Top 3 you need to know
Saudi Arabia to host 1,000 Palestinian families for Hajj 2025
1,000 Palestinian pilgrims from families of those killed or wounded in the ongoing conflict with Israel will be hosted to perform Hajj in 2025. The initiative is part of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program for Hajj and Umrah, overseen by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and was ordered by King Salman. The ministry has begun implementing a comprehensive plan to support the pilgrims’ journey.
Jordan’s Medaina Festival to debut at Petra and Wadi Rum
Jordan will host the first-ever Medaina Festival from 21-26 May, 2025, bringing a curated mix of electronic music, art, wellness, and culture to the ancient sites of Petra and Wadi Rum. The event will feature performances by top global artists such as Âme, Bedouin, and HVOB, along with guided tours, local cuisine, and cultural experiences. Organised by boutique festival producers Tithorea and supported by the Jordan Tourism Board, the festival emphasises sustainability and immersive travel in historic landscapes.
Hong Kong SAR passport holders have 30 days visa-free to UAE and Qatar, while UAE expands 10 year Golden Visa categories
Hong Kong SAR (HKSAR) passport holders can now travel visa-free to Qatar and the UAE for 30 days, a change from the previous visa-on-arrival policy. Oman has also extended HKSAR’s visa-free stay from 10 to 14 days, from 15 May, 2025.
The UAE has also added five new categories to its Golden Visa programme, to now include nurses, teachers, content creators, esports and gaming professionals, and luxury yacht owners. The initiative supports the country’s Vision 2030 by attracting global talent and bolstering sectors such as healthcare, education, digital media, and tourism.
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ICYMI …
- King Abdulaziz University has launched a virtual tourism project using geomatics technology to create interactive tours of Saudi Arabia’s heritage sites, enhancing cultural awareness.
- Turkish Airlines is offering double Status Miles on select routes, with the promotion details exclusively available through its Miles&Smiles Instagram account. Simultaneously Turkish Airlines Holidays has launched a UAE travel platform allowing seamless booking of flights, hotels, tours, car rentals, and insurance, integrated with the Miles&Smiles loyalty program.
- Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi announced that autonomous vehicles (AV) will be introduced in Saudi Arabia in 2025.
- Five times more Russian tourists are planning to visit Morocco this summer compared to summer 2024.
- Wego has partnered with the Azerbaijan Tourism Board to promote Azerbaijan as a year-round destination for MENA travellers, focusing on wellness tourism and cultural experiences.
- Visa reports a 162% increase in consumer spending in Makkah during Ramadan 2025 compared to the previous year.
- UAE Etihad Rail‘s new high-speed train will connect Abu Dhabi and Dubai in just 57 minutes and will launch in 2026.
- Submissions for the third edition of the Qatar Tourism Awards 2025 have opened, with submission deadlines set for 7 Aug 2025.
- The Garden, a new attraction within City Walk in Jeddah has opened offering interactive experiences like archery, car racing, and remote-controlled watercraft.
- Travis Scott’s Doha concert (16 May) attracted over 21,000 attendees including 5,996 international visitors.
