ATM 2026 spotlights 23% ME air demand growth, 42M global cruise passengers by 2028 

UAE- Arabian Travel Market 2026 has announced a projected 23% increase in Middle East air passenger demand between 2025 and 2030, alongside global cruise volumes forecast to surpass 42 million passengers by 2028. 

According to the ATM Travel Trends Report 2025, developed with Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, the Middle East’s aviation growth is being driven by aggressive fleet expansion, infrastructure investment, and long-term national tourism strategies across the GCC.  

The region’s four largest carriers, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways and Saudia have collectively placed nearly 780 aircraft orders with Boeing and Airbus. Middle East airlines now account for 12% of all new unfilled aircraft orders globally, with GCC carriers responsible for 93% of that total. 

This fleet expansion is translating directly into network growth. For instance, Qatar Airways connects more than 170 destinations worldwide, while Etihad Airways expects to operate over 110 aircraft serving more than 90 destinations by the end of 2025.  

On the other hand, Emirates currently flies to 140 destinations across six continents, and Saudia operates direct services to more than 90 international destinations, reinforcing the region’s status as one of the world’s most strategically connected aviation hubs. 

At the same time, cruise tourism is entering a new growth phase. According to Cruise Lines International Association, global cruise passenger numbers are projected to rise from 34.6 million in 2024 to more than 42 million by 2028.  

The Middle East alone is expected to welcome over 2 million cruise passengers in 2025, including approximately 500,000 in the Red Sea. 

With more than 55,000 travel professionals and 2,800 exhibitors from 166 countries expected to attend, ATM 2026 will provide investors, airlines, cruise operators, and hospitality leaders with a critical platform to assess capacity growth, infrastructure investment, and long-term tourism returns. 

Finally, the data signals sustained momentum not only for aviation and cruise operators, but for hotels, destinations, and tourism economies across the Middle East and globally. 

The upcoming edition will continue to accelerate aviation expansion and record-breaking cruise forecasts, positioning the Middle East as a central force in global travel growth.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.