Corporate travel across the Middle East and North Africa surged in the third quarter of 2026, with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates accounting for nearly 80% of all business trips in the region. Data from Tumodo, a UAE-based online business travel platform, shows a 112% jump in trip volume and a 132% increase in spending compared with the same period in 2025.
Riyadh and Dubai lead the rebound
Saudi Arabia captured 48.6% of all MENA business trips, while the UAE followed with 31.1%. Riyadh and Dubai emerged as the top destination cities, with the Jeddah–Riyadh and Riyadh–Dubai corridors recording the heaviest traffic. The average airfare climbed to $615, a 36% rise from Q1 2026, while hotel bookings averaged $663 for a 4.7-night stay.
September proved to be the peak booking month, with daily volumes 13% higher than in August. Mohanad Nada, Head of GCC at Tumodo, said: “September confirmed that the autumn business season is back. Riyadh, Dubai and Dammam led the rebound.”
Emirates was the most-used carrier among business travellers, followed by Saudia and Air Astana. The strong performance aligns with broader industry forecasts: the Middle East is projected to be the fastest-growing travel region from 2026 to 2036, with an expected annual GDP growth of 6.3% in the sector.
Looking ahead, Tumodo anticipates robust demand in Q4 2026 and advises companies to book early and maintain flexible travel policies. The findings echo other signals of regional momentum, such as Dubai's Arabian Travel Market expanding 16% as Gulf carriers restore networks.
The data also underscores the growing importance of Saudi Arabia’s tourism ambitions, which have been supported by initiatives like the WEF's six tourism impact pioneers. Meanwhile, the UAE continues to diversify its leisure offerings, with products such as Solari Sea Safari blending boat tours with an Arabian heritage camp in Dubai.
For travel managers, the Q3 figures reinforce the need to negotiate corporate rates early, especially on high-density routes like Riyadh–Dubai. The sharp rise in airfares—up 36% since Q1—highlights the value of flexible booking policies and advance purchase strategies.
Hoteliers in Riyadh and Dubai are also benefiting from longer stays, with average bookings of nearly five nights. This trend suggests that business trips are increasingly combining meetings with site visits or client entertainment, a pattern consistent with the region’s push to position itself as a MICE hub.
As the year closes, the outlook for Q4 remains positive, driven by major events and continued investment in aviation infrastructure. The region’s carriers are expanding capacity, and new entrants are challenging incumbents, which should keep fares competitive even as demand grows.
