Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will officially activate the first phase of a long-planned one-stop air travel system today (February 17), launching a significant step towards seamless mobility within the GCC.
Dida Holdings, an AI-first travel distribution platform, has announced a seven-year strategic partnership with HBX Group, a B2B TravelTech marketplace. The agreement establishes HBX as a core partner within Dida’s global distribution network, supporting international travel demand from China, Asia, and beyond.
Based on its corporate travel data and booking trends, musafir.com reports that business travel spending in the Middle East rose nearly 20% in 2025, driven by increased MICE activity, major industry events, and cross-border leadership meetings, reinforcing the region’s growing role as a global hub for corporate engagement ahead of 2026.
flyadeal has introduced a raft of customer experience enhancements focused on convenience and flexibility with highlights including 7kg free carry-on baggage on its most basic fare bundle, ‘fly’. In addition, flyadeal is relaunching other ancillary products to enhance customer awareness of its three tier fare bundle products – ‘fly, fly+ and flyMax.
Responding to the tourism sector’s ongoing evolution, BIT 2026, scheduled to be held at Fiera Milano from February 10 to 12, is being reimagined around a powerful new concept: the Travel Makers.
The UAE’s tourism sector continued its strong upward trajectory in 2025, consolidating its position as one of the country’s most dynamic economic sectors, contributing AED257 billion ($70 billion) to GDP and setting new visitor records for the year, said a report.
The UAE's hospitality sector continued its strong upward trajectory in the first nine months of 2025, with hotels welcoming 23.27 million guests – up 4.9 percent compared to the same period in 2024 - resulting in more than 79.3 million hotel room nights booked, said Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism.
Saudi Arabia’s national carrier Riyadh Air has officially appointed Khimji’s Travel & Tourism, a key unit of Khimji Ramdas Group, one of the reputed business houses in Oman, as its exclusive distribution and sales partner in the sultanate.
Dubai Airports has entered the winter travel season with one of its strongest networks in history, as Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International (DWC) welcome new airlines and expanded connectivity to meet rising seasonal travel demand.
TUI has entered into a strategic partnership with AI-powered travel platform Mindtrip. At the core of the partnership is the integration of TUI’s booking capabilities into Mindtrip’s consumer experience.
