Business Travel Surges
Business travel spending across the Middle East is projected to grow by 6.1 percent in 2025, underlining the region's growing influence in reshaping global corporate travel trends, experts revealed at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025 in Dubai.
Speaking at the IBTM@ATM Business Events Stage, travel and tourism leaders highlighted how the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are leading the regional recovery, driven by major economic projects, increased connectivity, and evolving business travel priorities.
According to the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the Middle East has performed better than any other region globally, with business travel spending now 19.4 percent higher than pre-pandemic levels. The region's estimated spend reached $18.1 billion in 2024, with strong growth expected to continue through 2025.
Catherine Logan, Regional Senior Vice President for GBTA, noted that while business travel remains vital worldwide, the ways in which companies manage travel are undergoing major change. 'The Middle East, especially the GCC, is responding proactively to global pressures by balancing innovation, economic development, and sustainability,' she said.
Ciaran Kelly, Managing Director for FCM Travel in the Middle East and Africa, pointed to the sheer scale of ongoing public and private sector projects across the region as a major growth engine. 'Flights between key hubs like Dubai and Riyadh are heavily booked, and hotel occupancy rates across the region are among the highest globally, at around 70 to 80 percent,' he said.
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director at Arabian Travel Market, stressed that understanding evolving travel behaviours is crucial for businesses and destinations across the Gulf. 'The insights shared at IBTM@ATM help organisations identify future opportunities and adapt to the fast-evolving business travel landscape,' she said. The Business Events Stage at ATM continues through 30th April, with sessions covering AI integration into events, strategies for achieving net-zero carbon targets, emerging outbound markets such as China, and the future of MICE travel in a digitally transforming world.
With major initiatives such as Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, the UAE's expansion of aviation and tourism hubs, and Qatar's growing role in global conferences and exhibitions, the GCC is poised to reinforce its position as a key driver of business travel growth in the years ahead.
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