UAE & Türkiye rank as the seventh & ninth best-connected countries globally: Mabarian
Ahead of Arabian Travel Market 2025, Global travel intelligence platform Mabrian has released a study showing that nine Middle East countries namely Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain are set to collectively account for 12 pc of global inbound air seats in 2025.
In a press statement, Mabarian says that United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Türkiye continue to dominate the region as top global connectivity hubs, while Saudi Arabia is rapidly increasing its presence.
“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,” says Carlos Cendra, Partner, Director, Marketing, Communications, Mabrian.
Mabrian says that Qatar has shown signs of stabilisation, as the country has witnessed a 4 pc increase in inbound air seats since 2019. It is expected to maintain its position with a steady growth trajectory in 2025, reaching 32 million inbound seats.
According to press statement, Mabarian states that based on scheduled international air seats, UAE and Türkiye rank as the seventh and ninth best-connected countries globally.
It adds that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is projected to have 88.9 million international seats in 2025, while Türkiye is expected to reach 75.6 million seats. Both countries are expected to see moderate growth in 2025, with increases of 3.4 pc and 4.2 pc, respectively, slightly below the global average of 6 pc.
Meanwhile, Mabarian states that Saudi Arabia is emerging as a major player in the Middle East’s air connectivity landscape, with a projected increase of 8 pc in inbound seats over the next six months and 5.2 pc for the whole year. The country’s total international seat capacity is expected to reach 43.1 million by the end of this year.
The statement adds that Egypt is expected to increase its inbound air seat capacity by 8.1 pc this year, reaching 28 million seats. The country has experienced a 51pc growth in international connectivity since 2019, positioning itself as a leading international travel destination.
The statement adds that Jordan is also set to see substantial growth, with a forecasted 13 pc increase in inbound seats. This follows a 6.4 pc decline in 2024, but the country’s strategic developments aim to restore foreign demand and outpace the global growth rate in 2025.
According to Mabrian, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait continue to face challenges in maintaining their air connectivity, as Oman is expected to see a 3.1 pc decline in inbound seats. Additionally, Bahrain and Kuwait have respectively witnessed 3.9 pc and 4.4 pc decrease this year.
“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,” adds Cendra.
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