Air India, Air India Express boosts West Asia operations with 80 flights
Sat, 14 Mar 2026
Leading Indian carriers Air India and Air India Express are jointly operating a total of 80 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from the West Asia region. Both these carriers continue to operate their respective scheduled services to and from Saudi port city Jeddah and Omani capital Muscat. ...
Joramco renews MRO agreement with top Indian carrier IndiGo
Sat, 14 Mar 2026
Joramco, the Amman-based aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility and a unit of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, has renewed its agreement with Indian carrier IndiGo. The scope of work includes performing C-checks, lease return work and aircraft paint jobs on IndiGo’s A320neo fleet. ...
Jazeera Airways discusses resumption of Kuwait–Colombo operations
Sat, 14 Mar 2026
The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka held a high-level discussion with senior representatives of Jazeera Airways, Kuwait’s leading low-cost carrier, regarding the potential resumption of air services between Kuwait City and Colombo, with possible onward connectivity to India. ...
UAE airports serve 1.4m passengers from March 1 to 12, airline ops reach 44.6%
Sat, 14 Mar 2026
More than 1.4 million passengers were served through the UAE's airports between March 1 and 12, said the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). ...
Bahrain visit visa holders exempted from overstay penalties
Fri, 13 Mar 2026
Bahrain's Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA) has announced that all visit visa holders currently residing in the kingdom whose permitted stay expired on or after February 28, will be exempted from overstay fines for an additional period of one month. ...
Air India, Air India Express to fly 78 flights from West Asia
Fri, 13 Mar 2026
Air India and Air India Express will together operate a total of 78 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from the West Asia region on March 13. Both these carriers continue to operate their respective scheduled services to and from Saudi port city Jeddah and Omani capital Muscat. ...
New agreement advances Sumharam Park, sustainable tourism in Oman
Thu, 12 Mar 2026
Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has signed an agreement with Sumharam Tourism Investment Company to develop and operate Sumharam Archaeological Park at Khor Rori, aiming to promote sustainable cultural heritage tourism in Dhofar. ...
SalamAir suspends select routes amid ongoing airspace restrictions
Thu, 12 Mar 2026
SalamAir says some flights are changed due to ongoing airspace closures. Flights to Iraq, Lebanon and Iran are suspended until March 28, 2026, and to Kuwait, Sharjah, Doha and Dammam until March 20, 2026, with safety the top priority. ...
Qatar Airways updates limited flight schedule to and from Doha
Thu, 12 Mar 2026
Qatar Airways updates and will operate a limited flight schedule following temporary approval from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, supporting affected passengers while ensuring flights comply with regulations and airspace conditions for safe travel. ...
Saudia extends flight suspensions to several cities
Thu, 12 Mar 2026
Saudia Airlines has extended flight suspensions to Amman, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Bahrain until March 12, and to Moscow and Peshawar until March 15, while monitoring developments to ensure passenger and crew safety. ...
Wynn Al Marjan Island work resumes after a short pause, says company
Thu, 12 Mar 2026
Wynn Resorts has said that construction work on the Wynn Al Marjan Island, its resort under development in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, has resumed following a short pause. ...
Gulf Air begins operating limited flights
Thu, 12 Mar 2026
Embassies in Bahrain are working to ensure citizens’ safety as flights remain suspended due to airspace closure, while Gulf Air has begun limited flights from Dammam to London, Mumbai and Bangkok, arranging Bahrain–Dammam transport for booked passengers. ...
UAE residents choose Eid staycations as hotel searches surge: Wego
Thu, 12 Mar 2026
Wego reports more UAE residents choosing Eid Al-Fitr staycations, with rising searches for luxury hotels, beachfront resorts, and wellness retreats across Dubai and other UAE destinations as overseas travel becomes more selective. ...
War is costing region's Travel & Tourism sector $600 million a day
Thu, 12 Mar 2026
The escalating conflict in the Middle East is costing the region’s Travel & Tourism sector about $600 million a day in lost international visitor spending, as disruptions to air travel, declining traveller confidence and weakened regional connectivity begin to hit demand, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). ...
British Airways cancels flights to multiple Mideast destinations
Thu, 12 Mar 2026
British Airways has temporarily reduced its Middle East schedule due to regional uncertainty and airspace instability, cancelling flights to Amman, Manama, Doha, and Dubai until month-end and to Abu Dhabi until later this year, while assisting affected customers with travel options. ...
IATA advances AI initiatives to support air cargo operations
Thu, 12 Mar 2026
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is advancing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in air cargo with three initiatives to improve operational efficiency, strengthen safety and compliance, and accelerate innovation across the global air cargo value chain. ...
flynas carries 15.8m passengers in 2025, expands global reach
Thu, 12 Mar 2026
flynas reported strong FY2025 results, carrying 15.8 million passengers (+7% YoY). The airline operated 71 aircraft across 156 routes to 80 destinations in 38 countries. In Q4, passengers rose 13% to 4.3 million and revenue reached SAR 1.8 billion ($480 million). ...
Air India, Air India Express boosts West Asia ops with 58 more flights
Wed, 11 Mar 2026
Air India and Air India Express will together be operating a total of 58 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from West Asia on March 12. These airlines will operate a non-scheduled round flight each to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia from Mumbai and Kozhikode, respectively. ...
Cyprus Airways resumes Dubai - Larnaca flights
Wed, 11 Mar 2026
Cyprus Airways has announced the resumption of its flights between Dubai and Larnaca starting March 11, restoring a key connection between the UAE and Cyprus and offering travellers convenient access to one of the Mediterranean’s most attractive destinations. ...
Dubai Miracle Garden offers free entry for UAE residents this month
Wed, 11 Mar 2026
Dubai’s popular floral attraction, Dubai Miracle Garden, has announced a special promotion offering free entry to all UAE residents for a limited period later this month. ...
AKCEL Holding launches $272m plan to develop golf venues in UAE
Wed, 11 Mar 2026
AKCEL Holding, a Dubai-based diversified conglomerate, has signed a strategic development agreement with XRange Golf Entertainment to develop a network of next-generation golf entertainment venues across the UAE, in a project valued at more than AED1 billion ($272.2 million). ...
$12.5trn in travel, tourism investment to boost G20 competitiveness through 2035: WTTC
Wed, 11 Mar 2026
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) says $12.5 trillion in travel and tourism investment across major economies will shape competitiveness and growth through 2035, with capital investment expected to grow 4.6% annually, stressing the need to align spending with demand. ...
60pc of travellers still prefer human trip planning over AI: Civitatis survey
Wed, 11 Mar 2026
A Civitatis survey of over 7,000 users shows that despite generative AI growth in travel planning, 60% of travellers still prefer human-curated recommendations and verified information for guided tours and excursions. ...
Africa’s hotel development pipeline hits record high, led by East Africa
Wed, 11 Mar 2026
The 2026 Hotel Chain Development Pipelines in Africa report by W Hospitality Group reveals a record 123,846 rooms across 675 hotels and resorts. This represents year-on-year growth of 18.6%, or 12.2% on a same-store basis. ...
Haramain High-Speed Railway exceeds 140 daily trips in last 10 days of Ramadan
Wed, 11 Mar 2026
Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) will increase Haramain High-Speed Railway daily trips to over 140 during the last 10 days of Ramadan 2026, accommodating the expected rise in Umrah performers and visitors between Makkah and Madinah. ...
Gulf Air repositions aircraft to strengthen connectivity network for customers
Wed, 11 Mar 2026
Gulf Air has temporarily repositioned a number of its aircraft as part of its operational planning, in order to ensure continued operational efficiency and enhance its connectivity network for customers. ...
Oman Airports confirms continued operations at Muscat Airport
Wed, 11 Mar 2026
Oman Airports has confirmed that operations at Muscat International Airport are continuing as normal, including scheduled commercial flights, private aviation, and business aviation services. ...
Top attractions industry expo IAAPA Mideast postponed to April 2027
Tue, 10 Mar 2026
IAAPA, the global association for the attractions industry, has announced the cancellation of its inaugural edition in the region owing to the ongoing Middle East conflict. The IAAPA Expo Middle East will now be held next year in Abu Dhabi on April 12. This comes following a meeting with the IAAPA Board of Directors. ...
EMEA carriers have rating headroom to weather short-term conflict: Fitch
Tue, 10 Mar 2026
Most EMEA airlines have sufficient rating headroom to withstand aviation disruption if the Iran conflict lasts fewer than four weeks. However the impact will be greater for local Gulf-based carriers, due to direct network disruption, than for more diversified European airlines, according to Fitch ratings. ...
Azizi begins rollout of $20bn hospitality portfolio with debut 5-star hotel in Dubai
Tue, 10 Mar 2026
UAE-based Azizi Developments said it has laid the foundation for its first five-star hotel, marking the beginning of the rollout of its AED75 billion ($20.4 billion) hospitality investment plan for Dubai under which it will develop 151 hotels, including 100 four-star and 50 five-star hotels as well as a seven-star property. ...
Historic Jeddah welcomes over 2m visitors in first half of Ramadan 2026
Tue, 10 Mar 2026
Historic Jeddah continues to flourish during Ramadan as one of Saudi Arabia's premier cultural and heritage destinations, having welcomed over 2 million visitors in the first half of Ramadan 2026. ...
Qatar Airways announces limited flight schedule for coming days
Tue, 10 Mar 2026
Qatar Airways announced a limited flight schedule after receiving temporary approval from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority to operate select routes, allowing departures and arrivals from Doha between March 10 and 12 to support passengers affected by disruptions. ...
Qatar Tourism extends hotel accommodation for stranded passengers
Tue, 10 Mar 2026
Qatar Tourism extended the temporary hotel accommodation for stranded passengers in the country for another week, allowing them to stay in a licensed hotel up to March 13, 2026. ...
EgyptAir gradually resumes flights to UAE after regional tensions
Tue, 10 Mar 2026
EgyptAir will gradually resume flights to the UAE, operating two daily flights to Dubai and one to Sharjah. From March 10, the airline will also run one daily flight to Abu Dhabi. ...
IATA Focus Africa to spotlight safety, connectivity, operational efficiency
Tue, 10 Mar 2026
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the 2026 edition of IATA Focus Africa Conference will convene under the theme 'Elevating Aviation Safety, Connectivity, and Operational Efficiency in Africa’ in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 29-30 April 2026, hosted by Ethiopian Airlines. ...
Global airline accident rate improves in 2025: IATA report
Tue, 10 Mar 2026
The International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) 2025 Safety Report showed solid aviation safety performance, with the all-accident rate improving to 1.32 per million flights from 1.42 in 2024, slightly above the 2021–2025 average of 1.27. ...
Gulf Air opens booking for special Dammam–Karachi flight
Tue, 10 Mar 2026
Gulf Air has opened registration for a special flight between Dammam’s King Fahad International Airport and Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport on March 10, 2026, enabling passengers to travel during Bahrain’s airspace closure. ...
Mandarin Oriental taps Simone Biles to lead holistic wellness initiatives
Mon, 09 Mar 2026
Mandarin Oriental has named Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history, as its first Global Wellness Ambassador, marking a long-term collaboration to strengthen the brand’s leadership in holistic wellbeing. ...
Ethiopian Airlines celebrates International Women’s Day
Mon, 09 Mar 2026
Ethiopian Airlines Group, a large airline group in Africa, marked International Women’s Day with all women functioned flights to eight destinations, highlighting the airline’s 8 decades in service. ...
Amadeus posts 6.1pc revenue growth in 2025
Mon, 09 Mar 2026
Amadeus ended 2025 strongly, with group revenue rising 6.1% for the year alongside improved profitability. The company also invested more than €1.4 billion ($1.6 billion) in R&D, representing over 20% of total group revenue. ...
Oman issues 12 licences for tourism, commercial berths
Mon, 09 Mar 2026
Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology issued 12 licences to 11 companies over the past year to manage and operate tourism and commercial maritime berths outside ports, after the firms met regulatory requirements. ...
Oman restricts private jet flights from Muscat
Mon, 09 Mar 2026
Oman's Muscat International Airport has asked private jet operators to avoid using the site for "additional flights," giving priority to government and commercial flights as fresh airspace. ...
Dubai issues new public safety law to support tourism, sustainable growth
Sun, 08 Mar 2026
Dubai's ruler has issued a new law aimed at establishing a clear legislative framework to ensure high safety standards for individuals and property. Effective June 1, the new law also aims to strengthen safety standards at venues and events in support of Dubai’s tourism and leisure sectors. ...
Air India, Air India Express maintain Jeddah–Muscat flights; add UAE services
Sun, 08 Mar 2026
Air India and Air India Express continue scheduled flights to Jeddah and Muscat as Saudi and Omani airspace remain open. Due to wider West Asia restrictions, both airlines added March 8 non-scheduled flights, including extra services between Delhi, Mumbai and Dubai, and 30 additional India–UAE flights. ...
Aedas secures design contract for 100-key Capella Diriyah hotel project
Sun, 08 Mar 2026
Aedas, a leading global architecture and design practice, has secured the design and project architecture contract for a 100-key hotel project - Capella Diriyah by Aedas - coming up over a 14,168 sq m area within the Northern District of the giga Diriyah development in Saudi Arabia. ...
UAE tourism operations remain safe, ongoing despite regional events
Sun, 08 Mar 2026
The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism confirmed that, despite regional developments, hotels, resorts, landmarks, and shopping centers remain open, operating under regulatory guidelines with continuous monitoring and strict adherence to safety and quality standards. ...
Gulf Air issues rebooking, refund options amid service suspension
Sun, 08 Mar 2026
Gulf Air has suspended flights due to Bahrain’s airspace closure. Operations will resume once cleared. Passengers with tickets up to March 21, 2026, can rebook free until May 15, 2026, or request full refunds. ...
Qatar Airways announces resumption of rescue flights from Doha
Sat, 07 Mar 2026
Qatar Airways has announced the partial resumption of its repatriation flights from its capital Doha through designated contingency routes with limited operational capacity to London, Paris, Madrid, Rome and Frankfurt. These include a limited number of flights designated for passenger evacuation and for cargo operations. ...
Drone attack near Dubai airport halts flights for a while
Sat, 07 Mar 2026
Operations at Dubai International Airport (DXB) were temporarily suspended after an Iranian drone attack in the vicinity of the airport terminals, according to a statement from the Dubai Media Office. ...
Air India, AIE ramp up GCC operations with nearly 50 special flights
Sat, 07 Mar 2026
With airspace over Saudi Arabia and Oman open, Air India and Air India Express continue to operate scheduled flights to and from the kingdom's port city Jeddah and the sultanate's capital Muscat. To support guests stranded in the region, the duo will operate 43 flights across the region today (March 7). ...
Emirates hopes to return to 100% of network within days
Fri, 06 Mar 2026
Dubai-based Emirates airline has said it anticipated a return to 100% of its network within the coming days, subject to airspace availability, while Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways said it has restarted a limited commercial flight schedule on Friday (March 6). ...
Etihad, Emirates slowly resume limited operations
Fri, 06 Mar 2026
Flight operations at the UAE’s major airports are beginning to regain cautious momentum as regional airspace gradually reopens, allowing carriers to restart limited services after days of disruption triggered by the escalating conflict in the Gulf. ...
Ajman signs deal with Coral Travel to strengthen presence in Europe
Fri, 06 Mar 2026
The Ajman Department of Tourism, Culture and Media (ADTCM) has strengthened its strategic presence in the European market by signing a cooperation agreement with Coral Travel, one of the leading tour operators in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. ...
Mideast airspace crisis puts aviation, tourism on edge, says expert
Thu, 05 Mar 2026
The duration of the aviation disruption following the joint Israel-US strike on Iran and its subsequent attacks on countries in Gulf region, will be fundamental to determining the implications for affected sectors, including airlines, airports, lodging and lessors, said an expert. ...
Emirates, Flydubai resume ops with reduced schedule
Thu, 05 Mar 2026
Dubai-based Emirates and flydubai have said with the limited re‑opening of airspace, the airlines are operating a reduced flight schedule from Dubai until further notice. ...
Saudi SAL acquires Belgian airport ground handling company
Thu, 05 Mar 2026
Saudi Logistics Services Company has announced the signing of a sale and purchase agreement with Aviapartner Belgium NV and Aviapartner Holding NV for the acquisition of 100% stake in Belgium airport ground handling firm Aviapartner Liege for SAR123 million ($32.8 million). ...
Saudi Red Sea Authority appoints new CEO
Thu, 05 Mar 2026
The Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA) has appointed Dr Maryam Ali Ficociello as Chief Executive Officer, effective March 22. Her appointment marks a new phase in the authority’s continued mandate to regulate and enable navigational and marine tourism activities across the kingdom’s Red Sea. ...
Turkish Airlines achieves $2.2bn profit from main operations in 2025
Thu, 05 Mar 2026
Turkish Airlines reported a profit from main operations of $2.2 billion in 2025, demonstrating the resilience of its business model and long-term growth strategy despite geopolitical tensions, trade wars, and supply chain challenges in the aviation sector. ...
Omran seeks consultancy bids for Wadi Shab adventure destination
Thu, 05 Mar 2026
Omran Group, the executive arm of Oman's tourism development, has invited bids from multidisciplinary engineering consultancy firms to provide masterplanning, detailed design and construction supervision services for the development of Wadi Shab as an adventure destination. ...
Gulf Air repatriates over 400 transit passengers amid regional airspace closures
Thu, 05 Mar 2026
Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, has confirmed that it repatriated over 400 transit passengers affected by recent regional developments and the temporary closure of airspaces in several countries in the region. ...
ABB introduces new integrated guest room management system for hotels
Thu, 05 Mar 2026
ABB will introduce GuestFlow, a fully integrated Guest Room Management System designed for hotel owners, operators, and integrators, helping hotels address rising energy costs, meet sustainability goals, and deliver improved, personalized guest experiences. ...
Strong Oman presence at ITB Berlin
Thu, 05 Mar 2026
Oman has reinforced its position as one of the Middle East’s most compelling tourism destinations with a strong and strategic presence at ITB Berlin 2026, leveraging the world’s largest travel trade platform to deepen partnerships, showcase its diverse tourism offerings and consolidate Germany’s place as a key European source market. ...
Ajman Tourism, Vtours sign agreement to promote emirate in Germany
Thu, 05 Mar 2026
Ajman Department of Tourism, Culture and Media signed a strategic agreement with Germany’s Vtours to boost Ajman’s promotion in Germany, expand international partnerships, support sustainable tourism growth, and strengthen the emirate’s competitiveness in European markets. ...
Travel chaos continues in Gulf as stranded passengers scramble for limited flights
Thu, 05 Mar 2026
Travel disruption across the Gulf region has entered its fifth day, with thousands of passengers still stranded and airlines operating only limited flights out of major hubs like Dubai and Abu Dhabi amid continued regional conflict and widespread airspace closures. ...
UAE Federal Authority waives off overstay fines for stranded passengers
Thu, 05 Mar 2026
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security has decided to exempt individuals who were unable to travel from fines for delayed departures due to exceptional circumstances currently affecting the region, which led to the closure of airspace and the temporary suspension of a number of flights. ...
Diriyah awards $666m Pendry Superblock Package deal
Wed, 04 Mar 2026
Diriyah Company has awarded SAR2.5 billion ($666 million) contract for the implementation of the Pendry Superblock Package within its giga project in Saudi capital Riyadh. The scope of work includes construction of the Pendry Hotel as well as premium residential and commercial assets spanning over a 75,000 sq m area. ...
Etihad Rail transports 350 passengers in exceptional operation
Wed, 04 Mar 2026
Etihad Rail has safe and efficient transported more than 350 passengers between Al Ghuwaifat Station in the Al Dhafra region in Abu Dhabi and Al Faya Station in Abu Dhabi as part its 'exceptional' services. ...
Dubai real estate firms, others offer free stays for stranded passengers
Wed, 04 Mar 2026
Private developers, holiday home operators and sections of the hospitality industry in Dubai are expanding free accommodation offers to stranded passengers as flight cancellations and regional airspace closures continue to disrupt travel across the Gulf. ...
UN Tourism, TUI Care Foundation partner to support African Rural Artists
Wed, 04 Mar 2026
UN Tourism and the TUI Care Foundation’s “Colourful Cultures” initiative funds five African NGOs, empowering artisans to generate income, preserve heritage, and drive community development, marking UN Tourism’s first direct support to grassroots organizations. ...
Agentic AI, emerging markets chart a $2trn future: ITB Berlin 2026
Wed, 04 Mar 2026
The global tourism industry is evolving with technology and market shifts. The ITB Travel & Tourism Report 2026/2027 projects a $2.14 trillion valuation with 5.3% growth. Saturated European and US markets are driving expansion into new regions, as noted by Phocuswright CEO Mitra Sorrells. ...
UCC, Webuild, PowerChina teams shortlisted for Riyadh airport project
Wed, 04 Mar 2026
The King Salman International Airport in Riyadh has shortlisted three international contractor teams - UCC with Consolidated Contractors; Webuild with Al Gihaz and TAV and PowerChina with MBL Infrastructure - for ECI work on Terminal 6 as part of the $30 billion airport development programme. ...
Syria returns to global tourism stage at ITB Berlin
Wed, 04 Mar 2026
Syria is restoring its tourism presence by participating in the 60th ITB Berlin International Tourism Trade Fair, one of the world’s largest industry events, with a pavilion featuring the Ministry of Tourism and national travel and aviation companies. ...
Fujairah International Airport operates charter flights amid regional challenges
Wed, 04 Mar 2026
Fujairah International Airport and SalamAir will operate humanitarian charter flights via Muscat on March 4–5, 2026, connecting Fujairah with Calicut, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Istanbul and Karachi. Bookings are available through SalamAir’s website and authorised agents. ...
Global Hotel Alliance expands into Japan with Tokyu Hotels & Resorts signing
Wed, 04 Mar 2026
Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), a large alliance of independent hotel brands, has signed an agreement with Tokyu Hotels & Resorts (THR), a Japanese hospitality group operating “TOKYU HOTELS” chain owned by Tokyu Corporation. ...
TUI Hotels & Resorts implements growth strategy
Wed, 04 Mar 2026
TUI Group is expanding its Hotels & Resorts division across Asia and Africa. It operates 25 Asian hotels, plans 30 more, and will open the five-star TUI Blue Yangtze Shanghai on June 1, 2026, near People’s Square. ...
17,500 stranded passengers leave UAE, flights to increase
Wed, 04 Mar 2026
The UAE said yesterday that 17,498 passengers have been transported on 60 flights operated by national carriers since March 1 as part of its emergency flights plan. ...
RoomPriceGenie expands RMS capabilities with integrated revenue intelligence
Tue, 03 Mar 2026
RoomPriceGenie, developer of an award-winning revenue management system used by over 4,000 hotels worldwide, has launched Revenue Intelligence, a new solution delivering real-time revenue insights directly within PMS dashboards. ...
Color Line teams up with RWS Global to transform onboard entertainment
Tue, 03 Mar 2026
Color Line partners with RWS Global to launch innovative onboard entertainment, starting with two full-scale shows on Color Magic in September, showcasing Broadway-quality productions focused on creativity, quality, and engaging audience experiences. ...
Chapman Freeborn arranges emergency charters amid Mideast aviation turmoil
Tue, 03 Mar 2026
Chapman Freeborn, a leading private air passenger and cargo charter services company, has announced that it has been arranging emergency charters amid the ongoing geopolitical instability in the Middle East and disruption to global aviation routes. ...
ICP facilitates 30,913 travellers amid UAE flight suspensions
Tue, 03 Mar 2026
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) has affirmed the readiness of its teams and systems to address crises and emergencies in light of the current developments that have led to the temporary suspension of flights as a precautionary measure. ...
Little relief for stranded passengers as Gulf airspace closures continue
Tue, 03 Mar 2026
There was little relief for thousands of stranded passengers across the Gulf on Tuesday as sweeping airspace closures and mass flight cancellations continued to paralyse one of the world’s busiest aviation corridors. ...
Air India Express resumes operations from Muscat
Tue, 03 Mar 2026
Air India Express has announced that it will resume flight operations to and from Muscat starting today (March 3) with scheduled services to Delhi, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, Mumbai and Tiruchirappally. It is the first Indian airline to resume operations in the Gulf region in the current scenario. ...
Middle Eastern countries show tourism's strength at ITB Berlin
Tue, 03 Mar 2026
Middle Eastern countries are out in force at ITB Berlin, the world’s largest travel trade show, showcasing their tourism offerings with renewed vigour despite the ongoing conflict in parts of the region. From ambitious destination campaigns to major hospitality and aviation expansions, national tourism boards are using the global platform to reaffirm their commitment to growth, connectivity and international partnerships. ...
ITB Berlin 2026 opens its doors marking its 60th anniversary
Tue, 03 Mar 2026
ITB Berlin 2026, celebrating its 60th anniversary, opened today as the world’s leading B2B travel trade show, bringing together nearly 6,000 exhibitors from over 160 countries. ...
Qatar Airways suspends flights amid airspace closure; Qatar extends entry visas
Tue, 03 Mar 2026
Qatar Airways announced on March 3 that its flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace. Simultaneously, Qatar’s Ministry of Interior automatically extends all expired or near-expiry visas by one month, free of charge. ...
Palazzo Versace Dubai extends support to stranded travellers
Tue, 03 Mar 2026
Palazzo Versace Dubai is helping travellers affected by flight disruptions by offering a complimentary stay with breakfast, depending on availability and confirmation of travel status, to support guests experiencing unexpected delays in the city. ...
Saudi Transport Minister inspects operations at Jeddah Airport
Tue, 03 Mar 2026
Saudi Transport Minister Saleh Al-Jasser inspected King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, reviewing traveller services, electronic gates, duty-free, passport control, health and customs facilities, and monitoring passenger flow. ...
Atout France adapts operations amid Middle East travel disruptions
Tue, 03 Mar 2026
Atout France is closely monitoring geopolitical developments affecting travel between the Middle East, Türkiye, and France. Airlines, including Air France, have adjusted schedules, while the agency ensures operational continuity, compliance, partner coordination, and transparent communication. ...
Ramadan accommodation searches rise 20.67pc in Makkah, 25.16pc in Madinah: Wego
Tue, 03 Mar 2026
Travel activity among Saudi residents rose during Ramadan 2026, driven by strong Umrah and family travel demand. Accommodation searches increased 20.67% in Makkah and 25.16% in Madinah, peaking late in the month, alongside earlier planning for Eid and post-Ramadan trips. ...
HotelREZ reports 18.6pc revenue growth, accelerates global expansion
Tue, 03 Mar 2026
HotelREZ reported strong full-year growth, reinforcing its position among the largest privately held hotel groups. Revenue rose 18.6%, RevPAR increased 9.8%, SaaS distribution expanded, and system size grew 8%, driven by upscale demand and strengthened partnerships. ...
Middle East MICE sector poised for big growth
Tue, 03 Mar 2026
The Middle East’s MICE sector signals strong economic confidence, with rapid growth driven by venue investment and global partnerships. The UAE and Saudi Arabia lead, with markets projected to reach $9.26 billion and $5.33 billion by 2030, advancing diversification and regional competitiveness. ...
Limited number of rescue flights take off from Dubai, Abu Dhabi
Tue, 03 Mar 2026
Limited airport operations resumed in Abu Dhabi and Dubai last evening following UAE authorities allowing exceptional flights to take stranded travellers back home. ...
US asks citizens to leave all Gulf states, other Middle East countries
Tue, 03 Mar 2026
The US State Department has urged Americans to leave immediately from many countries in the Middle East, including all the Gulf states. ...
Sorouh Al Qurm to build $596m integrated tourism complex in Muscat
Mon, 02 Mar 2026
Oman-based Sorouh Al Qurm Real Estate has announced plans to develop an integrated tourism complex at an investment of RO230 million ($596 million) in Muscat. Spanning 165,000 sq m, the ITC will boast two four-star hotels along with residential and retail units as well as a range of recreational facilities. ...
UAE 's Emerging Travel Group nets record revenue for FY 2025
Mon, 02 Mar 2026
UAE-based Emerging Travel Group (ETG) has registered solid results for FY 2025 with its gross transaction value hitting $4.8 billion, up 30% over the previous year. The main driver of this growth was the company's flagship B2B platform, RateHawk, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. ...
UAE allows 'exceptional' flights for stranded passengers to leave
Mon, 02 Mar 2026
The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has announced the commencement of exceptional flight operations at UAE airports, enabling stranded passengers affected by recent regional developments to depart, in line with the schedules to be announced by airlines to affected passengers and the relevant destinations. ...
Gulf airlines spearhead global passenger growth in January
Mon, 02 Mar 2026
Global airlines reported a 5.9% rise in international revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) in January over last year, with Middle Eastern carriers outpacing most regions with a 83.2% load factor despite a broader slowdown in growth at the start of the year, according to a report by IATA. ...
ITB Berlin celebrates 60 years as landmark edition opens tomorrow
Mon, 02 Mar 2026
The global travel industry convenes in Berlin as ITB Berlin 2026 opens March 3–5 at Berlin ExpoCenter City, celebrating its 60th anniversary under the theme “Discover the stories behind 60 years of legacy”. ...
STORY Hospitality makes ITB Berlin debut
Mon, 02 Mar 2026
Abu Dhabi-headquartered STORY Hospitality will attend ITB Berlin for the first time from March 3–5 2026, marking a strategic step in deepening its engagement with European travel and investment partners. ...
Abu Dhabi, Dubai ask hotels to extend stay of stranded guests
Mon, 02 Mar 2026
In a swift intervention to support travellers caught in the fallout of regional airspace disruptions, authorities in the UAE have moved to ensure that stranded visitors are not left without accommodation — or with unexpected bills. ...