Middle East Tourism 2025: How Dubai, Riyadh, and Cairo Lead the Region’s Growth, Outpacing Global Expansion in Travel and Tourism

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

The Middle East’s travel and tourism sector recorded robust growth in 2025, expanding 5.3 percent and surpassing the global average growth rate of 4.1 percent, according to the latest World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Economic Impact Research. This strong performance underscores the region’s rising appeal as a travel destination, with significant gains in international visitor spending, business travel and employment creation across major tourism hubs including Dubai (UAE), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) and Cairo (Egypt).

Middle East travel and tourism contributed approximately US $385.8 billion to regional GDP in 2025, supporting an estimated 7.1 million jobs across hospitality, transportation, leisure and related industries. International visitor spending in the region rose 5.2 percent, a figure that outpaced the global average of 3.2 percent, reflecting sustained demand from overseas travelers and improving connectivity.

Saudi Arabia Leads Regional Growth and Business Travel Surge

At the core of the region’s tourism momentum is Saudi Arabia, which contributed nearly US $178 billion—approximately 46 percent of the Middle East’s total travel and tourism GDP. The Kingdom’s travel sector grew 7.4 percent in 2025, nearly double the global rate and around 40 percent higher than the broader regional average. Saudis’ international visitor spending surged 8.2 percent, highlighting growing demand for both leisure and business travel to the country.

Business travel emerged as a particularly strong driver across the Middle East. In Saudi Arabia, spending on business trips climbed by more than 55 percent, while across the region overall, business travel spending rose 23 percent, signaling a growing role for the region as a hub for conferences, events, investment forums and corporate travel activity.

UAE Tourism Performance and Visitor Spending

The United Arab Emirates maintained its position as a central gateway for global tourism. In 2025, the UAE’s travel and tourism sector contributed US $68.5 billion to GDP, with international visitor spending reaching US $56.9 billion, reinforcing destinations such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah as key magnets for leisure, business and cultural tourism.

In Dubai, the city’s combination of luxury hospitality, retail experiences, and year‑round events calendar—spanning global expos, sporting fixtures and cultural festivals—continued to attract diverse traveler segments. Enhanced air connectivity and major developments in infrastructure likewise supported inbound and transit passenger flows throughout the year.

Growth Beyond Gulf Megacities: Jordan, Oman and Regional Destinations

Growth was not limited to Gulf powerhouses. Jordan recorded a 5.5 percent increase in travel and tourism GDP in 2025, with international visitor spending of US $8.5 billion, driven by leisure, heritage tourism and expanded access to attractions such as Petra, the Dead Sea and desert experiences in Wadi Rum. Oman also reported a 5.5 percent increase in travel GDP, with international visitor spending reaching US $4.0 billion as its coastal resorts, wadis and cultural sites drew more visitors.

Trends in international arrivals further underscore the region’s expanding tourism footprint. The Middle East recorded a rise in visitor numbers in 2025, with growth in international arrivals that outpaced many global competitors and continued to strengthen tourism demand despite economic and geopolitical headwinds.

Domestic Travel and Employment Impact

Domestic travel activity also contributed to the sector’s overall momentum, with residents across the Middle East increasingly taking short‑haul trips for leisure and business. This surge in domestic tourism plays a pivotal role in supporting airlines, hotel occupancy and local transport networks across the region’s urban and resort destinations.

The Travel & Tourism sector’s expansion in 2025 helped sustain millions of jobs, with approximately 7.1 million travel‑related positions supported regionwide. From front‑line hospitality roles in luxury hotels to event planning and transportation logistics, the added employment reflects the broader economic impact of travel growth in 2025.

Travel Trends, Events and Connectivity

Underlying the strong performance are investments in aviation infrastructure, new route development and expanded air services connecting the Middle East with Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. Major hubs such as Dubai International Airport, Abu Dhabi International Airport and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah continue to serve as pivotal points for global travel flows, boosting ease of access for international visitors.

Investment in new hotel developments, event spaces and transport links also contributed to the region’s travel resilience. Cities and tourism authorities in the Middle East have actively promoted year‑round tourism offerings, from luxury beach resorts and cultural districts to desert adventures and heritage site circuits that appeal to diverse traveler interests.

International Visitor Spending and Economic Resilience

International visitor spending, a key indicator of tourism demand, grew 5.2 percent across the Middle East in 2025, illustrating sustained interest from overseas travelers and reflecting rising global mobility. This performance was markedly higher than the global average of 3.2 percent, demonstrating that the region’s tourism industry is drawing meaningful engagement from international markets.

In addition to leisure tourism, business travel spending continues to be a growth engine, with the Middle East hosting a growing slate of conferences, trade shows and international gatherings that draw corporate travelers and event participants from around the world.

Outlook for Middle East Tourism in 2026 and Beyond

While the 2025 performance underscores the Middle East’s ascendance as a global tourism growth leader, the outlook for 2026 remains mixed amid emerging geopolitical tensions in the region that could affect travel patterns and demand. However, long‑term investment in connectivity, destination development and tourism promotion suggests the region is well positioned to sustain its growth trajectory in the years ahead.

As the global travel industry continues to evolve, the Middle East’s 2025 results highlight its importance as both a leisure and business travel destination, with continued expansion expected to shape global tourism trends well into the latter half of the decade.

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