Middle East Travel Roundup

Dubai's decision to open its doors to sanction-hit Russians has helped the emirate welcome a record number of visitors from the country.

As "record aircraft deliveries" make headlines in the Middle East and India market, the current supply chain constraints leave us wondering if the aircraft makers would be able to keep pace with the demand.

The sheer number of hotel openings in the region indicates that the Middle East is making sure that it has enough capacity to accommodate the growing number of tourists.

As Saudi Arabia looks to diversify its economy, the country is on a rapid urban expansion, ensuring that there's enough infrastructure to accommodate a growing number of tourists.

As countries in the Middle East set ambitious tourism targets for the future, Saudi Arabia is investing in infrastructure to drive numbers, while Dubai is investing in technology to adopt "Smart Gates" at Dubai airport and looking to make air taxis a reality.

Not satisfied with merely achieving pre-pandemic levels of tourism, Dubai has now set an ambitious goal of 40 million hotel guests in 2031.

From issuing the first tourist visa in September 2019 to the announcement of a free-of-charge four-day stopover transit visa for air travelers, Saudi Arabia has indeed come a long way. And then of course there's the target to attract 100 million tourists per year by 2030.

UNWTO may not be too far off the mark on its recovery prediction for the Middle East considering the number of hotel openings and new projects in the region. However, the road to recovery is fraught with economic and geopolitical risks.

It's interesting to note how each of Dubai's ambitious economic predictions rests on its tourism prowess and its ability to attract international visitors.

If being paid $100,000 for two months is not reason enough, American actor Kevin Hart lists out the reasons why he thinks being hired as Yas Island's ambassador is the "best job in the world."