A new report compiled by Tourism Economics on behalf of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) predicts that by 2030, total tourism spend in the Middle East will be 50 per cent higher than in 2024, generating expenditure of nearly $350 billion.
The ATM Travel Trends Report 2025 paints a bullish picture, anticipating an annual growth rate exceeding 7 per cent from 2025 to 2030. This expansion is expected to see Middle East travel spending surpass 2019 levels by 54 per cent this year alone. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, attributes this momentum to ‘bold national visions, game-changing developments and enhanced connectivity’. The report highlights several key areas fuelling this surge. International arrivals from outside the region are set to grow by 13 per cent annually up to 2030. European markets currently account for 50 per cent of leisure travel to the Middle East, with India and the UK leading as the top two international leisure source markets. China is also a critical market, with leisure spending expected to jump by 130 per cent by 2030. Tourism nights from Asia Pacific and Africa are projected to more than double by 2030. Saudi Arabia and Egypt are dominating regional outbound flows, while Thailand and the UK remain preferred long-haul destinations. The region's four largest airlines – Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, and Saudia – have placed orders for nearly 780 new aircraft, underscoring a strategic focus on becoming a global aviation hub. The Middle East's emergence as a global hub for business events is another significant finding. Spending on Middle East business travel is forecast to grow 1.5 times faster than the global average through to 2030. This supports the region's reputation for hosting major events and is expected to lead to the second-fastest rate of business travel growth worldwide, increasing the potential for 'bleisure' travel (combining business and leisure). The region is also witnessing unprecedented growth in luxury and lifestyle tourism. Global spending on luxury leisure hospitality is projected to exceed $390 billion by 2028. Travellers drawn to the Middle East tend to spend nearly 60 per cent of their travel budget on luxury experiences, significantly higher than the global average.Of the more than 170 luxury hotel properties in the Middle East, nearly 100 are concentrated in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with 22 currently under development. Saudi Arabia's Giga projects are set to further bolster the region's luxury offerings.
Following the success of events like the Qatar 2022 World Cup and Dubai Expo 2020, the report predicts that the strong appetite for sports tourism will drive a 63% growth rate in the coming years. The 2034 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia is expected to sustain this momentum. Golf, motorsports, football, cycling and esports are all benefiting from heightened visibility and investment, creating a ripple effect that supports broader tourism growth.
ATM, the leading international travel and tourism event in Dubai, recently welcomed over 55,000 industry professionals from 166 countries, achieving 16 per cent year-on-year growth. The next edition is scheduled for May 4 to 7, 2026.