Younger travellers are now driving spend, while passenger behaviour—rather than sheer traffic volumes—has become the defining factor of airport travel retail performance, according to a study by Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC & MID), the trade group representing over 600 airports across 44 countries and territories.
Sunset Hospitality Group (SHG), a lifestyle hospitality company, has strategically invested in Solutions Group, one of the UAE’s most celebrated hospitality operators. Solutions Group’s senior management, including its Managing Partners, will remain in place, ensuring operational continuity while leveraging SHG’s international scale to accelerate growth and expansion.
Ras Al Khaimah will usher in the upcoming Chinese New Year with a spectacular fireworks display on Saturday, February 8, 2026, at 8:00pm, welcoming the auspicious Year of the Horse as part of the 2026 UAE Happy Chinese New Year celebrations.
The German National Tourist Office (GNTO) and visitBerlin have outlined a forward-looking vision for 2026, setting the direction for a year that celebrates Germany’s vibrant urban culture, rich culinary landscape and a growing emphasis on wellbeing.
The Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) announced that as part of the Kingdom’s upcoming Eid al-Fitr holiday celebrations, Cirque du Soleil’s internationally acclaimed production, Corteo, is set to debut in Bahrain for the first time, offering audiences gravity-defying acrobatics, striking visuals, and powerful storytelling.
MSC Cruises has announced the expansion of its MSC Yacht Club to two more ships, MSC Musica and MSC Orchestra, bringing the total in the Musica class—along with MSC Poesia and MSC Magnifica—upgraded to feature the luxury “ship within a ship” concept.
The Moscow City Tourism Committee has been confirmed as a Destination Partner for the 14th Annual Meetings Arabia & Luxury Travel (MALT) Congress 2026, organised by QnA International, taking place on 11–12 February 2026 at The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, UAE.
IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced the signing of Kimpton Al Rowda Doha, a 283-key luxury lifestyle hotel set to open in mid-2026 in the heart of Qatar’s capital. Located in a vibrant downtown area near major business districts and cultural attractions, the hotel will cater to both business and leisure travellers.
King Abdulaziz International Airport set traffic records in January 2026, handling 5.45 million passengers, up 7.3% year-on-year. Flights rose 11% to 29,200. The airport recorded its busiest week and day ever, serving 195,300 travellers and 1,089 flights, reflecting strong demand and operational efficiency overall performance.
Rixos Murjana, enabled by Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Development Fund (TDF), is set to open in King Abdullah Economic City as the largest ultra all-inclusive resort in Saudi Arabia and a landmark destination along the Red Sea coast.
