Middle East business travel spending jumps nearly 20% in 2025 as MICE demand accelerates

Business travel spending across the Middle East has surged by nearly 20 per cent in 2025, underscoring strong momentum as the region heads into 2026 and reinforcing its growing role as a hub for global corporate engagement.

According to corporate travel data and booking trends from musafir.com, the increase is being driven by a sharp rise in meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE), large-scale industry events, and cross-border leadership and strategy sessions.

The UAE-headquartered travel management company recorded 35 per cent year-on-year growth in its corporate travel business, reflecting sustained demand across the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Business travel in the Middle East

musafir.com said it is seeing a clear increase in travel linked to conferences, trade shows, executive offsites and regional expansion initiatives, as organisations operate more fluidly across Gulf markets.

“We are witnessing a fundamental recalibration of why companies travel,” said Sachin Gadoya. “Business travel is no longer defined by routine movement, but by purposeful moments that drive alignment, trust and outcomes.”

Globally, business travel spending reached $1.47tn in 2024, reflecting continued confidence in face-to-face engagement. However, the nature of corporate travel has evolved in a hybrid-first business environment.

Routine, single-purpose trips are declining, while leadership summits, innovation workshops, client co-creation sessions and deal negotiations are increasing. Companies are redirecting budgets towards journeys that deliver strategic returns rather than simply maintaining presence.

Face-to-face interaction continues to play a critical role in complex operating environments, where trust-building, active collaboration and faster decision-making are essential.

Major MICE events

The Middle East’s rise as a destination for corporate gatherings is supported by world-class event infrastructure, strong regional connectivity and a growing calendar of international exhibitions and forums.

Cities such as Dubai and Riyadh are increasingly selected for regional and global meetings, offering neutral ground for multinational teams and easy access across markets.

musafir.com has observed a notable increase in travel between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, alongside higher hotel booking volumes and corporate movement linked to construction, real estate, energy and technology sectors. These trends reflect both the scale of development underway and the need for closer in-person coordination.

“For many organisations, a focused two-day in-person strategy session can achieve what weeks of virtual meetings cannot,” Gadoya added. “That’s particularly true for businesses managing regional growth and complex stakeholder relationships.”

Corporate travel trends 2026

Looking ahead, musafir.com identifies several trends expected to define corporate travel in 2026:

• High-impact collaboration over frequency: Travel increasingly reserved for moments that advance strategy, innovation or deal-making
• Sustained growth in MICE and industry events: Conferences and exhibitions remain major drivers of corporate mobility
• Increased inter-GCC travel: Companies operating seamlessly across Gulf markets are driving cross-border movement
• Smarter, tech-enabled planning: AI-powered platforms support real-time recommendations, personalised itineraries and bleisure travel as a talent incentive
• Consolidated and sustainable travel strategies: Fewer, better-planned trips help balance cost efficiency with environmental considerations

As the Middle East moves into 2026, corporate travel is being defined less by distance and more by value created. musafir.com said the next phase of growth will be shaped by intent, outcomes and meaningful collaboration.

“The future of corporate travel belongs to organisations that travel with purpose,” Gadoya concluded. “When travel is tied to strategy, it becomes a catalyst for innovation, trust and long-term growth.”