A year in review
GEM opening boosts Egypt tourist arrivals
Zayed International reports record passengers
Dubai Airports’ expansion plans unchanged
Dubai launches hotel support package
2026 > 2026 >
JANUARY 30MN TOURIST TARGET FOR EGYPT Egypt targets 30 million tourists annually following a record 19 million arrivals in 2025, up 21% on 2024 with growth partially by the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) opening. GCC TRAVEL MARKET MATURES GCC travel is moving beyond traditional peak seasons and reliance on mega-hubs, according to analysis from digital airport ecosystem provider Dragonpass. In 2025, 56% of regional travel took place between June and November, pointing to a longer, more sustained peak season. Use of secondary airports is also increasing, now representing 32.4% of total travel. 19.8MN MILESTONE FOR MOROCCO Morocco receives a record-breaking 19.8 million arrivals in 2025, according to the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism. Total tourism revenues exceeded $13 billion, reinforcing the sector as a primary contributor to the national economy. The ministry stays this unprecedented growth reflects the continued success of tourism development initiatives in recent years.
FEBRUARY
MARCH DUBAI AIRPORTS STICKS TO PLAN Dubai Airports will press ahead with ex- pansion plans despite aviation disruption caused by regional conflict with Iran, says CEO Paul Griffiths. The strategy “has not changed and will not stop”, he tells media, expressing confidence the world’s busiest international hub will rebound quickly once airspace stabilises. ETIHAD RAIL GEARS UP FOR LAUNCH Etihad Rail unveils details of its passenger experience ahead of the UAE national rail network launch later this year. The 900km network will prioritise comfort, reliability and “time gained”, offering Wi-Fi and power for business travellers and family seating for leisure trips. GULF CARRIERS IN GLOBAL TOP 10 Three GCC carriers rank among the global top 10 for in-flight product and passenger experience. AirlineRatings.com’s World’s Best Airline Awards for 2026 rank Qatar Airways first, while Emirates takes eighth place and Etihad Airways comes in at number 10.
APRIL DUBAI HOTEL ECONOMIC PACKAGE Dubai unveils government measures to support the hospitality sector as part of a wider AED 1 billion (US$272 million) economic package. It means hotels can defer 100% of sales fees on rooms, food and beverage, and the Tourism Dirham for three months, easing cash flow pressures effective from April 1, 2026. AFRICA EXPANSION FOR ETIHAD Etihad Airways announces significant expansion of its Africa network adding new routes to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ghana, Nigeria and Zimbabwe from Abu Dhabi, as part of its continued global growth strategy. RESILIENCE IN REINVENTION The UAE’s tourism sector is urged to “reinvent itself” as government and industry leaders coordinate a recovery plan to mitigate the impact of the Iran crisis. His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi calls for a structured, unified response to restore demand, saying: “We need a clinical pathway, one voice and one message.”
RECORD PASSENGERS AT AUH Zayed International Airport (AUH) reports a record 32.5 million passengers in 2025, up 12.8% on 2024, driven by Etihad Airways' aggressive route expansion (including 39 route launches) and new airlines serving Abu Dhabi, including China Eastern Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Eurowings and Jazeera Airways. DUBAI BEST-CONNECTED CITY A study by ground transportation company Mozio names Dubai the world’s best-con- nected city for travellers, scoring 7.2 out of 10. The ranking assessed airport-to- city access including public transport frequency, transfer times, taxi fares, and resident access to transit. Dubai offers a 24-minute journey from the airport to the city centre, with public transport arriving every eight minutes. PLANS FOR FLYNAS SYRIA UNVEILED Low-cost carrier flynas signs an agree- ment to establish a new commercial airline, flynas Syria, in Q4 2026, marking a major expansion of cross-border aviation cooperation between Syria and KSA.
14 | ATM YEARBOOK 2026
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