Rails, ruins and crafts: Eight trends shaping Middle East travel

The Arabian Travel Market 2026 concluded on Thursday, highlighting the Middle East's travel industry is not merely recovering but accelerating. Online travel marketplace Wego's search data indicates that travelers continued planning trips despite airspace closures, emphasizing that it was the inability to fly, not reduced appetite, that limited destination performance.

Wego's chief executive, Ross Veitch, forecasted a 57% increase in international visitor spending across the Middle East by 2030. The trade show's Travel Trends Report outlines eight key trends shaping the region's travel landscape.

Firstly, there is a growing interest in rail journeys, with over a third of Wanderlust readers seeking such experiences, a figure that has nearly doubled in recent years due to the launch of Etihad Rail. A new luxury rail experience, Dream of the Desert, is set to launch in Saudi Arabia in 2027, offering a curated journey through unexplored terrain between Riyadh and the kingdom's north-west, complete with extinct volcanoes, oases, and UNESCO heritage sites.

Secondly, Egypt continues to dominate Wego's destination rankings, thanks to the Grand Egyptian Museum, which contributed to a 43.5% increase in inbound arrivals from January to March 2026. Al Fahidi Fort in Dubai, a historic building that has served multiple roles over the centuries, is set to reopen with a transformed visitor experience, including underground galleries, immersive audiovisual shows, and historical artefacts.

Thirdly, there is a rising trend of craft-led travel, particularly among Gen Z travelers. Bahrain's pearl-shucking stand received significant attention at ATM, and jewellery-making is being recognized as a driver for travel. Hotels across the region are incorporating craft workshops, such as weaving, pottery, and jewellery-making, into their activity menus.

Fourthly, the UAE Grand Tour launches in September, offering seven multi-day itineraries that stitch together the seven emirates into a single continuous journey. The Grand Classic and Grand Adventure programmes run for 11 days and 10 nights, while the Grand Eco Friendly and Grand Wellness routes focus on eco-friendly and wellness experiences, respectively.

Fifthly, Emirates airline has added Helsinki to its network, marking the first Nordic opening for the airline. Finland offers vast forests, thousands of lakes, a Nordic capital with world-class design credentials, and the opportunity to witness the Northern Lights. This launch comes as Emirates enters the winter season with about 93% of its pre-disruption capacity and strong forward bookings from several countries.

Lastly, Nepal has shown the largest single gain and highest ascent on Wego's leader board, climbing eight places. Emirates identifies Nepal as a key destination, served via its flydubai partnership.