Middle East Air Connectivity Soars in 2025, with UAE, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye Leading the Charge - Travel And Tour World (2025)

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

As the Arabian Travel Market 2025 approaches, Mabrian, a global travel intelligence platform, has released a study forecasting significant growth in the Middle East’s air connectivity. The research, which analyzes international seat availability for nine key Middle Eastern destinations, highlights the region’s growing importance as a global aviation hub. The findings underscore the pivotal role of strategic route development, airline partnerships, and network optimization for sustainable growth.

Key Destinations on the Rise

According to Mabrian, the UAE and Türkiye remain at the forefront, ranking among the world’s top 10 countries for international air connectivity in 2025. The UAE holds the 7th position with 88.9 million seats available, while Türkiye follows closely in 9th place with 75.6 million seats. Despite a slight slowdown compared to the global average, both countries continue to expand their seat capacity. The UAE expects a 3.4% increase in inbound seats, and Türkiye anticipates a 4.2% rise by the end of 2025.

Saudi Arabia, however, is set to experience the most rapid growth in the region. With a projected 5.2% increase in inbound air seats, the country’s seat capacity will reach 43.1 million by year-end. This marks a 38% growth since 2019, solidifying Saudi Arabia’s position as a rising aviation powerhouse. The country’s expansion has outpaced many of its regional counterparts, including Egypt, which has seen a 51% increase in international air connectivity since 2019.

Challenges for Some GCC Countries

While some destinations show robust growth, others are experiencing stagnation or decline in inbound seat capacity. Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait are projected to see reductions in air connectivity, with decreases of 3.1%, 3.9%, and 4.4% respectively. These trends highlight the challenges these countries face in maintaining their global connectivity as competition intensifies.

Jordan and Egypt: Rising Stars

In contrast, Jordan and Egypt are poised to outpace global growth rates. Jordan’s inbound seat capacity is expected to grow by 13% year-over-year, while Egypt will see an 8.1% increase in 2025, reaching 28 million seats. Both countries are regaining traction after setbacks in recent years, indicating a strong recovery trajectory for Middle Eastern tourism.

Strategic Moves for Long-Term Success

As the Middle East aviation market continues to evolve, countries like the UAE and Türkiye are focused on diversifying their connectivity strategies. Enhancing stopover programs, increasing flight frequencies, and building airline partnerships are crucial steps in maintaining their dominance. Saudi Arabia’s rapid growth further emphasizes the need for integrated strategies to foster stronger connectivity ties with neighboring hubs like the UAE and Qatar.

For Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait, adopting a more aggressive strategy to attract long-haul flights and invest in underserved routes could be vital to reversing declining connectivity trends.

Looking Ahead to Arabian Travel Market 2025

Mabrian’s analysis will be a key talking point at the 32nd edition of the Arabian Travel Market, where the company will lead discussions on air connectivity and tourism development. With air traffic growth set to drive the region’s tourism industry forward, it is clear that the Middle East’s strategic positioning in global aviation is stronger than ever.