Hospitality
ATM 2026 unveils new VIDEC research highlighting the growing influence of OTAs across Middle East travel
Online travel channels are set to play an increasingly important role in the UAE travel market’s recovery, with online air penetration forecast to rise to 52% by 2030, according to new research from VIDEC presented at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026.
VIDEC’s GCC & Egypt Travel Market Sizing & OTA Benchmarking Study, 2019–2030 examines the fastest-growing travel segments, market projections and distribution trends shaping the UAE and wider region, including the growing influence of online travel agencies (OTAs).
The research forecasts that the UAE air market, measured using a demand-side methodology based on bookings made at the local point of sale (POS), will reach US$6.5 billion by 2030, driven primarily by online channels and the recovery of corporate travel demand. Online penetration is forecast to increase from 42% in 2025 to 46% in 2026 and 52% by the end of the decade.
The findings also highlight the scale of the wider UAE aviation market. UAE airports handled approximately 160 million passengers in 2025, with low-cost carriers accounting for 35% of traffic. Passenger volumes among low-cost carriers increased by 81%, from 31 million in 2019 to 56 million in 2025, while network carriers carried 103 million passengers in 2025, compared with 97 million in 2019.
VIDEC also estimates the UAE to be the region’s largest air market in gross booking value (GBV) terms, valued at US$55 billion in 2025 across local and global points of sale.
Virendra Jain, CEO and Co-Founder of VIDEC, said: “The UAE’s travel market opened strong in 2026. Between 2023 and 2025, Emirati carriers recorded robust growth, particularly the low-cost carriers. That momentum carried into the first two months of 2026, after which the market saw significant setbacks.
“Capacity for full-service carriers remains 15–25% below pre-war levels, while low-cost carriers (LCCs) – local as well as the likes of Air India Express, flynas and IndiGo – are recovering faster and are expected to end 2026 closer to their 2025 capacity. Flying point-to-point and catering primarily to short-haul regional demand, LCCs are leading the rebound as this segment is the first to return.”
Competition within the OTA market is also intensifying. According to VIDEC, MakeMyTrip maintained its leadership of the UAE air OTA market in 2026, supported by the South Asian diaspora and higher fares, while Trip.com has grown rapidly to become the second-largest air OTA after entering the UAE market more recently. In the hotel OTA category, Booking.com and Agoda together account for approximately 70% of the market.
Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director – UAE, RX Global, said: “VIDEC’s findings demonstrate how technology and changing booking behaviour are reshaping the UAE travel market. As online penetration continues to increase, the relationship between travellers, OTAs and travel suppliers is evolving rapidly, creating opportunities for both established platforms and newer market entrants.
“Providing access to research of this depth, and bringing the findings together with perspectives from some of the world’s leading online travel businesses, is an important part of ATM’s role in helping the industry understand where the market is heading and identify the opportunities that will shape its next phase.”
Following the VIDEC research presentation, the changing competitive landscape was explored during The Future of OTAs in 30 Minutes, which brought together Ross Veitch, CEO, Wego; Raj Rishi Singh, Chief Business Officer – Corporate, Flights and GCC, MakeMyTrip; and Schubert Lou, CEO, Trip.com.
The panel examined the future role of OTAs as regional and global platforms compete for a greater share of the increasingly digital traveller journey. The discussion explored how evolving consumer expectations and new technologies are changing online travel, as well as the importance of localisation, customer experience and payments in building loyalty and capturing growth.
Taking place from 14–17 September 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre, the 33rd edition of Arabian Travel Market is being held under the theme ‘Travel 2040: Driving New Frontiers Through Innovation and Technology’, bringing the global travel community together to strengthen partnerships, exchange knowledge and explore the trends shaping the next era of tourism.
Concluding today, ATM is now in its 33rd edition and remains the leading international travel and tourism event in the Middle East, bringing together the global travel community to develop partnerships, share knowledge and explore new business opportunities across the sector.
Hospitality
Qatar Airways Unveils Onboard Signature Music Created in Partnership with Award-Winning Composer Hans Zimmer
Qatar Airways today unveiled its new onboard signature music, created in partnership with world-renowned composer Hans Zimmer.
Inspired by Qatar and its culture, Qatar Airways’ new onboard music brings a distinctive sound identity to the passenger experience through its collaboration with the iconic composition of Hans Zimmer. The music is also featured on the ‘Burgundy Symphony’ album, a bespoke five-track album that encapsulates the airline’s wider sound identity and signature sound elements.
The collaboration brings together Zimmer’s acclaimed cinematic storytelling and Qatar Airways’ commitment to delivering memorable experiences, creating a recognisable sound that reflects the emotions, moments and memories that define travel.
The launch was celebrated at Hans Zimmer’s highly-anticipated concert in Doha on 6 November, where audiences were given an exclusive first look at the story behind the collaboration through a specially created film on the creative process and inspiration behind Burgundy Symphony, alongside a preview of the music. Qatar Airways passengers can experience the new composition onboard from today.
The Burgundy Symphony album captures the rhythm of travel through five original tracks, each reflecting a different stage of the journey:
Dawn opens the collection with a sense of anticipation and possibility experienced when stepping beyond the daily routine and discovering new horizons.
Dusk reflects the tranquillity of flight as daylight fades and travellers are carried above the clouds beneath a sky illuminated by stars.
The Orchard introduces a restorative pause, inspired by moments of calm and reflection amidst the pace of everyday life. The inspiration for the composition is drawn from the sense of escape offered by the ORCHARD – one of Hamad International Airport’s most distinctive passenger experiences.
Homecoming reflects the quiet gift of returning home and the small but lasting ways travel enriches life. The track encapsulates the adventure continues beyond touchdown, with memories of places and skies keeping moments of wonder alive long after the journey ends.
An Ode to Qatar, concludes the album with a tribute to the nation’s rich heritage and forward-looking vision. The piece brings together a sense of history, culture, and ambition, reflecting a country where tradition and progress exist in harmony.
Following the unveiling, Burgundy Symphony is now available on the Qatar Airways YouTube channel, inviting audiences around the world to experience Hans Zimmer’s original compositions inspired by the journey of travel and the spirit of Qatar Airways.
Hospitality
Coral Beach Resort Sharjah Wins Sustain Sharjah Award for Second Year Running
Coral Beach Resort Sharjah has won the Sustain Sharjah award for Hotel Properties at the Sharjah International Travel and Tourism Forum 2026, organised by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA). This marks the resort’s second consecutive recognition under the initiative.
The accolade acknowledges the property’s progress at Level 2 of the programme’s Explorers journey, structured around four core pillars: Guest, Experience, Local, and Story. Across each pillar, the resort has prioritised measurable, practical measures that engage guests, support the surrounding community, and ensure transparent sustainability reporting.
Central to this achievement are three primary operational initiatives:
- Onsite water bottling plant: Replaces single-use plastics with reusable glass bottles, eliminating approximately 300,672 plastic bottles annually.
- Winnow AI food-waste system: Weighs and monitors kitchen waste in real time, enabling culinary teams to curb excess directly at source.
- Onsite biodigester: Installed in 2026, making the property the first hotel in Sharjah to process organic waste entirely on site.
Commenting on the achievement, Iftikhar Hamdani, Area General Manager of Coral Beach Resort Sharjah, said: “Securing the Sustain Sharjah award for the second consecutive year is an honour for our entire team. Initiatives such as our water bottling plant, AI-driven waste monitoring, and onsite biodigester reflect our daily operational commitment—one shared with our guests, partners, and the local community. We thank the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority for this recognition and for their steady leadership in advancing sustainable tourism across the emirate.”
Coral Beach Resort Sharjah is a signatory to the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism and continues to align its operations with broader international climate targets.
Hospitality
Qatar Airways Connects Doha to Caracas, Venezuela, and Bogotá, Colombia with First Flight
Qatar Airways has inaugurated its new twice-weekly service connecting Doha with Caracas and Bogotá. The service represents a significant milestone for the airline, as Qatar Airways becomes the first Gulf carrier to serve Venezuela, and the first airline to operate nonstop services from the Middle East to both Bogotá and Caracas. The new route underscores the airline’s commitment to strengthening global connectivity for the region and is operated on Boeing 777-200LR aircraft.
Qatar Airways flights to Caracas (CCS) and Bogotá (BOG)
Qatar Airways’ flight schedule has been designed to provide smooth onward connections through Hamad International Airport to key markets including Australia, China, Japan, Lebanon, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates. This offers passengers greater flexibility and seamless transfer options across Qatar Airways’ global network of over 170 destinations.
Departing every Wednesday and Sunday:
Doha (DOH) to Bogotá (BOG) – Flight QR783: Departure 07:35; Arrival 16:25
Bogotá (BOG) to Caracas (CCS) – Flight QR783: Departure 17:55; Arrival 21:00
Caracas (CCS) to Doha (DOH) – Flight QR783: Departure 23:30; Arrival 20:35
The addition of Caracas and Bogotá marks the 16th and 17th destinations in the Americas served by Qatar Airways. The airline began serving South America in 2010 with its inaugural flight to Brazil’s São Paulo.
The airline has recently expanded its partnership with LATAM to include LATAM Airlines Colombia, offering travellers greater access to the region. Qatar Airways will place its code on LATAM-operated flights between Bogotá and key domestic destinations including Cartagena, Armenia, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Cali, Cúcuta, Ibagué, Leticia, Medellín, Montería, Neiva, Pereira, Pasto, Riohacha, San Andrés Island, Santa Marta, and Yopal.
Qatar Airways continues to strengthen global connectivity, serving more than 170 destinations this winter. Bookings can be made at qatarairways.com or through the airline’s mobile app.
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