Travel in city Dubai

Dubai is no stranger to building things and tearing them down, and one day, its global airport could meet the same fate.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Wednesday, May 8. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Immersive and unique travel experiences are big business. Especially when they take place in the desert: Two years ago the global desert tourism market was already valued at $178 billion. And it is predicted to reach $248.83 billion by 2031—a growth rate of 3.78% from 2023 to 2031.

A Taylor Swift tour is on Saudi Arabia’s radar. That’s not saying much of course – Swift is on every destination’s radar. But Saudi says such a concert could be in the country’s future if the wider Arabia does more to promote itself as a unified destination.

Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts is now just “Jumeirah” as the state-owned hospitality brand undergoes a rebrand. Jumeirah announced this on Tuesday at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), Dubai’s biggest travel tradeshow.

New Saudi Arabian carrier Riyadh Air plans to sell package holidays alongside its flight tickets. The government-funded airline is part of Saudi’s attempt to become a global aviation hub, boosting its tourism sector in the process.

You would think hot beverages would be unheard of in such a hot and humid country, but coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the Philippines. Nine out of 10 households have coffee in their pantries, and eight out of 10 adults in the country drink an average of 2.5 cups of coffee every day, according to the Philippine Coffee Board.

A Taliban-run institute is training tourism and hospitality professionals to attract visitors to Afghanistan.

Many Expedia Group websites in the U.S. and other locations around the world were down Sunday afternoon Eastern Daylight Time for at least several hours.

Dubai, situated in one of the world’s driest regions, was hit with a second bout of heavy rains and strong winds this week — just two weeks after the desert metropolis was covered in a year’s worth of rain in the span of 12 hours. 

Over the past 90 years three generations of the Cipriani family have developed their business into an international hospitality brand, with restaurants, landmarked event spaces, luxury residential, hotels and private membership clubs throughout the most prestigious cities in the world. Locations include Venice, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Monte Carlo, Ibiza, Mexico City, Dubai, Riyadh, Las Vegas and the upcoming Punta del Este, Milan, Jeddah, Istanbul and Doha.

Air India’s new flagship has made its debut on the international stage. On Wednesday night, Flight AI995 departed Delhi for Dubai, operated by an Airbus A350-900 for the first time. 

Are Saudi Arabia’s new tourism offerings too pricey? That’s the sentiment on the ground at the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) in Riyadh this week.

Ongoing conflict in the Red Sea has led Princess Cruises to revise its world cruise itineraries for the Island Princess and the Crown Princess, which were scheduled to sail there in 2025.

Dubai’s ruler and Prime Minister of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, today made a big announcement on social media platform X, declaring his approval of new passenger terminals at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), situated about 28 miles outside of Dubai. Construction is set to begin immediately.

Celestyal Cruises is expanding into the Middle East with new itineraries and new ports in the Arabian Gulf. 

Dubai confirmed Sunday it would be shifting its airport operations from the current Dubai International Airport to Al Maktoum International Airport “within the next 10 years.”

Etihad Airways' beloved Airbus A380 has returned to the US after four years. It landed at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport just after 10 a.m. on Monday after a more than 14-hour trek from Abu Dhabi.

Saudi Arabia plans to open the first region of its Neom megacity by the end of the year.

International policymakers and industry leaders are preparing to gather in the UAE for Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024, where they will examine how entrepreneurship and innovation are reshaping the global tourism industry. The 31st edition of the exhibition will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from Monday 6 to Thursday 9 May.

The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2024 Economic Impact Research (EIR) has revealed a record-breaking year for Travel & Tourism in the UAE, with new records achieved across key metrics including the sector’s GDP contribution, jobs and visitor spend.