. Flights will operate three times weekly using Etihad’s state-of-the-art A321LR, offering guests the most premium direct travel option between Luxembourg and the UAE. The A321LR features the airline’s acclaimed three-class cabin, including First Suites and lie-flat Business seats all with direct aisle access, delivering elevated comfort, privacy and Etihad’s renowned hospitality throughout. Next-generation Economy seats feature generous legroom, 4K touchscreen TVs and Bluetooth pairing; all complemented by high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the aircraft. The route will enhance connectivity for both business and leisure travellers, while further strengthening economic and cultural ties between the EU and the UAE. With Luxembourg also serving as a gateway market for neighbouring France, Germany and Belgium, the new service strengthens Etihad’s presence across these broader European markets. Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer at Etihad Airways, said: “We are delighted to announce this landmark route, made possible by the launch of the A321LR last year. This incredible aircraft brings our guests a truly premium experience while allowing us to cater …

Marriott Bonvoy and the International Cricket Council (ICC) have signed a strategic partnership which will see Marriott International’s award-winning travel platform appointed the Official Accommodation Partner for ICC through to 2029. The deal unites the world of cricket with the world of memorable travel stays and experiences, giving Marriott Bonvoy’s 260 million members the opportunity to embrace the excitement of the game across continents and showcases Marriott Bonvoy’s extensive offerings to cricket’s passionate global fan base. “Cricket continues to grow as a global sport, with rising fan engagement worldwide and momentum,” said Peggy Roe, EVP and Chief Customer Officer, Marriott International. “With more than 2 billion fans globally, we are proud to serve as the ICC’s Official Accommodation Partner and look forward to delivering exclusive access and once-in-a-lifetime experiences for our members who are passionate about cricket.” The agreement covers all ICC Men’s events over the next four years: The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, the ICC World Test Championship Final 2027 in the United Kingdom, the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 in Australia and New Zealand, the ICC World Test Championship Final 2029 in the United Kingdom and the ICC Champions Trophy 2029 in India. With a combined footprint of more than 450 properties in the markets where ICC events are held, Marriott is well positioned to host teams, fans and members travelling domestically and internationally for the games. Fans travelling to attend ICC events will be able to stay at Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of hotels across the world and when they purchase official travel packages with ICC Travel …

General Entertainment Authority (GEA) Board Chairman and Advisor Turki Alalshikh announced that the number of visitors to the sixth annual Riyadh Season has reached 12 million, marking a new milestone that reflects the sustained momentum of the season and confirms its position as one of the largest entertainment seasons in the region and worldwide. He noted that the figure underscores the diversity of experiences offered by the season, the quality of its entertainment content, and Riyadh’s capacity to attract visitors from within the Kingdom and abroad through an integrated experience that combines entertainment, arts, concerts, theatrical performances, and global attractions.(source: SPA) The season’s main zones recorded strong attendance, led by Boulevard World, which offers a global experience transporting visitors across multiple cultures and countries within a single destination, alongside Boulevard City, which has hosted major events, artistic and theatrical performances, and musical concerts. Other zones, including The Groves with its refined experiences and natural ambiance, and Via Riyadh, which presents a distinctive concept for luxury experiences and international dining, also contributed to expanding entertainment options and meeting the interests of diverse visitor segments. Riyadh Season continues to present a wide range of high-quality events and shows, reinforcing Riyadh’s status as a global entertainment destination and sustaining record levels of attendance, engagement, and content quality.

Emirates will continue rolling out its retrofitted Boeing 777 and new A350 aircraft to key destinations across Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Australia, bringing Premium Economy and its latest onboard products to more cities across its network. The airline will deploy its A350 on new daily services to Copenhagen, Phuket and Cape Town, adding an extra frequency and offering customers greater connectivity alongside an elevated onboard experience. Additional frequencies to Copenhagen, Phuket and Cape Town will complement existing schedules and provide much-needed capacity to meet the anticipated surge in summer travel demand. Customers can look forward to Emirates’ award-winning Premium Economy experience, complete with extra legroom and added amenities, elevated dining, and more. The airline will deploy its Premium Economy retrofitted A380, Boeing 777 and A350 aircraft with the latest cabin interiors on more than 84 routes by 1 July, underscoring its focus on delivering a premium and consistent experience across its network. From 1 June, a second daily service will be introduced between Dubai and Copenhagen; a third daily service between Dubai and Phuket and a third daily to/from Cape Town will come into effect from 1 July. All three services will be operated with the airline’s latest A350 aircraft, featuring its award-winning Premium Economy, in addition to the latest Business and Economy Class cabins. From 1 June, Emirates’ flight EK153 will depart Dubai to Copenhagen at 14:50hrs, arriving at 19:45hrs. The return flight, EK154, will depart Copenhagen at 21:35hrs, arriving in Dubai at 5:55hrs the following day.** The new service is optimally timed to provide seamless connections from Copenhagen to popular destinations via Dubai, to East Asia including, Bangkok, Bali, Manila, Tokyo Haneda and Phuket …

Fairmont Ajman was recognised as the ‘Best Beach Resort’ at the 8th edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2025. “Receiving the Best Beach Resort award is a remarkable milestone for Fairmont Ajman and a powerful affirmation of our team’s hard work and vision. This recognition motivates us to further enhance our services, expand our beachfront experiences, and continually evolve to meet and exceed guest expectations.” Ahmed Gaafar, Hotel Manager, Fairmont Ajman

At a special interview with TravTalkME, at the Week of the Stars in Sharjah, HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority shared the importance of the endorsement of FIFA as the platform reaches millions worldwide and the event also boosts the hotel occupation in the emirate of Sharjah, thereby boosting the economy. HE Midfa reiterated, “It is very important that we witness the fourth edition of Week of the Stars in Sharjah under the kind patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler and Crown Prince of Sharjah. This year, we have some significant new additions. Firstly, the International Football Federation, FIFA, has endorsed our event and the matches played by 36 international football legends who are with us in Sharjah for the coming days. Additionally, the main match on 11 January will be broadcast on the FIFA Plus platform, which reaches hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide. This is another major highlight of our fourth edition. We also have the paddle tennis tournaments, which continue to grow with bigger names, more competition, and higher prize money. The football competition is also expanding. Overall, it is a full week of exciting competitions. Some matches are friendly, while others are scheduled rounds. Our priority is always to provide the best experience for our visitors, whether through sports, festivals, cultural events, or activities. Sports tourism, in particular, attracts a strong audience from both the UAE and abroad. Developing sports tourism—from the Grand Prix held a few weeks ago to this event—is a key focus for the Emirate of Sharjah and the SCTDA. Regarding stakeholders, the economic impact of hosting such events is significant. We see …

Book your voyage secured its title as the ‘Fastest growing B2B travel portal’ at the 8th edition of the Arabian Travel Awards.  “Thanks a ton for keeping motivation high with such events. Being in second consecutive year, it is important we need to keep going and achieve third one also. This is now a vision to move forward with more responsibilities and full trust in those who believe Book Your Voyage.”Ajaysinh Atalia, CCO, Book Your Voyage.

 IDeaS signed a preferred partner agreement with Shaza Hotels,. The agreement provides a framework for Shaza hotels to implement IDeaS G3 Revenue Management Systems (RMS) across all current and upcoming luxury properties within their portfolio. Shaza Hotels selected IDeaS as its strategic RMS partner for its proven expertise, commitment to innovation, and reputation for reliability and scalability. The adoption of IDeaS G3 RMS will enable Shaza Hotels’ commercial team to optimize their revenue strategies through precise forecasting, dynamic pricing and inventory management, streamlined group displacement evaluations, and automation of routine time-consuming tasks. A key factor in Shaza Hotels’ decision is the G3 RMS Group Evaluation capability, which provides real-time insights into the value of group business and the projected potential impact of displaced demand. This functionality is especially critical for properties in Makkah and Madinah, where pilgrimage-driven group bookings form a significant part of Shaza Hotels’ business mix.  Designed for speed and simplicity, the feature equips sales teams with clear insights into group value and displacement risk—helping them make better-informed choices while maintaining flexibility. IDeaS’ solution has already been rolled out at Mysk Al Balad Madinah in Saudi Arabia, with the potential for additional adoption throughout the portfolio. Shaji Abu Salih, Vice President Growth & Development of Shaza Hotels said: “IDeaS technology will empower our commercial team to accurately forecast business, manage inventory, and adjust pricing based on demand. With a small but dedicated commercial team, having the right tools at our disposal is essential for managing our portfolio efficiently, providing measurable value to our owners and delivering outstanding experiences to our guests.” Ibrahim Saba, Principal Sales Director – Europe, Middle East & Africa at IDeaS commented: “This partnership reflects our shared …

Diriyah Company announced a new joint development agreement with Midad Development and Real Estate Investment Company to build the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Diriyah. The new partnership formalizes the collaboration between the two companies to develop the 159-room luxury Four Seasons Hotel Diriyah and Four Seasons Private Residences within Diriyah’s masterplan, spanning 235,938 square meters. The total value of the project stands at $827 million (SAR 3.1 billion), encompassing both land acquisition and construction costs. Midad is a prominent real estate developer, steadily expanding its luxury portfolio through a growing pipeline of high-end projects and strategic brand partnerships, reinforcing its position as a trusted name in premium residential and hospitality development across the Kingdom. This collaboration marks the first major partnership between Diriyah Company and Midad, supporting the delivery of one of the nearly 40 luxury hotels planned across Diriyah’s two main masterplans, the 14 square kilometer Diriyah project and the neighboring 62 square kilometer Wadi Safar project – the exclusive luxury destination adjacent to Diriyah, blending lifestyle, culture and leisure. His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism for Saudi Arabia and Secretary General of Diriyah Company, said: “Saudi Arabia continues to set new benchmarks in destination development, and Diriyah stands at the forefront of this evolution. Partnerships such as this enhance the Kingdom’s global tourism offering and reinforce our position as a leading destination.” Jerry Inzerillo, Group CEO Diriyah Company, commented: “The Four Seasons Hotel Diriyah will be one of our largest luxury hotels and we are proud to announce this joint development agreement with Midad, one of the Kingdom’s leading real estate developers. This agreement reflects our ongoing commitment to enabling Saudi partners to participate …