Accor has signed an agreement with Saleh Abdulaziz Al Rajhi & Partners to develop ibis Makkah Al Maabdah, a 518-key hotel in Makkah’s rapidly growing eastern district, around 3 kilometres from the Holy Mosque.
Passenger traffic through Oman’s airports declined by 9.3% during the first five months of 2026, with total travellers reaching 5.25 million compared with 5.79 million during the same period in 2025, according to data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).
Aleph Hospitality, an independent hotel management company in the Middle East and Africa, has signed a hotel management agreement with Serene Tower to operate the upcoming Crowne Plaza Multan in Pakistan, further expanding its presence in emerging travel markets.
Arabian Adventures, part of the Emirates Group, has unveiled a range of exclusive summer offers, giving UAE residents and visitors up to 50% off selected desert experiences until August 31, 2026.
Hyatt has joined the Saudi Ministry of Tourism’s Hospitality Ambassadors programme, an initiative aimed at developing Saudi hospitality talent through international training at Hyatt-branded hotels across Asia.
Dubai Retail has launched Zamania by Leo & Loona at Ibn Battuta Mall’s China Court, introducing a new indoor “sportainment” destination designed for pre-teens, teenagers and families.
Kuwait Airways has signed a strategic partnership with deferred payment provider Taly to launch a new payment solution allowing customers to split the cost of travel tickets into four equal, interest-free instalments.
According to Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director–UAE at RX Global, Dubai and the GCC are reinforcing tourism resilience through innovation, collaboration and long-term planning, with ATM 2026 highlighting AI and travel technology as key drivers of future industry growth.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has issued new operational guidelines to help airlines manage in-cabin pet travel from booking through arrival. The guidance aims to improve consistency, safety and animal welfare while creating a smoother passenger experience.
Raffles The Palm Dubai has been named the No.1 Resort in North Africa and the Middle East by Travel + Leisure readers in the annual World’s Best Awards.
