Georgia is gaining popularity among GCC travellers, recording 145,513 visits in 2025 as tourism growth accelerates. With 7.8 million international arrivals, Georgia’s accessibility, affordability, and diverse experiences are driving Gulf market demand.
The Middle East's travel and tourism sector is forecast to shrink 14.5% in 2026 amid geopolitical disruptions, but the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) expects the region to become the world's fastest-growing tourism market through 2036, led by Gulf economies.
Jazeera Airways has launched a GCC travel promotion, offering up to 50% off fares on flights across the Gulf region. The limited-time offer covers 13 destinations, with discounted bookings available from August 3–8, 2026 for travel through December 12, 2026.
The GCC home entertainment market is expected to grow to $8.9 billion by 2034 with new consumer expectations pushing global technology brands to localise products, content discovery and connected experiences for the region.
Project awards in the GCC region for the second quarter surged to $59.4 billion, up 30% over last year supported by higher contract activity in Saudi Arabia and Oman, although activity slowed sharply from Q1, according to a report.
The GCC sovereigns’ stable credit quality is backed by strong, hydrocarbon-driven economic recovery in 2027. However, that prolonged geopolitical uncertainty could strain public finances and expose variances in sovereigns' fiscal ability to absorb lengthy disruptions, said S&P Global Rating.
Action Energy Company (AEC) and Kellton have launched a GCC joint venture to deliver AI-powered digital oilfield and IT solutions. The partnership will roll out Kellton’s OPTIMA platform, beginning in Kuwait before expanding to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman.
Armenia has extended its temporary visa-free entry scheme for eligible Gulf travellers until July 1, 2027, allowing qualifying GCC citizens and residents to visit without a visa for up to 180 days, subject to nationality and residency requirements.
The Gulf's wave of investment in new cities and mixed-use developments presents a major opportunity to expand on-site renewable energy, with large-scale projects able to meet up to 35% of their electricity demand through solar power, an industry expert said.
Large-scale urban developments across the Gulf could generate up to 35 per cent of their electricity needs through on-site solar power while reducing costs by a similar margin, according to a new report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
