Athletes from around the Middle East showed up and showed out at the Paris 2024 Olympics, taking home an incredible 29 medals. Six competitors returned home crowned with the region’s preferred jewellery metal – Gold! While another 12 took home Silver, 11 brought home the Bronze and one even became a meme!
And just how effortlessly cool was that Yusuf Dikec from Turkey?!
The Olympic #shootingsport stars we didn’t know we needed.
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) August 1, 2024
🇰🇷 Kim Yeji 🤝 Yusuf Dikeç 🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/gfkyGjFg4I
These talented individuals demonstrate the Middle East’s growing interest in competitive sports as well as the region’s ambitions to become a hub for international sporting events. Cue Saudi Arabia applying for FIFA World Cup 2034 and Egypt bidding for the 2036 and 2040 Olympics.
Medal winners also help attract positive attention to the region and its golden destinations for travel. So, without further ado, here are the Middle East’s winning destinations – both at the Olympics and in tourism.
Türkiye
Let’s face it, nobody is going to talk about the 2024 Olympics without talking about Yusuf Dikec. Like a total “boss,” Dikec’s relaxed approach during the competitive sport made him an instant internet sensation bringing the world’s attention to Türkiye with Mediterranean energy. It didn’t matter that he didn’t win a gold medal, because the country did strike gold when he so casually with hand-in-pocket, won a silver in Shooting.
Türkiye’s two other silver medals were won by female boxers Buse Naz Cakiroglu and Hatice Akbas, while the five bronze were achieved in boxing, taekwondo and wrestling.
While technically not a gold-winning country at the Olympics, Türkiye certain won tourism gold this year with 26.1 million arrivals during the first half of 2024, up 13.9% on the same period last year. The country’s diversity in landscapes, heritage and cuisine are its biggest highlights as well as its ancient sites, Mediterranean coastlines, religious architecture and let’s not forget, its thriving cosmetic industry.
Bahrain
The Kingdom made the Middle East proud, experiencing its most successful Olympics, taking home four medals including two Gold, one Silver and one Bronze. Bahrain’s wins came from a variety of spots including athletics, weightlifting and wrestling.
Much like the last two weeks in the Olympics, Bahrain’s tourism industry experienced its most successful half year during the first six months of 2024. Visitation to the Kingdom increased to 4.6 million people, up 13.2% compared to the same period last year.
Bahrain’s tourism wins this year can be attributed to an increased network of flights to and from the destination as well as its appeal as a top wedding destination. Described as the ‘pearl of the Gulf’, Bahrain attracts tourists with its rich heritage and modern outlook as well as beaches, cuisines and its connection to the ancient Dilmun empire.
Jordan
The Kingdom had plenty to celebrate over the last two weeks – when Zaid Kareem took home a Silver medal in Men’s Taekwondo, and then with the arrival of Iman bint Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, the first grandchild of His Majesty King Abdullah II and Her Majesty Queen Rania.
Jordan has competed in the Olympics since 1980 and has taken home a total of four medals including one Gold in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics, followed by one Silver and one Bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the one Silver this year.
Outside of the Olympics, Jordan’s tourism industry struck gold this year when the archaeological site of Umm el-Jimal City was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, reflecting its ancient and architectural significance. The Kingdom is also a winner amongst tourists for its mix of ancient and modern sites, its extensive royal history, its natural wonders and its family-friendly appeal.
Qatar
Qatar took home a Bronze medal in Men’s High Jump. Despite having only competed in 10 Olympic events, Qatar has won a total of nine medals including two Gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
With an over achiever’s approach to tourism, Qatar’s industry is a winner time-and-time again whether it be by winning SKYTRAX’s ‘Airline of the Year’ for seven consecutive years or securing international sporting events.
As a golden destination, it’s unsurprising that Qatar saw its visitor numbers surge during the first half of 2024 to 2.6 million arrivals, up 28% compared to the same period last year. The Gulf country does the ‘mostest’ to appeal to foreign visitors and is expecting tourism to continue rising as it welcomes new cruise lines such as Celestyal Cruises, opens attractions that will rival Disney’s Magic Kingdom and pitches for future sporting events such as the 2026 Rugby Nations Championships.
Egypt
Over by the Nile, Egypt struck gold, silver and bronze, winning one of each medal this year. In the 24 Olympics that Egypt has participated in, weightlifting has consistently been the country’s top sport and it continued to be so this year, with Sara Ahmed taking home silver in Women’s Wrestling. Meanwhile, Ahmed Elgendy won Egypt the gold in Men’s Individual Modern Pentathlon and Mohamed Elsayed took the gold in Men’s Epee Individual aka fencing.
As much as Egypt is a consistent winner in sports, it’s also a consistent winner in tourism. Over the first half of 2024, Egypt welcomed a record-breaking 7.069 million visitors, up from 7.062 million during the same period last year. The country’s leaders hope to build up its reputation as a golden destination and accelerating inbound tourism growth to 30 million by 2028.
While Ancient Egypt’s royals and pyramids are a major draw card for tourism to Egypt, the country is also a winner for its cruises down the Nile, its expansion into luxury train offerings and its expanding 5-star hotel portfolio.
North Africa
Meanwhile, boxer Imane Khelif, made history as the first Algerian, African, and Arab woman to win boxing gold at an Olympic Games. Also Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali defended his gold medal in 3,000m steeplechase, while Tunisia’s Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi sealed bronze in the men’s taekwondo – 58kg category.
Shining equally bright in Morocco is the country’s tourism appeal, recording 7.4 million visitors in H1, a 14% increase compared to the same period last year. With plans to It reach 17.5 million tourists in 2026 and 26 million by 2030, when the country will co-host the World Cup together with Spain and Portugal, the Moroccan National Tourist Office and Ministry of Tourism recently introduced initiatives to elevate the country’s global appeal.
Neighbouring Tunisia also enjoyed an increase in tourism numbers welcoming 4 million visitors in H1 2024, a 4.5% YoY increase. The country has recently partnered with Italy to improve its culinary offering.
