The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism honoured 11 federal entities and national companies at the second National Forum for SMEs – Government Procurement for supporting Emirati SMEs and facilitating their access to government contracts and tenders in 2025.
Aroya Cruises, a subsidiary of PIF-owned Cruise Saudi, has officially launched its inaugural season in the Arabian Gulf. Running from February 21 to May 8, the season marks a milestone in regional tourism by blending authentic Saudi hospitality with global maritime standards.
K Hovnanian ME Investments (KHME), a subsidiary of Hovnanian Enterprises, and the majority shareholder of Al Tahaluf Real Estate Company, CJSC, has signed an MoU with Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Development Fund (TDF) and Emaar, The Economic City (EEC) to enable high-quality tourism investment and lifestyle-focused residential opportunities in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC).
Bahrain’s Tourism Minister, Fatima Al Sairafi, highlighted efforts to boost Arab tourism, using it to promote cultural exchange, support creative industries, showcase cultural identity, and contribute to sustainable development on Arab Tourism Day.
Türkiye welcomed 64 million visitors in 2025 and recorded tourism revenues totalling $65.231 billion for the previous year, Mehmet Ersoy, Türkiye’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, revealed at a press conference held in İstanbul. He said Türkiye is aiming for $68 billion in 2026.
The inaugural WTM Spotlight Riyadh, which will take place from September 8 to 10 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Convention Center (RFECC), will focus on the large-scale hotel development, and the increasing influence of Saudi travellers at home and abroad.
In 2025, the UAE aviation sector hit record milestones, with DXB handling 95.2 million passengers, Abu Dhabi Airports over 33 million, and Sharjah 19.48 million. Ras Al Khaimah surpassed one million passengers. Expanded connectivity, cargo growth, and technological upgrades reinforced the UAE’s global aviation and logistics leadership.
Saudi Tourism Development Fund (TDF) signed a MoU with Palladium Hotel Group to explore development opportunities across several regions of Saudi Arabia. The agreement focuses on strengthening cooperation, assessing potential projects, conducting feasibility studies, identifying suitable investment structures, and reviewing technical and operational frameworks.
Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, which takes place at the Dubai World Trade Centre on 4-7 May, is projecting a significant increase in exhibitors from Asia-Pacific countries, underpinned by a strong 13.95% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in participation from Asian exhibitors over the 2024–2026 period.
Vietnam’s tourism sector recorded a monthly high for international arrivals in January, welcoming nearly 2.5 million visitors, official data showed, signalling strong momentum at the start of 2026. International arrivals rose 21.4% month on month and 18.5% year on year. Asian visitors accounted for more than 73% of arrivals, or about 1.8 million.
