A new report compiled by Tourism Economics on behalf of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) has predicted that by 2030, total tourism spend in the Middle East will be 50 percent higher than in 2024, generating expenditure of nearly $350 billion.
The ATM Travel Trends Report 2025 has revealed insights into the trends and transformations redefining the travel sector in the Middle East and worldwide, including the surge of business travel, the growth of the luxury segment, and the boom in regional sports tourism.
The report highlighted exceptional growth in Middle East travel spending, projected to exceed 2019 levels by 54 percent this year and anticipates an annual growth rate of over 7 percent from 2025 to 2030.
Danielle Curtis Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market
“The report’s findings confirm that travel growth in the Middle East is incredibly strong, with annual growth averaging more than 7% through 2030. Bold national visions, game-changing developments, and enhanced connectivity are some of the key factors driving this momentum.”
Underscoring the Middle East’s strong position in global tourism, inbound travel from outside the region is set to grow by 13 percent annually up to 2030 and outbound business travel is forecasted to surge at 9 percent per year.
Major countries supporting tourism
European source markets make up 50 percent of all leisure travel to the Middle East, with India and the United Kingdom the top two inbound international leisure source markets.China is also a critical market, ranking third by value with leisure spend expected to increase by 130 percent by 2030.Furthermore, tourism nights by visitors from Asia Pacific and Africa, are expected to increase by over 100 percent between now and 2030.
For outbound travel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt dominate regional flows, while Thailand and the United Kingdom lead as preferred long-haul destinations.
The four largest airlines in the region, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways and Saudia, have placed nearly 780 aircraft orders with Boeing and Airbus, representing major expansions to their existing fleets. This significant investment underscores the region’s strategic focus on becoming a global aviation hub and meeting rising passenger demand over the coming decade.
A Global event hub
The Middle East’s rise as a global hub for business events is another key highlight of the report, which states that spending on Middle East business travel will grow 1.5 times faster than the global average through to 2030. The region’s strategic location at the center of Asia, Africa, and Europe supports business and leisure travel, with the latter on a particularly strongtrajectory for growth.
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The sector plays a vital role in developing the region’s reputation for hosting major events. It is expected to experience the second-fastest rate of business travel growth among all global regions, underscoring the increased potential for combining business and leisure travel, or ‘leisure’.
Curtis commented that, “At ATM 2025, we recognized the industry’s hunger for innovation in travel technology as well as the rising demand for business travel across the region. In response, we launched two dynamic new zones, IBTM@ATM and the Innovation Zone, designed to empower our growing audience to shape the future of travel with the speed and scale our exciting industry demands.”
Offering luxury experience
The region is also witnessing unprecedented growth in luxury and lifestyle tourism, attracting a new generation of high-net-worth travelers, drawn to exceptional Middle East hospitality, curated experiences and premium cultural events. According to the report global spending on luxury leisure hospitality is expected to continue growing briskly reaching over $390 billion by 2028.
“Travelers drawn to the Middle East tend to spend more on travel overall, nearly 60 percent habitually spending on luxury experiences while traveling compared to under 40 percent among travelers who favor other destinations,” added Curtis.
Of the more than 170 luxury hotel properties in the Middle East, nearly 100 are situated in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with 22 currently in development. With several luxury properties in the pipeline among Saudi Arabia’s Giga projects, the region will continue to serve as a preferred destination for luxury and leisure travelers.
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Growth of Sports Tourism
Following in the footsteps of the Qatar 2022 World Cup and Dubai Expo 2020, the Middle East region has a proven track record for successfully hosting high-profile entertainment and sports events.
According to the ATM Travel Trends report, the strong appetite for sports tourism in the region will lead to a potential growth rate of 63 percent in the coming years, with the 2034 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia set to continue this momentum.
According to the report, golf, motorsports, football, cycling, and esports are all benefiting from heightened visibility and investment in the region. This surge in sporting and entertainment events is significantly boosting the travel industry, driving increased demand for hotel stays, flights, and related services, creating a ripple effect that supports broader tourism growth.
