Top 3 Headlines
Doha’s Throwback Food Festival returns for Ramadan
Visit Qatar has announced the third edition of the Throwback Food Festival, running from 16 February until the end of Ramadan at Old Doha Port. The event revisits the culinary trends of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, with 30 participating vendors and restaurants, including three from across the Middle East. Menus will reflect flavours and dishes inspired by past decades. Alongside food, the festival will feature retro-themed décor and entertainment, creating a family-friendly Ramadan destination.
Oman launches platform to boost community tourism
Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has introduced the Omani Tourism Experiences Platform to strengthen locally driven tourism across the governorates. The initiative aims to promote authentic experiences while creating new opportunities for individuals and small and medium enterprises.
At the core of the rollout is the “Tourism Experience Creators” programme, encouraging residents to design activities highlighting Oman’s cultural and natural assets. Proposed offerings include adventure and nature tours, coastal trips, culinary experiences and heritage-based activities.
The platform will build a national database of tourism products to support future planning and quality standards. Residents and tourism operators are invited to submit videos and photos of their experiences, with selected entries featured online to showcase the sultanate’s diverse attractions.
Kuwait to launch Freelance Residency Scheme without sponsor requirements
Kuwait is preparing to introduce a new freelance residency permit allowing expatriates to work independently without a traditional employer sponsor, in a major labour market reform. Expected to roll out within two months, the annual fee will range between KD 750 and KD 1,000, payable directly to the government.
The permit is expected to target skilled professionals, consultants and entrepreneurs, and the scheme would mark a significant shift from Kuwait’s long-standing sponsor-based residency system.
Noteworthy
- Brand Dubai reported the conclusion of HattaWinter, stating the initiative attracted more than 100,000 visitors over 12 days, another push to broaden Dubai’s visitor map beyond the core city and strengthen year-round domestic/GCC drive demand.
- Lebanon’s Al Bustan Festival programme is set to run 24 February – 22 March 2026, adding a premium cultural hook for Beirut and the wider destination narrative at the tail end of the winter peak.
- Israel’s Ministry of Tourism has announced funding allocations for 58 tourism projects across the country totalling up to 362m shekels ($116m). This is an update that travel businesses tracking Jerusalem faith/culture circuits will weigh alongside capacity, access and demand-recovery dynamics.
- DCT Abu Dhabi has listed more than 40 additional sites under its Modern Heritage Register, expanding the 2022 set and signalling continued investment in cultural assets. Particularly relevant for DMCs and tour operators refreshing Abu Dhabi products beyond headline attractions.
- Morocco’s tourism strategy is highlighting India as a growth market, with reports citing a target of 75,000-80,000 Indian visitors in 2026. For trade partners this is particularly useful to keep an eye on building Marrakech/Casablanca circuits and monitoring source-market diversification.
- Saudi’s Riyadh Season has reached 17 million visitors in its current (sixth) edition. An indicator for hotel demand, air capacity planning, and regional weekend-break competition.
