• More
    • NEWS
      • MARKETS
        • Asia
        • China
        • India
        • Middle East
        • UK & Europe
        • USA & Canada
      • SECTORS
        • Airlines and Aviation
        • Airports
        • Annual & Interim Reports
        • Cruise
        • Golfing
        • Hospitality
        • HR & Careers
        • Industry Appointments
        • Inspiring Women in Travel
        • Luxury Travel
        • MICE
        • Tourism
        • Technology
        • Travel Agents
      • PARTNER ARTICLES
        • Airlines / Airports
        • Car Rental
        • Conferences
        • Cruising (Ocean)
        • Cruising (River)
        • Destination Management (DMC)
        • GDS / CRS
        • Hotels & Resorts
        • Hotel Management Company
        • HR / Appointments
        • Insurance
        • MICE
        • Travel Agents
        • Tech – Hotels
        • Tech – Travel
        • Tourism Boards
      • INTERVIEWS
      • GUEST COLUMNS
      • TDM TRAVEL SHOW
        • Global Leaders and Csuite
        • Executive Women Series
        • Executive Hoteliers
        • SEAHIS 2024
        • TTM 2024
        • Destination Soundbites
        • Travel Show by Natcha
      • SUBSCRIBE HERE
    • EVENTS
      • TDM SUMMIT 2025
      • CONFERENCES
      • TRAINING
      • VIDEOS
      • PHOTOS
      • COMPETITIONS
      • TRAVEL CLUB
    • TRAVEL TRADE EXCELLENCE AWARDS
      • 2025
        • Middle East – 11Sep
        • Malaysia – 27Sep
        • Thailand – 16Oct
        • Asia – 25Nov
      • 2026
        • Hong Kong – 22Jan
    • ABOUT US
      • About TDM
      • Advertise with us
      • 2025 Media kit
      • Meet the team
        • EXECUTIVE
          • Gary (Founder/CEO)
          • Chris (GM & Managing Editor)
        • EDITORIAL
          • Kanchan (Snr Editor)
          • Marga (Editor)
          • Megha (Freelance Editor)
          • Charmaine (Freelance Editor)
          • Mark (Freelance Editor)
          • Philipp (Freelance Editor)
        • SALES
          • Gary (CEO)
          • Anthony (Sales)
          • Paul (Sales)
      • Self Service
        • Upload your Travel Blog
        • Upload your Event

Travel Daily Travel Daily - Informing, connecting and developing the world’s travel industry professionals.

  • More
    LOG IN SIGN UP
    Travel Daily Media
    ReportsAirlines and AviationGlobal

    ME Air Connectivity set for growth in 2025: Mabrian

    Led by UAE, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia

    By Kanchan Nath On Apr 1, 2025
    TDM Editor
    Share
      Representative Image

       

      Mabrian’s analysis of 2025 international air seat availability reveals key shifts in the Middle East’s aviation landscape, underscoring the need for strategic route development, airline partnerships, and network optimisation to strengthen the Middle East’s position as a global aviation hub. 

      Mabrian, the global travel intelligence platform, analysed seats availability data on flights scheduled in international, one-way, direct flights connecting to nine Middle East destinations (Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates – UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrein), that collectively account for 12% of the total global inbound air seats scheduled for the full year 2025. This study is part of a series of Middle East market insights Mabrian will release in the lead-up to Arabian Travel Market 2025, aiming at sparking discussions on key trends shaping the travel & tourism in the region.

      United Arab Emirates and Türkiye  maintain their positions as top global connectivity hubs

      Key take outs of this study indicate that the United Arab Emirates and Türkiye  maintain their positions as top global connectivity hubs; Saudi Arabia emerges as a fast-growing competitor; Qatar stabilises after sustained expansion; Egypt and Jordan are set to outpace global growth rates, and Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait face declining inbound connectivity.

      Saudi Air Connectivity Soars: A +38% Growth in Inbound Seats Since 2019

      The United Arab Emirates (ranking in 7th position worldwide with 88.9 million seats available on international flights) and Türkiye (9th position, with 75.6 million seats) are among the top 10 countries with the strongest international air connectivity worldwide in 2025, based on scheduled air seats. This solidifies their status as key connectivity hubs for the region.

      When considering the forecast for the next six months compared to the same period in 2024, the year-over-year growth in international air seats for both the UAE (+6.1%) and Türkiye  (+6.3%) is close to the global average (+6.5%). However, the full-year increase in inbound seats for 2025 in the UAE (+3.4%) and Türkiye (+4.2%) is expected to be slightly lower than the global average (+6%).

      “Undoubtedly, the UAE and Türkiye have solidified their positions as international hubs for the Middle East—not only due to their strategic geographic locations but also as a result of smart route development strategies. These include leveraging stopovers and enhancing holiday itineraries, as well as the strength of their flagship airlines,” explains Carlos Cendra, Partner and Director of Marketing and Communications at Mabrian. “The next step is to take a quantum leap in tourism product development, as many of them are already doing, to capture and retain a greater share of these travellers in their own destinations.”

      Saudi Arabia deserves special attention. In addition to being the third-best connected country in the Middle East and ranking among the top 20 worldwide in terms of international air connectivity, Saudi Arabia is expected to grow by +8% over the next six months and by +5.2% throughout 2025, reaching a total of 43.1 million international air seats by the end of the year.

      Saudi Arabia is the country that has experienced the second-highest growth in international air connectivity since 2019 (+38%), following Egypt (+51%). “Even though Saudi Arabia’s international seat capacity is about half that of the UAE, the region’s main connectivity hub, this growth highlights the country’s potential to establish a strong connectivity triangle with the UAE and Qatar,” states a Mabrian expert.

      Two other key travel destinations also stand out due to their projected increase in inbound air seats for both the upcoming semester and the full year 2025: Jordan and Egypt. Jordan is set to double the global growth rate, achieving a +13% year-round increase in inbound air seats (equivalent to 6.5 million). This expansion aims to restore foreign demand in 2025, following a -6.4% decline in international air connectivity in 2024 compared to 2019. Egypt is expected to boost international connectivity by increasing air seat capacity by +11.4% over the next six months and by +8.1% throughout 2025, reaching 28 million inbound seats and further strengthening its position as a leading international destination in the Middle East.

      Other GCC countries exhibit a different trend in projected international air connectivity for 2025.  While Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait are set to reduce total inbound seat capacity by -3.1%, -3.9%, and -4.4% respectively, Qatar—the fourth-best connected country in the Middle East and ranked 25th globally—shows signs of stabilisation after achieving a +14% increase in inbound air seats since 2019.

      Growth Trajectories and Strategic Shifts for 2025

      Mabrian’s travel intelligence also provides valuable insights into how air connectivity has evolved over the past five years across the nine Middle Eastern countries analysed, based on consolidated international seat availability data from 2019 to 2024. The data highlights both opportunities and challenges that need to be addressed in the coming years, including route development, airline partnerships, and the expansion of global connectivity networks.

      Oman, which has seen a -19.6% reduction in international air seats since 2019, has different choices to enhance its inbound connectivity strategy. Strengthening its approach to retaining travel demand—particularly from long-haul source markets—could be key to reversing this downward trend. A similar strategy could also benefit Bahrain, which has recorded a +2.3% growth in inbound air seats over the same period.

      At a more advanced stage of connectivity development in the region, Qatar (+13.6% growth since 2019) and the UAE (+14.5%) are projected to reach 32 million and 88.9 million international seats, respectively, in 2025. This sustained growth presents significant opportunities to increase international visitation and enhance routes to underserved destinations.

      Finally, with its well-established position as a major travel destination, Türkiye has leveraged connectivity to drive tourism growth, achieving a +25% increase in inbound connectivity since 2019. Moving forward, it can adopt combined route development strategies that serve a dual purpose—attracting new source markets while building alternative connectivity networks that are not currently served by GCC hubs.

       

      MabrianCarlos Cendra
      Share

        Since you're here...

        ...there are many ways you can work with us to advertise your company and connect to your customers. Our team can help you design and create an advertising campaign

        We can also organize a real life or digital event for you and find thought leader speakers as well as industry leaders, who could be your potential partners, to join the event. We also run some awards programmes which give you an opportunity to be recognized for your achievements during the year and you can join this as a participant or a sponsor.

        Let us help you drive your business forward with a good partnership!

        Yes, contact me I want to download the media kit

        PARTNER CONTENT

        • The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok offers great stays, wonderful wellness and delightful dining

          Read More...
        • The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok offers great stays, wonderful wellness and delightful dining

          Read More...
        • The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok offers great stays, wonderful wellness and delightful dining

          Read More...
          • Previous
          • Next
          Pause
          STAY UPDATED WITH THE LATEST TRAVEL NEWS, JOBS & EVENTS!
          Join over 180,000 travel agents, professionals and executives subscribed to our daily newsletter.
          You can unsubscribe at any time
          Search
          MENU
          • News
          • Events
          • Jobs
          • Subscribe

          MARKETS

          • Asia
          • Australia
          • New Zealand
          • India
          • Middle East
          • UK & Europe
          • USA

          SECTOR

          • Airlines
          • Airports
          • Cruise
          • Hospitality
          • HR & Careers
          • Luxury Travel
          • MICE
          • Technology
          • Tourism
          • Travel Agents
          About
          • BOOK A SALES CALL
          • About TDM (Travel Daily Media)
          • Advertise with Us
          • Privacy Policy
          • Terms of Use
          © 2025 - Travel Daily Media. All Rights Reserved.

          Welcome, Login to your account.

          Forget password?

          Sign in with Google

          Powered by wp-glogin.com

          No account? Sign Up
          Sign in

          Recover your password.

          A password will be e-mailed to you.

          CREATE A NEW PROFILE
          SIGN IN TO EXISTING PROFILE
          back

          LOG IN

          Welcome back, Log in to your account.

          Continue with Facebook
          Continue with Google
          Continue with Twitter

          OR
          Log in using your email
          Forgot password?
          back

          Recover your password.

          back

          SIGN UP FOR FREE

          (New User)

          Be part of our community of seasoned travel and hospitality industry professionals from all over the world.

          I want to
          Only letters and numbers are allowed
          Please enter a valid email address
          Must be between 6-8 characters
          Must be the same with Password
          • LOGIN / SIGN UP
          • NEWS
            • MARKETS
              • Asia
              • China
              • Pacific
              • India
              • Middle East
              • UK & Europe
              • USA & Canada
            • SECTORS
              • Airlines
              • Airports
              • Annual & Interim Reports
              • Cruise
              • Golfing
              • Hospitality
              • HR & Careers
              • Inspiring Women in Travel
              • Luxury Travel
              • MICE
              • Technology
              • Tourism
              • Travel Agents
            • PARTNER ARTICLES
              • Airlines / Airports
              • Car Rental
              • Conferences
              • Cruising (Ocean)
              • Cruising (River)
              • Destination Management (DMC)
              • GDS / CRS
              • Hotels & Resorts
              • Hotel Management Company
              • HR / Appointments
              • Insurance
              • MICE
              • Travel Agents
              • Tech – Travel
              • Tech – Hotels
              • Tourism Boards
            • INTERVIEWS
            • TDM TRAVEL SHOW
              • Global Leaders and Csuite
              • Executive Women Series
              • Executive Hoteliers
              • SEAHIS 2024
              • TTM 2024
              • Destination Soundbites
              • Travel Show by Natcha
            • GUEST COLUMNS
            • SUBSCRIBE HERE
          • EVENTS
            • TDM SUMMIT 2025
            • CONFERENCES
            • VIDEOS
            • PHOTOS
            • COMPETITIONS
            • TRAVEL CLUB
          • TRAVEL TRADE EXCELLENCE AWARDS
            • 2025
              • Middle East – 11Sep
              • Malaysia – 27Sep
              • Thailand – 16Oct
              • Asia – 25Nov
            • 2026
              • Hong Kong – 22Jan
          • ABOUT TDM
            • Who is TDM
            • Advertise with us
            • 2025 Media Kit
            • Meet the Team
              • Executive
                • Gary (Founder/CEO)
                • Chris (GM & Managing Editor)
              • Editorial
                • Kanchan (Snr Editor)
                • Marga (Editor)
                • Megha (Freelance Editor)
                • Charmaine (Freelance Editor)
                • Philipp (Freelance Editor)
                • Mark (Freelance Editor)
              • Sales
                • Gary (CEO)
                • Anthony (Sales)
                • Paul (Sales)
            • SELF SERVICE
              • Upload your Travel Blog
              • Upload your Event
          • NEWS
            • MARKETS
              • Asia
              • China
              • India
              • Middle East
              • UK & Europe
              • USA & Canada
            • SECTORS
              • Airlines and Aviation
              • Airports
              • Annual & Interim Reports
              • Cruise
              • Golfing
              • Hospitality
              • HR & Careers
              • Industry Appointments
              • Inspiring Women in Travel
              • Luxury Travel
              • MICE
              • Tourism
              • Technology
              • Travel Agents
            • PARTNER ARTICLES
              • Airlines / Airports
              • Car Rental
              • Conferences
              • Cruising (Ocean)
              • Cruising (River)
              • Destination Management (DMC)
              • GDS / CRS
              • Hotels & Resorts
              • Hotel Management Company
              • HR / Appointments
              • Insurance
              • MICE
              • Travel Agents
              • Tech – Hotels
              • Tech – Travel
              • Tourism Boards
            • INTERVIEWS
            • GUEST COLUMNS
            • TDM TRAVEL SHOW
              • Global Leaders and Csuite
              • Executive Women Series
              • Executive Hoteliers
              • SEAHIS 2024
              • TTM 2024
              • Destination Soundbites
              • Travel Show by Natcha
            • SUBSCRIBE HERE
          • EVENTS
            • TDM SUMMIT 2025
            • CONFERENCES
            • TRAINING
            • VIDEOS
            • PHOTOS
            • COMPETITIONS
            • TRAVEL CLUB
          • TRAVEL TRADE EXCELLENCE AWARDS
            • 2025
              • Middle East – 11Sep
              • Malaysia – 27Sep
              • Thailand – 16Oct
              • Asia – 25Nov
            • 2026
              • Hong Kong – 22Jan
          • ABOUT US
            • About TDM
            • Advertise with us
            • 2025 Media kit
            • Meet the team
              • EXECUTIVE
                • Gary (Founder/CEO)
                • Chris (GM & Managing Editor)
              • EDITORIAL
                • Kanchan (Snr Editor)
                • Marga (Editor)
                • Megha (Freelance Editor)
                • Charmaine (Freelance Editor)
                • Mark (Freelance Editor)
                • Philipp (Freelance Editor)
              • SALES
                • Gary (CEO)
                • Anthony (Sales)
                • Paul (Sales)
            • Self Service
              • Upload your Travel Blog
              • Upload your Event
          Subscribe to our newsletter
          Sign up here to get the latest news, updates and special offers delivered directly to your inbox.
          You can unsubscribe at any time
          Close