There’s no denying that Dubai’s hospitality scene is positively buzzing. The Future Hospitality Summit (FHS World 2025), the industry’s flagship investment and ideas summit, opened at Madinat Jumeirah on 27 October, bringing together operators, owners, investors and government leaders for three days of deal-making, debate and direction-setting for the next decade. The event ends today, 29 October, and is being billed as one of the largest gatherings of hospitality investors this year.
Investment, partnerships and a global marketplace
A dominant theme across opening sessions was capital – how to unlock it, where investors are focusing, and how developers and operators can better package opportunities for today’s risk appetite. FHS has long been a marketplace for deals as much as for ideas, and delegates this year were promised direct access to some USD 2 billion of potential business and hundreds of active investors and operators. This edition also marks the conference’s 20th anniversary, and organisers said the scale and ambition of the programme reflect an industry in growth mode.
A new growth corridor in Africa
One of the summit standouts is the inaugural UAE–Africa Tourism Investment Summit, held under the FHS umbrella. The session aims to position the UAE as a gateway for investment into Africa’s rapidly expanding tourism markets, a strategic move that pairs capital, know-how and infrastructure with Africa’s untapped tourism potential.
Tech, ESG and new products
Panels and keynotes highlighted several operational and strategic priorities for hotel groups and investors:
- Technology and AI ethics: With panels exploring how data, AI and automation can boost revenue, personalise guest experiences and streamline operations, speakers also flagged the ethical and employment questions that technology raises, a reminder that digital transformation must be balanced with human-centred service.
- Sustainability and ESG: From net-zero targets to coastal protection and community benefits, ESG is no longer optional for capital providers. Investors are asking for verifiable sustainability roadmaps as a condition of capital.
- Product innovation: The post-pandemic traveller keeps seeking experiences (wellness, branded residences, mixed-use resorts and luxury rail) and developers are examining how to design resilient products that meet both leisure and long-stay demand.
Networking, side-summits and the lighter touch
FHS is also famous for its pipeline of off-agenda moments. Think padel matches, breakfasts and country pavilions designed to spark serendipitous deals. Social media from the floor shows the halls buzzing with established brands meeting emerging operators and national pavilions championing market access. The “country pavilion” format with dedicated showcases for markets such as Italy, the Philippines and Albania is particularly aimed at putting smaller markets in front of large investors.
People-powered panels
Speakers emphasised that urban tourism, coastal regeneration and public-private partnerships will be critical levers for growth. Sessions on city tourism, destination management and the blue economy underscored how coastal sustainability and long-term regenerative strategies are central to preserving tourism assets while creating investment returns. These conversations are particularly relevant for buyers and operators looking to balance short-term revenue with long-term value.
From deal flow and market access to market intelligence and strategic partnering, it’s clear that FHS World 2025 is where the future of hospitality comes alive, a melting pot of ideas, capital, and innovation, where industry leaders forge partnerships, share insights, and shape the next chapter of travel and tourism.
The next Middle East hosted FHS will take place in Riyadh from 20-22 April 2026 at the Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah.
