Hospitality
MENA Hospitality Market Value Set to Top US$487 Billion by 2032 Amid Unprecedented Tourism Expansion
The value of MENA’s hospitality market is set to grow from US$310 billion in 2025 to more than US$487 billion by 2032, according to data released ahead of the Future Hospitality Summit – FHS World, Madinat Jumeirah Dubai, 27-29 October.
The travel and tourism sector is projected to contribute US$367 billion to the Middle East economy and support 7.7 million jobs this year, says the World Travel and Tourism Council. International visitor spending is expected to reach nearly US$194 billion, up nearly a quarter from 2019, pre-pandemic levels, with domestic spending forecast to hit US$113 billion.
As of Q2 2025, the Middle East’s hotel construction pipeline reached an all-time high of 650 projects with 161,574 rooms. At the end of June, 337 projects, with almost 86,500 rooms, were under construction, with 147 projects due to start by Q2 2026.
Saudi Arabia tops the Middle Eastern hotel construction chart, with more than 92,000 rooms across 342 projects. Next is Egypt with 127 projects and a record-high room count of over 28,000, followed by the UAE with 100 projects (25,470 rooms); Oman with 27 projects (4,709 keys) and Qatar with 16 projects (nearly 3,500 rooms).
The unprecedented hospitality, tourism and infrastructure expansion reinforces the region’s position as a global magnet for investment, say experts.
Amr El Nady, Head of Hotels & Hospitality MEA and Managing Director, Global Hotel Desk at Jones Lang Lasalle, said: “Saudi Arabia is targeting 150 million tourist arrivals annually by 2030, while Egypt aims for 30 million international visitors by 2028. Both nations are seeking to significantly increase tourism’s contribution to their GDP, with KSA targeting 10% and Egypt 15%. This strategic focus is driving substantial hospitality investment, with mega-projects like NEOM, The Red Sea Project, and AlUla in KSA, alongside Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, Ras Al Hekma, South Med and Red Sea developments.
“The surge in development creates opportunities for both major international hotel operators and boutique brands to diversify their portfolios by introducing new concepts ranging from ultra-luxury desert resorts to culturally immersive heritage properties. The diversification strategy allows operators to cater to evolving traveller preferences while supporting the countries’ objectives of transforming their economies through sustainable tourism growth and positioning themselves as premier global destinations.”
JLL added that liquidity in the hotel investment landscape remains remarkably robust, underpinned by resilient hotel trading performance and increasing tourist arrivals. Performance data shows year on year growth in terms occupancy and ADR metrics, reflecting the sector’s operational strength and market confidence.
Amr El Nady added: “This strong performance has significantly enhanced appetite from regional and international investors – from high-net-worth individuals to institutional players – all seeking high-yielding, income-generating hotel assets and mixed-use developments, particularly across the UAE market. The region’s investment appeal continues to attract diverse capital sources drawn to its strategic positioning and growth potential.
“Last year, JLL forecasted US$1.2 billion in Dubai hotel transactions, and current market activity indicates we are on track to exceed this milestone, further demonstrating sustained investor confidence.”
In the UAE, Dubai’s hospitality sector – which has around 10,000 new rooms on the way between now and 2027 – continues to deliver an outstanding performance, according to the hospitality division at leading real estate advisory group and property consultant, Cavendish Maxwell.
“Occupancy levels rose to 81% in H1 2025, an increase of 2.5% year-on-year,” said Vidhi Shah, Director, Head of Commercial Valuation at Cavendish Maxwell. “Meanwhile ADR across Dubai’s hotels and resorts reached US$159, up 4.7%. With its hospitality sector continuing to lead the way in setting new benchmarks in safety, inclusivity and connectivity, Dubai remains a premium, global destination for leisure and business travellers, in turn opening up a plethora of new investment opportunities.”
Oman is also increasingly becoming a hot spot for hospitality investment, with tourism expected to contribute 5% to GDP by 2030 and 10% by 2040 – and overtake transport and logistics to become the country’s second most important industry after hydrocarbons.
Oman is set to boost hotel room inventory by 25% by 2030, with 9,600 new keys on the way in the next five years, and 2,600 by the end of 2025, recent insight from Cavendish Maxwell shows. In H1 this year, more than 1.1 million guests checked in to 3-5 hotels, where revenues rose more than 18% to US$367 million. The strong performance led to almost 5% growth in hospitality employment, with 10,800 people now working in the industry.
The Middle East’s continued growth in tourism and hospitality is being further boosted by various government campaigns and initiatives across the region to encourage investment, international visits and business set up.
In KSA, upcoming global events like Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034 are boosting already strong demand for real estate, including project in the hospitality sector. In addition, from January 2026, foreigners will be able to purchase real estate assets in designated zones – a landmark development set to further deepen investor appetite.
Investment and real estate is a key track at FHS World, with more than 30 presentations, panel debates, workshops and one-to-one conversations covering everything from smart capital to sustainability and investment, cross border strategies to building global partnerships, investing in mixed-use projects and much more. Visit futurehospitality.com/world/agenda for subjects and speakers across the three-day programme.
Hospitality
MÖVENPICK HOTEL BUR DUBAI – DECEMBER FESTIVE LISTINGS
A Very Merry Light-Up – Tree Lighting Ceremony

Welcome the festive season with Mövenpick’s enchanting Tree Lighting Ceremony, where glowing lights, carols, and joyful moments create the perfect start to December. Guests can enjoy a live choir, Santa meet & greet, kids’ giveaways, and a cheerful raffle draw, while adults savour festive canapés and beverages. With magical snow moments and charming décor, it’s an evening designed to bring families together in the spirit of the holidays.
The lobby at Mövenpick Bur Dubai is known for its welcoming warmth and elegant ambiance, making it the perfect gathering place for families to come together and celebrate the start of the festive season. Its open, bright layout brings a sense of harmony and connection to every moment.
Date & Time: 5th December | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Venue: Lobby | For more information, please call +971 04 336 6000 or +971 50 210 6033
Santa’s Sweet Stop at Fountain Café
A holiday favourite returns, Mövenpick’s Christmas Plum Cake, baked with love and steeped in tradition. Made with plump fruits, warm spices, and a rich, buttery crumb, each cake captures the essence of the season in every slice. Whether you’re gifting it to loved ones, bringing it to a festive gathering, or simply enjoying it at home, it brings a sense of warmth and nostalgia to any holiday table.
Families often return year after year for this much-loved treat, a symbol of togetherness, celebration, and the comforting tastes that make the season special.
Fountain Café offers a cozy, elegant setting at the heart of the hotel, making it the perfect spot for guests to gather, savour seasonal treats, and enjoy relaxed moments with family during the festive season.
Date: 1st–31st December | Venue: Fountain Café | For more information, please call +971 04 336 6000 or +971 50 210 6033
Turkey Takeaway – A Festive Feast at Home

Celebrate the holidays in the comfort of home with Mövenpick’s lovingly prepared Turkey Takeaway, a heartwarming feast designed to bring families together around the table. Each turkey is seasoned, roasted, and paired with classic trimmings, creating a centerpiece that invites storytelling, laughter, and meaningful moments shared with the people who matter most.
Perfect for intimate gatherings, extended family dinners, or festive hosting, this takeaway offering allows you to enjoy restaurant-quality flavours without the stress of preparation freeing you to focus on connection, togetherness, and the joy of the season.
Mövenpick Bur Dubai is celebrated for its culinary craftsmanship rooted in Swiss hospitality. Every festive dish reflects a dedication to flavour, harmony, and creating memorable family moments that bring people closer together.
Date: 24th November – 30th December | Extra: Free delivery within Oud Metha | For more information: +971 04 336 6000 | +971 50 210 6033
Art of Brunch: Holly Jolly Feast – Christmas Saturdays

Every Saturday in December, families are invited to step into a joyful world of festive magic at Mövenpick’s Holly Jolly Feast. This heartwarming brunch brings the spirit of the holiday season to life with mouth-watering roasts, colourful live stations, and decadent desserts that delight young and old alike.
Children can enjoy unforgettable moments with Santa, experience gentle snow flurries, bounce through the day on the bouncy castle, and decorate gingerbread houses while parents relax to cheerful entertainment and savour time together.
A celebration crafted for families, filled with laughter, festive flavours, and memories that will be cherished long after the decorations come down.
The Fountain Restaurant is designed with families in mind, offering generous space, warm lighting, and interactive live stations that bring a sense of excitement and connection to every meal. It’s a venue where celebrations feel personal, joyful, and truly memorable.
Dates & Time: Saturdays, 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th December | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Venue: The Fountain Restaurant | Info: +971 04 336 6000 | +971 50 210 6033
Jingle Roast Sunday at Garden Lounge

Make Sundays extra special this December with Mövenpick’s Jingle Roast Sunday, a comforting, family-friendly gathering that celebrates the joy of slowing down together. Enjoy a beautifully prepared roast with all the festive trimmings, golden potatoes, rich gravies, seasonal vegetables, and indulgent desserts, all served in a relaxed open-air setting.
Live music adds warmth to the atmosphere, while children enjoy a heartwarming Santa meet & greet and receive festive giveaways. It’s a laid-back, wholesome afternoon designed to bring families closer and create holiday memories that last a lifetime.
Garden Lounge is a beloved open-air escape where families can relax together under soft lighting and a welcoming atmosphere. Its spacious setting features a massive screen for live matches and sports, making it perfect for fans and families alike, and it also offers a full shisha menu for guests who want to unwind in comfort.
Dates & Time: Sundays, 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th December | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Venue: Garden Lounge | Info: +971 04 336 6000 | +971 50 210 6033
Winter Wonderland Christmas Eve Dinner

Gather with family and friends for a heartwarming Christmas Eve celebration at The Fountain Restaurant, transformed into a festive wonderland for the night. Enjoy a beautifully curated buffet of seasonal favourites, international dishes, and sweet holiday indulgences that bring comfort and joy to every plate.
Children will delight in a magical visit from Santa, while gentle snow moments, festive music, and warm décor set the stage for a memorable evening. It’s an invitation to pause, come together, and embrace the harmony and togetherness that define Christmas Eve.
Known for its inviting décor and harmonious ambiance, The Fountain Restaurant provides an elegant yet comfortable setting for family celebrations. It’s a place where festive traditions come alive and cherished moments are created around every table.
Date & Time: 24th December | 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Venue: The Fountain Restaurant | Info: +971 04 336 6000 | +971 50 210 6033
Grand Christmas Day Brunch

Create meaningful Christmas memories with a joyful family brunch at Mövenpick, where delicious food, festive entertainment, and warm hospitality come together in perfect harmony. Enjoy a lavish buffet of roasts, global dishes, vibrant live stations, and festive desserts, all designed to bring families closer through shared flavour and celebration.
Children will enjoy Snow Time moments, Santa giveaways, face painting, a bouncy castle, and holiday activities, while parents relax to live music and the joyful spirit of Christmas. It’s everything the holiday should be, loving, lively, and unforgettable.
With its bright festive décor and family-friendly layout, The Fountain Restaurant offers the perfect environment for joyful Christmas gatherings. Its warm atmosphere encourages connection, shared experiences, and celebratory moments that last long beyond the holiday.
Date & Time: 25th December | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Venue: The Fountain Restaurant | Info: +971 04 336 6000 | +971 50 210 6033
New Year’s Eve Glitter Gala

Welcome the new year surrounded by loved ones at Mövenpick’s dazzling New Year’s Eve Glitter Gala. Enjoy a spectacular night filled with a lavish buffet, vibrant bar offerings, and an impressive lineup of entertainment including a live DJ, band, belly dancer, and Tanoura show.
The evening is designed for families and friends to celebrate side by side, sharing laughter, music, and hopeful anticipation for the year ahead. As the countdown begins, raise a glass together and welcome 2026 with harmony, joy, and unforgettable memories.
The Fountain Restaurant’s elegant design and celebratory ambiance make it the ideal destination for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve. Here, families come together to enjoy exceptional dining, joyful music, and meaningful moments as they welcome a new year in harmony.
Date & Time: 31st December | 7:30 PM onwards | Venue: The Fountain Restaurant | Info: +971 04 336 6000 | +971 50 210 6033
Hospitality
HOUSE OF HYPE DUBAI JUST FLIPPED THE HOLIDAYS, UNVEILS THE WINTER WONDERVERSE
This festive season, House of Hype, Dubai Mall’s most spectacular immersive mega-experience, turns the holidays upside down with The Winter Wonderverse, a surreal festive universe that only Dubai could dream up.
Running from December 13 – 28, 2025, The Winter Wonderverse @ House of Hype delivers a larger-than-life remix of holiday classics across the park’s 25 immersive worlds. Expect glowing snow, dancing lights, spontaneous performances, mischievous elf photobooths, chaotic parades, and snacks almost too cute to eat — all crafted to surprise, delight, and spark unforgettable shared moments.
But this isn’t nostalgia, and it’s definitely not the winter village you’ve visited five times before. This is House of Hype in Dubai! Where everything is bigger, wilder, brighter, and far more fun.
A Holiday Universe, One Wild World at a Time
From the moment you step inside, you’re not entering a venue, you’re crossing into a surreal festive season multiverse. One minute you’re inside a shimmering snow globe where neon snow falls around you, the next, you’re being pulled into an elf transformation photobooth where the “elves” are a little too enthusiastic and definitely up to mischief.
Turn a corner and suddenly a world-hopping parade bursts through the space, sweeping you into a swirl of bold characters, dancers, glitchy holiday creatures, and spontaneous performances that feel like they jumped out of a fever dream.
Blending humor, fantasy, nostalgia, and hypersaturated design, The Winter Wonderverse @ House of Hype is for people who want their holidays to feel anything but ordinary, families, friends, creators, travelers, and anyone chasing a festive escape with a twist.
Festive Highlights:
Inspired by House of Hype’s signature mega-experience DNA, here’s what guests can expect:
- Glowing Snow & Dancing Lights: A surreal holiday landscape perfect for unforgettable photo and video moments.
- Elf Transformation Photobooths: Snap, record, and instantly drop into the Winter Wonderverse storyline with playful, social-ready content.
- World-Hopping Parades & Outrageous Performances: A spontaneous cast brings the universe to life through bold interactions and unexpected spectacle.
- A Surprise Treat Awaits Anyone in Ugly Sweaters: Show up to Dubai’s most chaotic holiday showdown, loud, fun, and delightfully unhinged.
- Cute Holiday Snacks & Limited-Edition Treats: Delicious, highly Instagrammable snacks curated by Michelin-starred culinary talent.
House of Hype invites guests on a 60–90 minute adventure through Dubai Mall’s full-scale City of Dreams, a joyful mega-experience built from the brightest corners of digital pop culture. Across 25 surreal, interactive zones, visitors drift through neon Tokyo nights, K-Pop stages, shimmering Bollywood energy, robotic light shows, projection domes, hidden pathways, exclusive shopping, and limited-edition global snacks. With live performances, AI-powered photo moments, and unexpected worlds opening at every turn, every visit becomes a journey to dream big, live loud, and have fun.
Hospitality
SOFITEL THE OBELISK CELEBRATES CHEF IMPIAZZI’S 2025 BERNACHES AWARD
Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk is proud to announce that Executive Chef Russell Impiazzi has been honored with a 2025 Bernaches Award, Accor’s highest global recognition celebrating innovation, creativity, and the transformative spirit of Heartists®.
Now in their thirty-fifth year, the Bernaches Awards spotlight outstanding initiatives across the Group. This year, an international jury reviewed 48 projects selected from 260 applications representing nearly 50 countries, ultimately naming 23 winners for their impact and forward-thinking approach. Chef Russell was recognised for his exceptional contribution to sustainability within Accor and the wider hospitality industry.
“We are immensely proud of Chef Russell’s recognition at the 2025 Bernaches Awards,” said Haytham Omar, Managing Director of Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk. “His dedication to sustainability, innovation, and culinary excellence represents the very best of our brand and our Heartists®. His actions continue to inspire our guests, and the wider industry.”
A Leader in Responsible Gastronomy
As Executive Chef of Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk since 2020, he brings more than 30 years of international culinary expertise to the hotel’s five dining destinations. His commitment to zero food waste, carbon-neutral menus, and locally sourced ingredients has redefined responsible luxury at the hotel. Under his stewardship, the hotel has achieved Green Key certification and Dubai Sustainable Tourism’s Gold Tier, firming its position as a regional sustainability leader.
An Award-Winning Sustainability Project
Chef Russell’s winning project demonstrates measurable impact across the UAE’s sustainability landscape. Highlights include zero-waste kitchens with “no bin days,” carbon-neutral menus, expanded plant-based options, community collaboration with the UAE Food Bank, and 30% local sourcing, targeted to reach 35% by year-end.
His influence extends beyond the hotel, inspiring more than 1,000 students through his “Veg Pledge,” supporting Farm-to-Table education programs, and contributing to national initiatives such as NE’MA, the UAE’s Food Loss and Waste Initiative. His leadership has also earned him recognition as a Sustainability Champion of the year by Gault & Millau (2023) and The Caterer (2024).
Chef Russell’s work reflects Accor’s vision for bold, purpose-driven hospitality—creating meaningful change for teams, communities, and the planet. Learn more about Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk’s Commitment to Sustainability.
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