Saudi Arabia is embarking on a massive hospitality expansion, planning to add 362,000 new hotel rooms by 2030 as part of its $110 billion tourism investment strategy, according to data from the Future Hospitality Summit 2025.

The expansion comes as the Kingdom prepares to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh and the FIFA World Cup 2034, aligning with Vision 2030’s goal of attracting 70 million international visitors annually.

Future Hospitality Summit 2025

The Future Hospitality Summit 2025, set for May 11–13 at the Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah in Riyadh, will bring together global industry leaders, investors, and policymakers to discuss opportunities within Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding tourism landscape.

Key topics include:

• Investment Opportunities – identifying new areas for growth within the hospitality sector.
• Government Incentives – exploring regulatory and financial support for investors.
• Innovation in Hospitality – focusing on digital transformation and guest experience enhancements.
• A Growing Economic Force

Saudi Arabia’s hospitality sector contributed SAR 444.3 billion to the national GDP in 2023 — roughly 11.5% of the economy. Between January and October 2024, hotel revenue reached $5.6 billion, a 3.5% year-on-year increase and 26.5% higher than 2019, reflecting robust post-pandemic growth.

Expanding the Holy Cities

The Holy Cities of Makkah and Madinah remain at the heart of the Kingdom’s tourism plans, with 221,000 new hotel rooms expected by 2030 to meet rising demand for religious tourism. The government anticipates 30 million religious tourists by 2025, growing to 50 million by 2030.

Rua Al Madinah

Launched in 2022, the Rua Al Madinah project spans 1.5 million square meters — 63% of which is dedicated to open and green spaces — and will deliver 47,000 hotel rooms. The development is projected to contribute SAR 140 million ($37.3 million) to GDP and generate 93,000 jobs.

Key hospitality brands include:

• Accor (Fairmont, Swissôtel, Novotel)
• Marriott International (Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, Westin, Le Méridien, Four Points, Aloft, Courtyard)

Masar Makkah & Jabal Omar

Makkah’s transformation continues with Masar Destination, a $666 million development by Umm Al-Qura for Development and Construction, and the Jabal Omar Project, valued at SAR 8 billion, featuring 15 hotels overlooking Al Masjid Al Haram.

New openings include:

• Jumeirah Jabal Omar Hotel – Dubai’s Jumeirah Group’s debut in Saudi Arabia
• Address Jabal Omar – home to the Sky Musallah, the world’s highest prayer room at 483 meters, overlooking the Holy Kaaba

The Voco Makkah, the world’s largest property under IHG’s Voco brand, adds 4,321 rooms, further strengthening the city’s hospitality portfolio.

Thakher Makkah City

The $7 billion Thakher Makkah project covers 320,000 square meters, just 1 km from Masjid Al-Haram, featuring 100 plots for hotels, residences, and commercial spaces. Global hotel partners include Radisson, Park Inn, and Novotel.

Ultra-Luxury Tourism Destinations

NEOM

The futuristic $1 trillion NEOM megacity will feature high-end hotels, including:
Four Seasons Sindalah Island, Raffles Trojena, JW Marriott Trojena, Anantara Resort Trojena, and W Hotel Trojena, among others.

The Red Sea

The Red Sea Project, covering 28,000 sq km, is introducing world-class resorts and has already opened five luxury hotels — Six Senses Southern Dunes, St. Regis Red Sea Resort, Ritz-Carlton Reserve Nujuma, Desert Rock, and Shebara Resort.

Upcoming openings include Four Seasons AMAALA, Fairmont Red Sea, Rosewood Amaala, Miraval The Red Sea, and Clinique La Prairie Health Resort.

Diriyah

The $63 billion Diriyah Giga Project, set to feature 42 luxury hotels and 100+ restaurants, will transform the historic city into a global hospitality hub. Brands include Ritz-Carlton, Raffles, Armani, Faena, Rosewood, and Six Senses.

Riyadh: A New Capital of Hospitality

Riyadh is experiencing a surge of luxury openings as it positions itself as a global business and tourism center.

Recently Opened

• Hilton Riyadh Olaya – 239 luxury rooms and multiple fine-dining options.
• Novotel Riyadh Sahafa – 232 rooms managed by Accor’s first female Saudi GM, Hessa Al Mazroa.

Upcoming Developments

• Red Palace Boutique Hotel – Boutique Group’s heritage project, opening in 2026.
• TRIBE & TRIBE Living – Accor’s first in the Middle East, within King Salman Park.
• Radisson Collection Residence Hotel – 5-star luxury on King Fahad Road.
• W Riyadh – opening in 2025 at KAFD.
• Regent Riyadh KAFD & InterContinental KAFD – by IHG Hotels & Resorts, debuting 2027.
• Rotana Hotels – expanding to 16 properties and 4,400 rooms across the Kingdom.

Driving Forces Behind the Boom

• Record Tourist Arrivals: 30 million international visitors in 2024, up from 27.4 million in 2023.
• Mega Events: Expo 2030, FIFA World Cup 2034, and Asian Winter Games 2029.
• Vision 2030: Diversification strategy targeting 70 million foreign visitors by 2030.

A Transformative Decade Ahead

With 362,000 new rooms, $110 billion in investment, and unprecedented global attention, Saudi Arabia is redefining luxury travel and religious tourism.

By combining innovation, sustainability, and cultural authenticity, the Kingdom is on track to become one of the world’s top hospitality destinations by 2030 — a new era for global tourism led from the heart of the Middle East.

Gulf Air has announced the continuation of its temporary network via Dammam, extending operations to various international destinations through April 2026. Travel arrangements between Bahrain and Dammam will be provided for confirmed passengers.

Gulf Air has confirmed that its temporary Dammam network will continue operating through April 2026. Key extensions include:

• Paris (CDG): Operations extended until 5 April 2026
• London Heathrow (LHR): Operations extended until 11 April 2026
• Mumbai (BOM), Nairobi (NBO), Cairo (CAI), Chennai (MAA), Bangkok (BKK), Manila (MNL), Casablanca (CMN), Frankfurt (FRA): Operations extended until 30 April 2026

Passengers with confirmed bookings will be provided transportation between Bahrain and Dammam. Gulf Air will also facilitate Saudi transit visas for travelers connecting to Saudi Arabia via the airline’s arranged land transportation. Passengers whose final destination is Saudi Arabia are required to hold a valid visa independently.

Gulf Air advises passengers not to proceed to their departure station without a confirmed ticket. Flights to and from Bahrain International Airport remain temporarily suspended.

Spain has prohibited United States military aircraft involved in the ongoing Iran conflict from using its airspace, a move that highlights growing friction between Washington and European allies.

Defence Minister Margarita Robles confirmed that neither Spanish military bases nor national airspace would be available for operations connected to the war. She described the conflict, initiated by the US and Israel about a month ago, as both “illegal” and “unjust,” reaffirming Madrid’s firm opposition.

The decision reinforces Spain’s position as one of Europe’s most vocal critics of the conflict and is expected to further strain relations with the administration of Donald Trump. Trump had earlier warned of a potential full trade embargo against Spain in response to its stance.

Spanish officials had already indicated that jointly operated US-Spain military bases would not be used in the campaign. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said the latest restriction aims to avoid contributing to any escalation.

Meanwhile, the White House suggested on Monday that the conflict could conclude within two weeks, provided Iran agrees to negotiations, warning that failure to do so would result in serious consequences.

Source: The Telegraph

Airlines across the globe are cancelling thousands of flights as the ongoing conflict in Iran pushes jet fuel prices to unprecedented levels, intensifying pressure on the aviation sector.

Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows that nearly one in every 20 scheduled flights was cancelled on Monday. This represents a sharp increase compared with the same period last year, reflecting growing strain on airline operations.

The surge in cancellations follows a dramatic rise in fuel costs. Jet fuel prices, which stood at $742 per metric tonne a year ago, have climbed beyond $1,710. The escalation is largely linked to supply disruptions caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route responsible for transporting roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil.

Crude oil markets have also reacted strongly, with Brent crude prices reaching as high as $116 per barrel during early trading on Monday. Analysts warn that refining jet fuel requires more crude oil than petrol or diesel, amplifying the impact of supply constraints on aviation fuel availability.

Concerns are now shifting from price increases to potential shortages. According to a report by the Financial Times, the United Kingdom is expected to receive its final known shipment of jet fuel from the Middle East this week.

Aviation analyst Alex Macheras cautioned that multiple markets could face severe fuel shortages within days, including major European airport hubs. He indicated that some airports have begun advising airlines to prepare for scenarios where fuel may not be available.

The disruption is not confined to Europe. Airlines across Asia, Africa, and South America are implementing contingency plans, including additional refuelling stops, as the supply situation deteriorates.

Several carriers have already announced capacity reductions. Air New Zealand has cut 1,100 flights through early May, while Scandinavian airline group SAS plans to cancel 1,000 flights next month, primarily affecting domestic routes.

Meanwhile, Vietnam Airlines has warned it may reduce monthly flights by 10 to 20 percent next quarter if jet fuel prices reach between $160 and $200 per barrel. This could impact up to 18 percent of its international services and more than a quarter of its domestic operations.

In the United States, United Airlines has already reduced capacity by approximately 5 percent on less profitable routes, becoming the first major US carrier to take such measures in response to rising fuel costs.

Chief executive Scott Kirby said sustained high oil prices could increase the airline’s expenses by $11 billion, potentially forcing ticket prices to rise by around 20 percent to maintain profitability. He noted that fares have already increased by 15 to 20 percent in recent weeks, warning that higher prices are likely to dampen travel demand.

Kirby added that in a worst-case scenario, oil prices could climb to $175 per barrel and remain above $100 through 2027.

Beyond fuel-related challenges, the conflict has also disrupted travel across the Middle East. Major European carriers, including British Airways, Air France-KLM, and Lufthansa, have suspended multiple routes to and from the region.

Cirium data indicates that approximately 7,049 out of 104,618 scheduled flights—around 7 percent—were cancelled globally on Monday. By comparison, 4,797 out of 102,132 flights, or 4.7 percent, were cancelled on the same day last year.

The impact has been particularly severe in North America, where cancellations reached 14.6 percent of departing flights, significantly higher than the 4.4 percent recorded a year earlier.

Source: The Telegraph

Airfares from the United Arab Emirates have increased significantly in recent weeks, with travel agencies reporting average rises of 15 to 25 per cent. The surge is being linked to reduced flight schedules by regional carriers, a decline in international airline operations on key routes, and mounting operational expenses such as fuel and insurance.

Industry professionals say the price increase, while noticeable, has not dampened overall travel demand. Instead, it has led to changes in how passengers plan their journeys. Imtiaz Hussain Nasir, chief executive of Pinoy Tourism, noted that travellers are now more price-conscious, often comparing options carefully and booking earlier to avoid further increases. Flexibility with travel dates and routes has also become more common.

Recent travel disruptions have played a role in shaping demand patterns. Many passengers postponed trips rather than cancelling them, leading to a rebound in bookings as services resumed. This combination of delayed and new demand has placed additional pressure on available seats, contributing to higher fares.

Rashida Zahid, vice president of operations at musafir.com, said travellers are increasingly adopting strategic booking habits. According to her, most passengers now secure tickets around eight to ten days before departure, as prices tend to rise sharply within the final few days. While direct flights remain the preferred choice, more travellers are opting for indirect routes when the cost savings are substantial.

The limited presence of international carriers is another factor influencing prices. Rino Steephen, sales manager and partner at Azzam Travel and Tourism, explained that a large share of current flights is being operated by UAE-based airlines such as Emirates, Etihad, and Air India. Reduced competition, he said, is contributing to higher ticket costs.

Popular outbound destinations from the UAE include India, the Philippines, several African nations, Turkey, Thailand, Georgia, Armenia, Malaysia, Singapore, and major European cities such as London, Paris, Milan, and Barcelona.

Flight availability continues to play a critical role in pricing. With fewer direct options, many travellers are choosing longer, indirect journeys, sometimes at higher overall costs, to reach their destinations while managing budgets.

Experts also point to broader global pressures affecting the aviation sector, including rising fuel prices, increased insurance premiums, and operational risks. These factors are feeding into ticket pricing worldwide.

Despite higher fares, booking patterns vary depending on urgency. Some passengers continue to book immediately due to pressing travel needs, while others plan weeks in advance to secure more favourable rates. Airlines, meanwhile, are offering greater flexibility in ticket changes and cancellations to accommodate shifting travel plans.

Looking ahead, industry observers expect demand to remain strong. Nasir said travel activity is likely to recover steadily as operations stabilise, although fares may stay elevated on high-demand routes with limited capacity. Steephen added that while UAE carriers are operating without seat restrictions, the absence of more international airlines continues to shape pricing trends. Any easing of fares, he noted, will depend on how conditions evolve in the coming weeks.

Source: Khaleej Times

Qatar Airways has announced temporary delays in handling customer service requests, including refunds, citing a significant rise in demand. The airline said response and processing times may be longer than usual, while teams continue to work continuously to address all pending cases.

Under updated guidance, passengers holding confirmed bookings for travel between 28 February and 15 June 2026 are eligible to request either a full refund or a change of travel dates.

For customers with cancelled bookings, the airline clarified that if a booking cannot be retrieved through its system, it is likely already undergoing refund processing, and no further action is required. However, if the booking remains accessible, passengers may apply for a full refund or modify their travel dates. Any additional services purchased alongside tickets will be refunded separately after the main ticket refund is completed.

Passengers who still intend to travel can reschedule their journeys on Qatar Airways-operated flights up to 31 October 2026, subject to seat availability and fare conditions.

The airline noted that refunds will be issued to the original form of payment and may take up to 28 working days to complete. Customers can monitor the progress of their refund requests through the airline’s online tracking system.

For tickets booked through travel agents or third-party platforms, passengers have been advised to contact their original point of purchase to initiate refund requests.

Qatar Airways also directed customers to its official website for further assistance and updated information, including frequently asked questions.