Start filling in your 2025 diaries! This year’s tourism calendar is packed with conferences and social events in the Middle East, and you won’t want to miss them.
From Coldplay performing in Abu Dhabi to Oman’s annual music festival and Morocco’s ITIC MENA Conference, we’ve rounded up the biggest events for the next six months you won’t want to miss. For more events, check out our events calendar:
January: Coldplay Live in Abu Dhabi
Kicking off the new year is the biggest ticket of the year. Coldplay is bringing its Music Spheres World Tour to Abu Dhabi’s 45,000-seater Zayed Sports City Stadium.
Running over four nights (9, 11, 12 and 14 January), the concert has received international acclaim and sold out worldwide. Joining Coldplay on the tour will be Palestinian sensation Elyanna, who will open all shows and hopefully join the band on stage to perform the song ‘We Pray’.
For more information and the definitive guide on how Coldplay shows in Abu Dhabi.
Other events to check out in January:
- Dubai Shopping Festival
- Liwa 2025 in Abu Dhabi
- Sealine Season 2025 in Qatar
- Dubai Marathon 2025
- Space Travel Summit in Dubai
February: Saudi Travel Market
Explore the ins and outs of Saudi Arabia’s travel and tourism industry during this three-day premier event at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Starting on 10 February, attendees will converge, collaborate, and explore the dynamic landscape of Saudi Arabia’s growing tourism sector, receiving ample opportunities to connect with the country’s leaders and discover what’s new, what’s changing, and what’s coming up.
Other events to check out in February:
- Thinc Me 2025 in Dubai
- Meetings Arabia and Luxury Travel Congress in Abu Dhabi
- Dubai International Boat Show
- Kuwait National Day
- Exotic Wedding Planning Conference
- Connections Luxury Middle East in Doha
March: Oman Festival
Celebrate all things Oman in March to April 2025, during the Sultanate’s annual Oman Festival. This year, the event will run under the theme ‘Richness and Diversity’, giving visitors and curious people around the world an opportunity to explore Oman’s rich cultural heritage as well as its arts, crafts, and cuisine.
In Oman’s major cities, including Doha, travellers will be able to walk through special markets, purchase locally crafted items, spices, watch traditional performances and more.
April: Arabian Travel Mart 2025, Dubai
It’s back! Again! The Arabian Travel Market (ATM) will return once again in 2025, bringing travel industry professionals from around the world to the UAE.
Next year, the annual event will run from 28 April to 1 May at the Dubai World Travel Centre, and attendees will delve into the theme ‘Global Travel: Developing tomorrow’s tourism through enhanced connectivity’. ATM 2025 will also provide a platform for professionals to network with Dubai’s travel leaders, exchange knowledge and explore the city’s culture. Learn more about Arabian Travel Market 2025.
Other events to check out in April:
- IATA CargoIS Forum in Dubai
- Future Hospitality Summit in Riyadh
- World Cargo Symposium 2025 in Dubai
- AI Retreat 2025 in Dubai
May: ITIC MENA Conference in Marrakech
The travel and health industry will converge in Morocco in May 2025 for the annual International Travel and Health Insurance Conference (ITIC) covering the Middle East and African regions.
This dynamic marketplace delves into the region’s future developments and touches on current trends and best practices in the travel and health insurance sector. Given the popularity of international plastic surgery, this is a timely event that will no doubt draw a huge crowd to the Sofitel Marrakech Palais Imperial and Spa. Learn more about the event, ITIC Mena Conference.
Other events to check out in May:
June: The New Umrah Season Begins, Makkah (Mecca)
The new Umrah season will begin on 26-27 June 2025, attracting pilgrims from around the world to Saudi Arabia’s holy capital of Makkah.
While Umrah can be performed any time of the year, in 2025, the optimal time for the spiritual journey will be after Hajj, which falls on the evening of the 4th of June.
Umrah is often referred to as the lesser pilgrimage; however, Saudi Arabia, in recent years, has seen an influx of visitors for the holy pilgrimage and recently teamed up with MakeMyTrip to provide seamless eVisa services.
