Top 3 Headlines

Oman’s tourism industry is thriving!

Oman is experiencing a surge in tourism development, marked by a series of significant projects and initiatives. A new RO 3 million visitor center is being built at the UNESCO-listed ancient city of Qalhat in South Sharqiyah, featuring museum halls, cafes, and outdoor event spaces to enhance heritage tourism. This project aligns with Oman’s goal to increase tourism’s contribution to GDP from 2.4% in 2021 to 5% by 2030 and 10% by 2040.

Other developments include:

• Rummana’s eco-luxury stay: Returning to Jabal Akhdar for its second season, offering sustainable agritourism and eco-luxury stays.
• Tourism forum: The “Uzbekistan-Oman” Tourism Forum strengthens travel and cultural ties between the two nations/
• Tourism campaign: Oman is launching a tourism campaign across French-speaking Europe, highlighting its culture, adventure, and luxury travel offerings.
• Adventure tourism: Growing interest in hiking, rock climbing, and eco-adventures, with plans to launch over 40 adventure tourism projects.
• Investment: Oman’s tourism sector is expected to attract significant investments, with a projected $31 billion investment by 2040 to support tourism growth and infrastructure development.

Louvre Abu Dhabi launches immersive quantum dome project

Louvre Abu Dhabi has unveiled the Quantum Dome Project, a new collective VR experience blending art, history, and technology. Open for 12 months, it allows groups of ten to walk through fully immersive digital recreations of Imperial Rome, medieval Baghdad, and Mughal India, each tied to iconic artefacts in the museum’s collection.

Designed with Small Creative Studio, this full-body motion-tracked journey transforms historical storytelling into a shared, interactive adventure. The experience is available in Arabic, English, and French, and targets diverse audiences, from families to tech enthusiasts. Tickets start at AED 95 and can be booked online.

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Riyadh’s KAFD Skywalk sets Guinness World Record

Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) Skywalk has earned a Guinness World Record as the world’s longest continuous pedestrian skyway, stretching an impressive 15.46 km. Connecting 95 buildings through 42 climate-controlled corridors, the structure offers year-round comfort with motion-detecting LEDs and smart mobility features.

Inspired by traditional Najdi motifs and fused with futuristic design, it incorporates over 30,000 sqm of glass. The skywalk not only enhances walkability and efficiency in KAFD but also reflects Saudi Arabia’s innovative urban development and cultural pride, making it a landmark achievement for the capital.

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Noteworthy:

1. Jordan is strengthening its position as a regional hub for conferences and exhibitions by hosting a Russian MICE delegation in Amman. Meanwhile, the city is also celebrating its urban heritage through “staircase tourism,” spotlighting iconic city staircases and promoting cultural engagement at a special forum. And have you seen the country’s cultural calendar out now?Saudi Arabia‘s tourism sector is thriving, with a record 115.9 million tourists in 2024, including 29.7 million inbound visitors, while the Red Sea Sports Association is also promoting the Kingdom’s coastal tourism and cruise potential through a new campaign.
2. Visit Qatar successfully wrapped up its sponsorship of UEFA’s Nations League Finals and Under-21 Championship as Official Tourism Partner, advancing its multi-year partnership with UEFA to promote Qatar’s innovation and hospitality globally.
3. Yas Island Abu Dhabi launches its first-ever summer camp alongside exciting events and family activities for the 2025 season.
4. DCT Abu Dhabi is launching a 2-week Tourism Youth Summer Camp in partnership with Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches, providing Emirati students aged 17-21 with hands-on training and cultural engagement to nurture future leaders in tourism and hospitality.
5. Sharjah Free Zones secured four awards at the 6th Financial Excellence Performance Awards. Meanwhile, Sharjah also announces the futuristic Khalid Bin Sultan City, a luxury mega-development with desert oases set to rival Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
6. Oman is buzzing as Dhofar prepares for the khareef season from 21 June to September, showcasing its natural beauty and cultural heritage, the Oman Kite Festival 2025 will kick off on 15 July in Barr Al Hikman, featuring thrilling kitesurfing and family-friendly fun.
7. The Moroccan National Tourist Office is launching a promotional campaign in North America to boost the country’s appeal through workshops and immersive experiences, while also seeing a surge in Chinese tourism, particularly to UNESCO-listed sites like Ksar Aït Ben Haddou. With 15.9 million tourists recorded in the first eleven months of 2024, Morocco aims to welcome 26 million tourists by 2030.
8. Tunisia‘s tourism sector sees strong growth, welcoming 4.3 million visitors in the first half of 2025, an 11% increase, with revenues reaching $1 billion, and projections of over 11 million tourists by year-end.
9. According to Wego, Cairo remains the top destination for Kuwaiti travellers, followed by nearby cities like Amman, Istanbul, Baku, and Tbilisi, which offer a mix of culture, history, and affordability, with several destinations seeing stable or declining airfares.