Arrow-up Middle Eastern carriers continued to invest in long-term growth in 2025, with the region’s top 10 airlines placing roughly 795 aircraft orders combined through to 2029 – signalling confidence in sustained local and international travel demand.
Arrow-up City tourism came roaring back in 2025 as major global urban hubs reported strong leisure and business travel demand, driven by the popularity of weekend breaks and the availability of low-cost airfares. Bangkok was once again crowned the world’s most visited destination last year, attracting 30.3m arrivals, according to Euromonitor. Arrow-left The 2025 instalment of the Dubai Airshow consolidated its reputation as one of the industry’s most important trade events, with airlines and manufacturers coming together to sign some of the largest contracts on record. The biannual event saw a record volume of trade, with deals surpassing US$202bn, more than double the value seen in 2023.
Arrow-right Enhanced air connec- tivity from hubs across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the wider region helped boost international travel flows and global access in 2025, strengthening the Middle East’s role as a global travel hub. Dubai International Airport alone welcomed a record 95.2 million passengers last year, up 3.1% YoY (Dubai Airports).
Arrow-up Major events continued to drive travel trends in 2025. After the success of Expo 2020 Dubai, Expo 2025 Osaka in Japan welcomed around 28 million visitors, according to organisers, highlighting how festivals, exhibitions and sporting events continue to boost arrivals and fill hotels.
136 | ATM YEARBOOK 2026
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator