Middle East business travel to grow 6.1% in 2025, adapting to global shifts
The session, titled 'State of the Nation: Navigating the Future of Business Travel in the Middle East,' held in partnership with the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), provided valuable insights into the market dynamics influencing corporate travel budgets and decision-making.
Changing dynamics of corporate travel
Catherine Logan, regional senior vice president EMEA and APAC, Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), said: "In general, the argument for business travel in 2025 is strong, but transformational change will continue to influence how we travel for work around the world. These include economic stability, budget factors, how and where we work, implications of technology, the evolution of sustainability in business travel and the focus on the traveller."
Logan also highlights that sustainably managed business travel is a force for good, driving progress for businesses, governments, economies and people.
Middle East business travel performance
According to the 2024 GBTA Business Travel Index Outlook Report, the Middle East accounts for 1.2% of global business travel spend and has performed better than any other region post-Covid, with spend reaching 19.4% higher than pre-Covid levels.
The estimated business travel spending in the Middle East was $18.1bn in 2024 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% in 2025, highlighting the region's strategic importance in the global corporate travel and events ecosystem.
Ciaran Kelly, managing director of Middle East & Africa, FCM Travel, said: "There is a positive outlook for business travel in the region, backed by trends we are seeing from our customers, surveys, and what our forecasts are for the year ahead.
"A lot of the growth is due to the public and private projects taking place – it is almost impossible to get a seat on a plane from Dubai to Riyadh, for example, and once you land, hotel availability is limited. Hotel occupancy across the region is the highest globally, around the 70-80% mark, putting a lot of pressure on hotels, but in general, everything is positive."
Reflecting on the significance of the session, Danielle Curtis, exhibition director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: "Understanding the shifts in business travel spending is essential for companies that want to remain competitive and resilient in a fast-evolving market.
"Sessions like this at IBTM@ATM are crucial for providing our attendees with actionable insights and real-world analysis, empowering them to navigate shifting travel patterns and discover new opportunities in the Middle East and beyond."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tourism Breaking News
4 days ago
- Tourism Breaking News
85 per cent hotelier view personalisation as driver of commercial value
Post Views: 9 Personalisation is emerging as a growing trend in travel and tourism, particularly within the luxury segment, as travellers increasingly seek experiences tailored to their individual preferences and lifestyles. According to the ATM Travel Trends Report 2025, developed by ATM in partnership with Tourism Economics, 85% of hoteliers now consider personalisation as a key driver of commercial value, with tailored experiences shown to generate additional revenue of up to 5%. Furthermore, insights by market intelligence firm Future Market Insight Inc, has revealed the global customisation and personalisation in travel market is expected to reach US$620.71 million by 2032. Senior executives from leading hotel groups, including Minor Hotels, Fairmont and Marriott, examined the rising influence of 'hyper-personalisation', which moves away from one-size-fits-all services to offering bespoke guest experiences. Leveraging tools such as AI-driven customisation and chatbots, as well as personalised welcome amenities and bespoke dining options, these brands are redefining the customer journey in the luxury travel segment, which is witnessing a continued surge worldwide at the Arabian Travel Market 2025. Speaking during the panel, experts defined hyper-personalisation as providing individualised experiences that anticipate both expressed and unspoken guest needs. While technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are instrumental in delivering customised offerings at scale, the panellists agreed that human connection remains essential for a truly personalised hospitality experience. Nicolas Hauvespre, VP of luxury brands at MEA Marriott, said: 'When it comes to hyper-personalisation, for many brands, this goes far beyond traditional service. It's about creating something highly tailored and curated through leveraging technology and building on your culture, so you can develop that anticipatory service and meet both the explicit and unspoken needs of your guests.' The panel, which also included Loay Nour, Vice President Fairmont Brand and Marketing Communications, and Amir Golbarg, Senior Vice President Minor Hotels, also discussed the importance of establishing an emotional connection, anticipating guest needs, and building this over time. 'Luxury is not one size fits all, it's no longer about recognising someone by the name or knowing their preferences in their profile, because you need to understand that those consumers are not only hotel consumers, they are exposed into the ultra level of personalisation from other brands and other industries that they work with, so they have a certain minimum of expectations,' said Nour. In the Middle East and Africa, Marriott is embracing this shift while maintaining brand distinctiveness, expanding its luxury footprint with projects such as the Ritz-Carlton Reserve at Nujuma in Saudi Arabia's Red Sea, which is rooted in immersive, cultural experiences. Upcoming openings elsewhere in the region include a portfolio of curated Ritz-Carlton safari lodges in eastern Africa, which will pioneer new destinations and provide guests with highly authentic experiences. Meanwhile, owner-led hospitality companies, such as Minor Hotels, are using their lean structures to pilot new concepts in-house before rolling them out globally. This operational flexibility has enabled the company to invest in curated, experience-driven offerings that prioritise quality over quantity. A recent success story includes the 22-room Anantara Santorini Abu Dhabi in Ghantoot, which has outperformed expectations by focusing on hyper-personalised offerings in a unique setting. Commenting on these insights, Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: 'As luxury travel evolves, so too does the definition of what it means to deliver highly personalised experiences. Today's travellers are looking for more than exceptional service; they expect tailored journeys that reflect who they are and what they value. At ATM, we are witnessing how hospitality brands are rising to the challenge, providing guests with luxury experiences that are personalised, sustainable and connected to people and place.'
What's On
14-07-2025
- What's On
Dubai traffic: DIFC roads are getting an upgrade as RTA awards new project
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is continuing its mission to improve traffic flow across the city, with the latest changes aimed at easing congestion in key areas. The RTA has awarded the contract for the large Al Mustaqbal Street Development Project and it's about to make the traffic in DIFC much better. The road improvements will be from the intersection with Za'abeel Palace Street to Financial Centre Street and will cost a total of Dhs633 million. There will be construction of bridges and tunnels extending 1,700 metres, and widening of the street from three to four lanes in each direction. The development will increase the road's capacity by 33%, from 6,600 to 8,800 vehicles per hour in both directions and reduce travel time by over half, from 13 minutes to 6 minutes. Anyone who has used the roads in DIFC during rush hour will welcome this project. The project will help the traffic flow in several key areas and roads such as DIFC, the Dubai World Trade Centre that hosts major global exhibitions such as GITEX, Arabian Travel Market, Arab Health, Gulfood, and the Transport Exhibition. The project will no doubt assist in the flow of traffic for these large events. There are 40 areas being improved by RTA throughout the summer as the traffic quietens down, which include 22 major streets and 9 school zones. 33 things that will help ease Dubai traffic Image: Dubai Media Office > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
Tourism Breaking News
08-07-2025
- Tourism Breaking News
Integrated resorts set to transform tourism experiences across the Middle East and beyond
Post Views: 55 The growth of integrated resorts in the Middle East and Asia Pacific (APAC) is redefining the hospitality industry by blending luxury, entertainment, and culture into immersive destination experiences, as reported by experts at Arabian Travel Market. Experts predict that annual gross gaming revenues (GGR) in the UAE could reach between US$3 billion and US$5 billion, driven by the introduction of integrated resort developments. The upcoming launch in Ras Al Khaimah is expected to significantly boost tourism, with the emirate aiming to attract 3.5 million overnight tourists by 2030, generating thousands of employment opportunities. The highly anticipated opening of Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah in 2027 marks a significant milestone for the region, reflecting a broader shift towards diversified tourism offerings. Similarly, the upcoming opening of a casino at Cinnamon Life's City of Dreams development in Sri Lanka signals a shift toward regulated gaming as part of a holistic resort offering. At ATM 2025, panellists from across the hospitality, research and technology sectors, including Judith Cartwright, Founding & Managing Director, Black Coral Consulting; Darren Bishop, SVP, Market Research and Strategy Consultant, Heart+Mind Strategies; and Edward Batrouni, Founder and Executive Director, Zenitech discussed how these resorts are shifting perceptions and driving demand from key source markets, including India, China, the GCC and Europe. Sanjiv Hulugalle, CEO, Cinnamon Life Hotel & Mall at City of Dreams, Sri Lanka, also part of the expert panel, commented: 'A sense of place is critical to making a successful integrated project and not making the casino the centre. You've got to really tap into the surrounding destination and not just centre yourself in the place you are. It makes the fabric, the texture, and the soulfulness far more impactful than just saying: I've got a casino. It's far beyond the positioning.' Panellists agreed that while gaming offers a new and exciting dimension, it is a combination of art, music, food, wellness, and local storytelling that truly defines the guest experience. Industry leaders attending the event emphasised that gaming is just one element in a much broader tapestry of cultural, culinary, and entertainment experiences that are key to the success of integrated developments. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: 'The conversations at ATM this year highlighted a vital shift in how integrated resorts are being developed across the region. It's not just about gaming but about crafting a sense of place, telling compelling stories, and building meaningful cultural connections. Destinations in the MENA region and beyond are demonstrating how these developments can become national assets, unlocking new revenue streams and creating immersive experiences for multi-generational travellers.' Speakers noted that in markets such as Sri Lanka, where gaming is being introduced under new regulatory frameworks, local community support and government collaboration have been key to the success of the City of Dreams development to date. In the UAE, the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) was established in 2023 to regulate commercial gaming and oversee all individuals and businesses in the industry, ensuring sustainable growth and efficient regulation. The country's pioneering steps into the integrated resort space are helping to establish it as a regional hub for tourism innovation, with advanced technology, personalised service, and responsible gaming protocols playing a critical role. Research insights shared during the session revealed that while gaming ranks lower in priority among potential visitors, its value as an adrenaline-driven activity for affluent, older audiences makes it a significant contributor to revenue. Moreover, gaming's association with luxury tends to increase visitor spend, with a 30% uplift observed in similar resort models globally. With feeder markets like India, Saudi Arabia, and UAE-based expatriates showing strong interest, and European travellers seeking luxury and bespoke experiences, integrated resorts are poised to reshape regional tourism landscapes.
