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Oman to deliver 700 new hotel rooms by year end with winter season expected to boost tourism recovery – Cavendish Maxwell

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The Sultanate of Oman is set to deliver 700 new hotel rooms between now and the end of 2026, taking total inventory to 40,800 keys, according to leading real estate advisory and hospitality property consultancy, Cavendish Maxwell.

Oman opened 400 new rooms in H1 2026 – all in Q1 – amid reduced hospitality sector activity as regional travel disruptions affected international connectivity and tourism trade.

The Khareef and winter travel seasons will be key drivers in the country’s H2 hospitality performance, the company said.

Oman welcomed 992,000 guests at 3-5 star hotels in H1, down 13% on the same period last year. Airport passenger traffic declined 9.3% to 6.3 million, according to Cavendish Maxwell’s latest research, released in the run up to the 2026 edition of Future Hospitality Summit World.

Khalil Al Zadjali, Head of Oman at Cavendish Maxwell, said: “Oman’s hospitality sector entered H2 in a challenging environment. While the outlook remains sensitive to prevailing travel conditions, the July to December period typically accounts for a significant share of tourism activity, contributing 52% in hotel revenue and guest volumes last year.

“The recent Khareef season – Salalah’s peak tourism period – coupled with the upcoming winter months will indicate how effectively seasonal demand supports the wider market following the H1 disruption, which was most pronounced in the second quarter. Government and tourism sector initiatives – such as international promotions and partnerships with airlines and travel trade partners – should also help strengthen demand.”

Revenues and room rates

Oman’s 3-5 star hotels generated OMR124.2 million (US$322.7 million) in total revenue in H1, down around 12% against H1 2025. Revenue growth was strong at the beginning of the year, increasing nearly 27% year-on-year in January and almost 9% in February, before declining from March. Following the sharpest contraction in April, when revenues fell 64.5% compared to the previous April, the pace of decline moderated in May and June, at around 28% and 15.5% respectively.

Room revenue was down 11% to OMR74 million (US$192 million), with other revenue declining by 13% to OMR50.2 million (US$130.4 million). The decline in ‘other’ revenue is partly because domestic and regional travellers typically spend less per stay than long-haul visitors, Cavendish Maxwell said.

Average room rates (ARR) followed a similar pattern, with a robust start to the year before weakening in Q2. ARR was up nearly 19% year-on-year in January at OMR58.3 (US$151.6), and more than 20% in February to almost OMR61 (US$158.4). March was on a par with March 2025.

The sharpest ARR decline (around 43%) came in April but, by May, it had partially recovered, increasing more than 8% year-on-year to OMR43.7 (US$113.6) as Eid Al Adha boosted travel demand.

Occupancy

Occupancy rates across Oman averaged 46.3% in H1, down more than half compared to the same period last year. Again, performance was impressive in January and February, with occupancy around 70%, before dropping from March. The decline was most acute in Q2 as regional tensions weighed in on international travel and, while domestic visitors provided some support, it was not enough to compensate for the overall decline in visitors.

Guest volumes and source markets

After a January year-on-year increase of 7.3% in guests, volumes declined monthly, reflecting air disruption across the Gulf. The steepest drop was in April (43%), but performance picked up again in May, when the decline narrowed to 2.6% as conditions normalised and Eid Al Adha supported travel demand.

Omani nationals represented the biggest source market in H1, with 396,000 guests accounting for almost 40% of all visitors – a rise of 3.1% on the same period last year. Europeans (247,000) took second place, at 25%, but their numbers were down 31% compared to last year. With 163,000 visitors, Asians made up 16%, with a marginal year-on-year increase of 0.6%.

Most other source markets saw lower year-on-year guest volumes, with the GCC down 17%, other Arab countries down 15%, the Americas down 22%, Africa 10% and Oceania 61%.

Employment

Hospitality sector employment among Omani citizens rose 3.4% in H1, while total employment in the industry declined 2.7% year-on-year. At the end of June, the sector had just under 10,500 employees.

New supply

After delivering 400 new rooms in H1 – all between January and March – Oman is set to bring another 700 to the market by December 2026. A further 1,500 are scheduled in 2027 and 1,600 in 2028, taking total Oman room inventory to 43,900 by end of 2028.

Khalil Al Zadjali added: “Total room supply will reach 40,800 by the end of 2026 – less than the 41,400 previously anticipated because some projects have been rescheduled to next year. The upcoming, phased pipeline should help manage near-term supply growth, but the pace of visitor recovery will be key to the absorption of new capacity. With a limited number of keys coming in the near future, supply growth is unlikely to be a major constraint in the short term. However, the larger pipeline from next year and into 2028 will be more dependent on the recovery in visitor demand.”

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Keeta Kicks Off the First Keeta Karnival Across All Seven Emirates

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Keeta, the international on-demand food delivery platform, is kicking off Keeta Karnival, marking the first edition of its signature food celebration in the UAE. Running from 15 October to 31 October 2026, the campaign will connect customers with thousands of restaurants across all seven emirates through special offers, limited-time deals, competitions and on-ground experiences.

True to its promise of “Epic Deals, Endless Cravings”, Keeta Karnival invites customers to explore more of the UAE’s food scene, from neighbourhood favourites to restaurants they have yet to try. During the peak promotional period from 15 to 31 October, customers can enjoy discounts of up to 50% at participating restaurants, while restaurant partners gain more ways to reach new customers.

“Food brings people together in the UAE, and the variety of restaurants here is remarkable,” said Lucas Xie, General Manager of Keeta UAE. “Keeta Karnival is our way of celebrating that variety, giving customers more reasons to try something new while helping participating restaurants reach new audiences. As we enter our second year in the UAE, the campaign reflects our long-term commitment to the customers and restaurant partners we serve across the country.”

More ways to discover and enjoy

The campaign’s offers are brought together in the Keeta Karnival hub within the Keeta app. Keeta Around You will spotlight curated restaurant picks across UAE cities, with up to 50% off at participating restaurants. Flash Deals will offer selected deals at AED 19 with free delivery, Monday to Friday between 2:30 pm and 5:30 pm.

From 18 to 31 October, Keeta Week – The Karnival Edition will offer 50% off the full menu, including promotional items, plus free delivery at participating restaurants. The celebration also takes to the skies with Keeta Drone, extending the Karnival promotion to its service areas in Dubai Silicon Oasis. Customers at Dubai Land, Rochester Institute of Technology, Dubai and Dubai Silicon Oasis Headquarters can enjoy the campaign’s offers through drone delivery, bringing together food discovery, value and delivery innovation.

Every eligible order above AED 100 placed between 15 October and 14 November will also be automatically entered into a draw to have the chance to win a Jetour T2, with the winner to be announced on 16 November. Customers paying with eligible Emirates Islamic Visa cards can also save up to AED 20 on their orders until 1 November.

Bringing Keeta Karnival into the community

Alongside the in-app campaign, Keeta Karnival is coming to life across the UAE. At Global Village in Dubai, the Keeta booth at Happiness Plaza 2 will host games, voucher giveaways and restaurant sampling over two weekends, 16–18 and 23–25 October. Over the opening weekend, visitors to Al Forsan Mall in Abu Dhabi can also join interactive games and win vouchers.

By combining restaurant discovery with experiences beyond the app, Keeta Karnival gives participating restaurants more ways to connect with customers, building on Keeta’s presence across all seven emirates and its long-term commitment to the UAE’s food scene.

Keeta Karnival runs from 15 October to 31 October 2026. Customers can explore participating restaurants, offers and activities in the Keeta Karnival hub in the Keeta app, available on the App Store and Play Store.

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AL RAHA BEACH RESORT & SPA ABU DHABI INTRODUCES FOUR NEW EXPERIENCES TO ENJOY THIS SEASON

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As the cooler months arrive, Al Raha Beach Resort & Spa, Abu Dhabi is giving residents and visitors four new reasons to step out and enjoy the season. With a line-up of experiences across Black Pearl, La Piscine and Azur Restaurant, guests can look forward to everything from lively ladies’ nights and golden-hour gatherings to relaxed al fresco evenings and sophisticated jazz nights, with packages starting from just AED 85 per person.

Black Pearl Ladies’ Night – Every Tuesday, Starting 20 October

Tuesday evenings are getting a little more exciting at Black Pearl with the introduction of its new Ladies’ Night. Perfect for catching up with friends or enjoying a midweek evening out, the experience brings together good company, a lively atmosphere and a little midweek indulgence. For AED 85 per person, ladies can enjoy free-flowing house beverages accompanied by a bar bites platter, making it an ideal excuse to gather the girls and enjoy the evening. The offer is available every Tuesday from 7 PM to 10 PM.

La Piscine Sundowners – Every Friday, Starting 16 October

Friday evenings are all about golden-hour moments at La Piscine. As the sun begins to set, guests can unwind by the pool, enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and ease into the weekend with refreshing drinks and delicious bites. Priced at AED 99 per person, the Sundowners package includes two selected drinks and a bar bites platter, offering a laid-back way to enjoy Abu Dhabi’s cooler evenings. The offer is available every Friday from 5 PM to 7 PM.

Jazz Nights at Black Pearl – Every Thursday, Starting 22 October

For those who enjoy a more sophisticated evening, Black Pearl introduces Jazz Nights, bringing together smooth jazz, whiskey and cigars in an intimate setting. Whether it’s an after-work gathering or a relaxed night out, the experience offers a refined way to unwind as the week draws to a close. Priced at AED 99 per person, the package includes two selected drinks and one selected cigar. Jazz Nights take place every Thursday from 7 PM to 10 PM.

Azur Al Fresco Aperitivo – Every Saturday, Starting 17 October

With the return of outdoor dining season, Azur Restaurant invites guests to embrace the Italian tradition of aperitivo with its new Al Fresco Aperitivo experience. Designed for leisurely early evenings, the offering is perfect for catching up with friends, enjoying the pleasant weather and unwinding over drinks and light bites. For AED 99 per person, guests can enjoy two selected drinks accompanied by an antipasti platter. The experience is available every Saturday from 5 PM to 7 PM.

With these four new offerings, Al Raha Beach Resort & Spa Abu Dhabi brings together a variety of experiences to suit every occasion. Whether it’s a midweek ladies’ night, a relaxed Friday sundowner, an evening of jazz or a Saturday aperitivo, the resort offers plenty of ways to make the most of the season.

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From the MICHELIN Stage to Delhi Street Food: Chef Pradeep Khullar and Saubhagi Veer Launch One Dish Venture – Bhaturewala in Dubai

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After years of building restaurant experiences and working in Dubai’s fine-dining hospitality industry, Chef Pradeep Khullar and Saubhagi Veer have partnered up to turn their attention to their own passion venture, Bhaturewala — a focused One-Dish food concept dedicated to the flavours of Delhi.

Following Chef Pradeep Khullar and Saubhagi Veer work at Nazaara, which was selected for the MICHELIN Guide Dubai 2026, the duo are embracing something deliberately simpler: bringing Delhi-style chole bhature and mutton bhature to Dubai through a takeaway and car-dining concept built around a love for the food, rather than an expansive restaurant format. Opening on Friday, October 16, at Shop 7, Lamcy A Building in Oud Metha, Bhaturewala will serve a tightly focused menu featuring Bhature in two signature flavours – Chole & Mutton accompanied by lassi. There will be no sprawling menu, conventional dining room or full-service restaurant setup. Instead, the focus will remain firmly on the food, with customers able to collect their orders or enjoy them in their cars.

The concept will operate on Friday evenings and on Saturday and Sunday mornings and evenings, with a limit of just 200 plates per day.

For Khullar, the venture is a personal tribute to the city where his culinary journey and love for food took shape.

“Delhi is not just where I grew up; it is a part of who I am as a chef. Some of my strongest food memories are rooted in the streets, neighbourhoods and flavours of that city. Having spent years cooking in fine dining, I wanted to bring something much more personal to Dubai — a little piece of the Delhi I know and love, right here in the neighbourhood I call home. Bhaturewala is my way of sharing those memories through food that is honest, familiar and full of character. It’s not about reinventing Delhi street food; it’s about doing justice to it,” said Chef Pradeep Khullar, Co-founder of Bhaturewala.

For Veer, whose experience spans restaurant leadership and brand building, the opportunity lay in creating something distinctive in a city where chole bhature is already widely available.

“Dubai already has plenty of places serving chole bhature, and we never set out to be just another one. We wanted to build a concept around a simple belief: you don’t need a hundred things on a menu if you can do two things exceptionally well. Specialisation is at the heart of Bhaturewala — getting the food right, staying true to what we set out to serve, and making every plate count. The limited menu and 200-plate-a-day approach are deliberate. We want people to come to us because they know exactly what they’re coming for, and they know we care about getting it right. For us, this is about choosing focus over scale, and quality over quantity from day one,” added Saubhagi Veer, Co-founder of Bhaturewala.

The idea for Bhaturewala took shape after years of conversations, planning and the familiar refrain of kabhi toh karenge — someday, we will do it. The founders have now decided to take that step, building a business of their own on their own terms, alongside their established careers in hospitality.

The approach is intentionally uncomplicated: a focused menu, a limited number of plates, and a casual, neighbourhood-friendly way for customers to enjoy Delhi-inspired food without the ceremony of a traditional restaurant experience.

At its heart, Bhaturewala is guided by one simple thought: Dilli Se Direct, bringing a taste of Delhi to Dubai, straight from the city’s food traditions to the neighbourhood they call home.

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