MENA Tourism Boom Drives Gulf-Arab Collaboration
The tourism and hospitality sector across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is experiencing a resurgence, driven by mega-projects, policy reforms and Gulf state investment. A recent industry analysis highlights remarkable growth in 2025. Middle East Briefing Current market …
By
Sophie Aldridge
Published
Nov 18, 2025
Read
1 min
The tourism and hospitality sector across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is experiencing a resurgence, driven by mega-projects, policy reforms and Gulf state investment. A recent industry analysis highlights remarkable growth in 2025. Middle East Briefing
Current market overview
Gulf-Arab connectivity & investment
The Gulf states are both sources of tourists and sources of capital for hospitality projects across the region—including North Africa and Jordan. Investors from GCC are actively funding hotels, resorts, destination entertainment and cultural hospitality assets in Egypt, Jordan and elsewhere.
Example: Overnight GCC tourist arrivals in Jordan rose ~6% in H1-2025. Zawya
Implications for entertainment & hospitality
Challenges
Outlook
For the Gulf + broader MENA region:
Written by
Sophie Aldridge
Senior correspondent · Banking & Capital Markets
Sophie spent a decade on a debt capital markets desk before swapping the trade for the typewriter. She covers banks, regulators, and the underwriting decisions most readers never see. Sharpest on fixed income and balance-sheet stress; partial to central bankers who pick up the phone. Based in Riyadh. Reach out at sophie.aldridge@theplatinumcapital.com.
