Monitor this situation.

Unsubscribe anytime.

[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [BUSINESS]

2 clusters · 6 sources · 29 days · First seen about 1 month ago · Last updated 7 days ago

Middle East economic and tourism sector resilience

Overview

Economic indicators in the Middle East suggest resilience across the SME, wholesale, and tourism sectors despite regional geopolitical tensions. In the first half of 2026, wholesale transaction volumes in the region increased by 18% compared to the previous year, recovering from a temporary 5% dip in March following a conflict involving Iran.

Business confidence remains notable, with 74% of UAE decision-makers expressing a positive outlook for the next 12 months. Within the tourism and business events sectors, there is a strategic shift toward the ‘experience economy,’ focusing on cultural relevance and transformative experiences. In Dubai, the tourism industry continues to leverage air connectivity and a reputation for safety to maintain international appeal during periods of crisis.

Entities

Mastercard · Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing · Arabian Travel Market · Bernstein · UAE

Timeline

7 days ago

[BUSINESS] 6 sources
Middle East tourism and business events sectors target sustained growth
The Middle East business events and tourism sectors are moving beyond recovery to focus on sustained growth, driven by the experience economy and Dubai’s strong international connectivity.
about 1 month ago

[BUSINESS] 2 sources
Middle East business confidence and wholesale volumes show resilience
Middle East businesses show resilience as UAE SMEs focus on digital transformation and regional wholesale volumes rise 18% in the first half of 2026 despite recent regional conflicts.

Sources

alwatan.ae · bizcommunity.com · dailyguardian.ae · emirates247.com · gulfnews.com · localbh.com