Hospitality & Tourism

Saudi Arabia to introduce VAT refund system for tourists in 2025

Key tourism targets for 2025 include attracting 127 million visitors to support the goals of the National Tourism Strategy

Emirates World lands in Casablanca: The largest store yet, spanning over 500m²

The opening marks the second Emirates World opening in Africa, and the seventh globally

UAE National Day: Popular travel destinations for the long weekend

Mumbai and Kochi topped the list this year for their vibrant atmosphere, rich cultural diversity, and convenient travel times

Saudi Arabia sees 27 percent surge in incoming tourists over 9 months, says tourism minister 

By the end of 2023, tourism contributed 5 percent to GDP, with a goal of reaching 10 percent by 2030

Saudi Arabia attracts 2.5 million tourists to 80 global sporting events

Vision 2030 seeks to increase the sporting sector’s contribution to the Kingdom's GDP to $4.8 billion by 2030

Saudi economy grows 64 percent to $1.09 trillion in nominal GDP from 2016 to 2023, says Finance Minister

Al-Jadaan projected a 4.6 percent growth rate for non-oil GDP in Saudi Arabia in 2025 

AROYA Cruises redefines luxury travel in Saudi Arabia with inaugural voyage on December 16

It features 1678 cabins, 20 entertainment outlets, 29 restaurants and bars, and the highest shopping mall coverage of any cruise line in the world 

World’s largest mosaic artwork ‘Zayed and Rashid Mural’ unveiled in Hatta

The public art project was led by the Russian artist Sergey Korbasov, with the support of over 100 local and international artisans

Riyadh Season draws 8 million visitors so far, setting new record

This growth stems from the diverse events and entertainment options that have sparked significant interest

flydubai launches daily flights to Egypt’s Al Alamein for summer 2025

With the addition of its summer operations to Al Alamein, flydubai grows its network in Egypt to three destinations including Alexandria and Cairo

Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Dubai’s Burj Khalifa with front-row views, entertainment and fireworks

Burj Park is among the most ideal locations for guests looking to enjoy the iconic Burj Khalifa light, music, and fireworks show

Etihad Airways launches 10 new destinations in one day

The 10 routes will complement Etihad Airways' previously revealed new destinations for 2025 including Prague, Warsaw, and Al Alamein

Saudi Arabia’s entertainment sector to create 450,000 jobs by 2030: Report

The sector reported several record highs in the last five years, including attracting over SAR1 billion in total revenues and over 75 million event attendees

Emirates adds fifth weekly flight to Madagascar and Seychelles to meet seasonal demand, enhance traveler flexibility

The extra weekly flight, operating as EK707 and EK708, will feature a 3-class configuration

UAE National Day: Watch Eid Al Etihad ceremony in Al Ain and celebrate

The National Day ceremony focuses on honoring the UAE’s journey and the legacy of the founding fathers

Diriyah Company breaks ground on seven luxury hotels, offering 877 new rooms

Diriyah expects to attract 50 million local visitors and international travelers annually in the future

Emirates opens its first World Store in Southeast Asia with a unique experience in Manila

The store is designed to function as a comprehensive destination where customers can discover Emirates’ top-tier products and services

How is the GCC region driving tourism growth? Mega-projects, coastal developments and unified visa in focus

In 2024, the projected revenue for the GCC region's travel market is estimated to be $8.08 billion

Etihad Airways reports $381 million profit after tax for first nine months of 2024

The carrier achieved 21 percent revenue growth, surpassing $5 billion in the first three quarters

flynas to launch three direct flights between Madinah and Cairo’s Sphinx airport

flynas connects Egypt to Saudi Arabia with more than 120 weekly direct flights from five Saudi cities

Etihad Airways passenger traffic surges 34 percent to 15 million by October 2024

The airline's rolling 12-month passenger total stands at 17.8 million, a 73 percent increase on the figure for the whole of 2022

Sharjah Events Festival: Four days of interactive activities, performances and shows

Popular festival offers an exciting experience blending fun activities with knowledge over four days

DXB welcomes 68.6 million travelers in nine months, up 6.3 percent over last year

In Q3, over 111,300 flights were managed, totaling 327,700 flight movements for the first nine months