The first quarter of 2026 witnessed a dynamic landscape for business travel across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with February emerging as a standout month. According to Tumodo, a prominent travel technology firm, February alone recorded a robust 20% increase in business trips and bookings, aligning perfectly with their initial forecasts.
The quarter commenced with activity levels comparable to December 2025, followed by a modest 5% rise in January. While March did not surpass February’s impressive figures, it still maintained a 5% lead over January, a growth partly attributed to significant corporate staff relocations within the region.
Overall, Q1 2026 matched the total bookings of Q4 2025. However, Tumodo estimates that growth could have potentially soared by an additional 25% had March not been impacted by regional conflicts, highlighting the underlying demand for business travel.
Saudi Arabia solidified its position as the premier business travel destination, capturing 30% of all trips. The UAE followed closely at 20%, with Egypt accounting for 10%. Key routes dominating regional travel included Dubai–Riyadh, Dubai–Cairo, and Riyadh–Cairo, underscoring the strong economic ties between these hubs.
Travel costs also saw an uptick, with average airfares climbing to $451 from $439 in Q4 2025, and hotel rates rising to an average of $467. Emirates maintained its lead as the most utilized carrier, followed by Saudia, Turkish Airlines, and flydubai. Business trips typically averaged four days, and inbound travel is projected to experience steady growth through 2030.
Mohanad Nada, Head of GCC at Tumodo, commented on the findings: “February performed exactly as we had forecast, and the numbers showed it. March was a different story, but it still came in ahead of January, which tells you the underlying appetite for business travel in MENA remains solid. The more immediate concern for corporate travel managers right now is pricing. We expect meaningful cost increases on air travel over the coming months, and the companies that book early will be the ones that protect their budgets.”
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