Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways account for over 85% of the Airbus A350-1000 order book

Gulf carriers face challenges beyond the global economy

The scale of the economic fallout means that very few places or businesses in the world have not been affected. As experts attempt to make sense of the damage inflicted and potential future scenarios for their respective fields, it would appear that airline carriers in the Gulf have less to worry about than most.
Middle East: Wednesday, December 07 - 2011 at 09:36
Saudi Arabia is looking to encourage internal tourism to sites such as the ruins of Al Hijr, which is the largest Nabatean settlement after Petra

Saudi Arabia looks to bolster internal tourism

Saudi tourism officials and hotels in the kingdom have been stepping up their efforts to entice local residents to travel within the country in hopes of capturing a larger share of the billions of dollars that Saudis spend on vacations overseas each year.
Saudi Arabia: Friday, December 02 - 2011 at 10:04
Many Gulf carriers are outfitting their aircraft wtih the latest in-flight entertainment.

Middle East carriers ramp up in-flight entertainment offerings

In addition to spending billions of dollars on new aircraft, Middle East carriers are also splashing out big money on new and improved in-flight entertainments systems to keep in step with the latest technology being developed for the aviation sector.
Middle East: Sunday, November 27 - 2011 at 17:00
Newly opened hotels such as the Rocco Forte Hotel Abu Dhabi will face challenges due to oversupply in the capital.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi hotels on divergent paths in 2011

While hotels in Dubai have enjoyed a strong rebound so far this year, Abu Dhabi's hospitality sector is struggling to deal with an oversupply of rooms and a relatively limited range of offerings that limits its ability to attract a wide variety of tourists.
United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, November 23 - 2011 at 14:31
Middle East carriers such as Emirates and Qatar Airways are growing at unprecedented rates.

Are the Gulf's big carriers at risk of growing too fast?

Once again the region's carriers placed huge orders at the Dubai Airshow, with Emirates and Qatar Airways leading the way. But as these megacarriers continue their unprecedented growth, are they at risk of over-expansion?
Middle East: Tuesday, November 22 - 2011 at 17:12
Execujet has added two new aircraft to its charter fleet in response to strong demand

Corporate jet market rebounds in Middle East

Despite the unrest in the Middle East, business jet operators in the region say they are seeing a strong recovery so far this year and are adding more aircraft to their fleets to meet rising demand.
Middle East: Wednesday, November 16 - 2011 at 10:20

Qatar Airways orders 55 Airbus aircraft

In a dramatic turn of events at the Dubai Airshow yesterday afternoon, Qatar Airways has... Read full article »
United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, November 16 - 2011 at 08:55
Boeing is one of the big winners from the regional carrier spending boom

Middle East carriers to spend hundreds of billions on new aircraft in next two decades

Airlines in the Middle East are forecast to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in new aircraft over the next 20 years to meet continued strong demand and address their rapid expansion plans, according to new forecasts by Airbus and Boeing revealed at the Dubai Airshow.
Middle East: Monday, November 14 - 2011 at 16:41
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner will be on display for the first time in the Middle East

Dubai Airshow orders may be relatively muted, analysts say

The Dubai Airshow, one of the largest events of its kind, has seen huge orders in past years but analysts say the volume at this year's event could be relatively subdued due to the global economic conditions and the large number of aircraft that the major Gulf carriers already have on order.
Middle East: Tuesday, November 08 - 2011 at 09:11
Qatar is seeing the development of numerous hospitality projects

Room for growth fuels hotel expansion in Middle East

Experts are still predicting strong growth in the Middle East's hospitality pipeline, so what is attracting companies to the region and should they be more cautious?
Middle East: Wednesday, November 02 - 2011 at 09:34

Boutique hotels look to grab foothold in Middle East

An increasing number of companies are looking to develop boutique hotels in the Middle East, but they are likely to face challenges trying to lure guests away from the tower hotels that dominate the region.
Middle East: Thursday, October 27 - 2011 at 10:57
Royal Caribbean is extending its season to six months

Middle East looks to grow cruise tourism industry

The Middle East is seeing a rise in cruise passengers as governments in the region invest in new facilities to support the cruise tourism sector. However, while prospects for the industry are strong, it also faces a number of challenges that could hamper its growth.
Middle East: Monday, October 24 - 2011 at 09:23
Al Habtoor Group is teaming up with Hilton to develop the first Waldorf Astoria hotel in Dubai

Hilton to open Waldorf Astoria in Dubai on Palm Jumeirah

UAE-based Al Habtoor Group has announced that it is teaming up with Hilton Worldwide to develop the first Waldorf Astoria hotel in Dubai on the Palm Jumeirah. The company has also selected Hilton to manage its two hotels in Lebanon, which marks the first time that Hilton will be entering the Lebanese market.
United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, October 19 - 2011 at 09:51
The region's first Residence Inn hotel will open in Bahrain early next year

Marriott plans major expansion of extended-stay brand in Middle East

Marriott International has announced plans to launch its mid-scale extended stay Residence Inn hotels across the Middle East and Africa as part of a major expansion of the brand outside the US.
Middle East: Tuesday, October 18 - 2011 at 13:39
Oetker Group has opened Palais Namaskar in Morocco

Oetker Collection pursues expansion in Middle East

Luxury European hotel operator the Oetker Collection has announced plans to expand its portfolio of hotels into the Middle East and North Africa. The Germany-based company said it will open its first hotel in the region in Morocco in March 2012, and begin construction on a property in Abu Dhabi in four months.
Middle East: Tuesday, October 11 - 2011 at 09:46