Top 3 Headlines
Wego highlights last-minute summer getaways for UAE families
Wego has revealed the six trending destinations UAE families are looking for before school term starts. These include:
- Alexandria, Egypt (+7.43%) offers beaches and history with easy e-Visa access
- Salalah, Oman (+5.19%) draws visitors to its cool Khareef season visa-free.
- Trabzon, Türkiye (+14.32%) is gaining popularity for its Black Sea landscapes.
- Tbilisi, Georgia (+2.29%) remains a favourite with its old-town charm and mountain views.
- Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (+38.21%) is emerging as a peaceful city retreat.
- Bali, Indonesia (+4.61%) continues to attract families with beaches and cultural adventures.
World’s first floating breathwork experience has launched at Palm Jumeirah
Dubai has introduced Floating Immersiv Breathwork, an initiative that is a collaboration between The Retreat Palm Dubai and Immersiv Collective, led by wellness expert Ashley Edelman. Held at the Palm Jumeirah every Sunday, the world’s first floating breathwork program sees attendees enjoy somatic activation on the beach with guided breathwork in the sea, followed by a herbal tea ceremony.
The program integrates meditation, movement, and the natural rhythm of the ocean, offering a new wellness experience in Dubai.
Oman unveils new tourism experiences in Jabal Akhdar and Salalah
Oman has recently launched two new attractions. In Jabal Akhdar, a 20,000 sqm park opened on 18 August, featuring green spaces, sports paths, a children’s play area, a multi-use theatre, and investment spaces for cafés and shops. The OMR 1.1 million project was established to boost community life and sustainable tourism.
The Razat Sultaniya Farm in Salalah also opened 18 August and welcomed visitors with guided tours showcasing its agricultural fields, tropical trees, and crop production. The initiative highlights agri-tourism’s role in development and food security.
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Noteworthy:
- Shiraz has emerged as a leading medical tourism destination in the region, offering advanced healthcare facilities and integrated medical tourism services that attract visitors from neighboring countries and across Iran. The country aims to generate €6 billion annually from medical tourism, with plans to become a healthcare hub for West Asia and export medical equipment and vaccines, building on its current success in treating around one million foreign patients each year.
- Former Chinese diplomat Wu Sisco sees potential for Tunisia and China to deepen relations, particularly in trade and tourism, with opportunities for Tunisia to tap into the Chinese market and reduce its trade deficit.
- The Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale has been announced to open on 30 January 2026, in Riyadh’s JAX District with an expanded curatorial team led by Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed. The edition will feature Saudi and international artists, new commissions, and expanded venues, building on previous editions that attracted over 340,000 visitors.
- Jordan recorded a 15.6% rise in tourist arrivals in the first seven months of 2025, with a forecasted tourism income projected to be more than $7.7 billion in 2026 (up 6%). The country is also proving its position as a leading medical tourism destination, with more than 224,000 visitors in 2024 and a growing sector generating over US$1 billion annually.
- Oman is ramping up efforts in key markets, hosting a roadshow in Jaipur to attract Indian travellers and welcoming a Chinese travel delegation to boost inbound tourism.
- MSC Cruises has announced it will remove the Middle East segment from its 2026 World Cruise affecting planned stops in Gulf destinations.
- The UAE Africa Tourism Investment Summit will take place on 27 October in Dubai, bringing together government leaders, investors, and tourism stakeholders to drive cross-border collaboration and unlock opportunities between the UAE and Africa’s travel sector. The event will highlight investment prospects in aviation, hospitality, and tourism.
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre in Abu Dhabi welcomed over 4.3 million visitors in H1 2025, of these, more than 1.9 million were worshippers from various nationalities and 43,000 used the Mosque’s jogging track.
- Ras Al Khaimah is planning a new luxury superyacht marina—designed in collaboration with advisors associated with the Monaco Yacht Club—in anticipation of the Wynn Al Marjan Island Resort, aiming to position the emirate as a premier destination for elite yachting
- Nakheel Mall has launched a Smurfs-themed pop-up running from 15 – 31 August, transforming the space into a cartoon-style village with interactive zones, AR features, daily shows, and character meet-and-greets. The family-friendly event doubles as a playful summer finale and a promotional nod to the upcoming Smurfs movie starring Rihanna as Smurfette.
