3 Gulf Cities Rank Among World’s Fastest-Growing Travel Hotspots

If you’re planning your next trip and the Gulf is on your radar, you’re not alone. Three cities in the region—Jeddah, Riyadh, and Doha—have landed in the world’s top 10 fastest-growing destinations for international travel in 2026.

That’s according to new data from global travel intelligence firm Mabrian, which tracks flight searches and air capacity worldwide.

Gulf Cities Climb the Global Rankings

Among all destinations studied, Jeddah ranked fifth globally for growth in travel demand, followed by Doha in ninth and Riyadh in tenth. They’re part of a small group of cities worldwide seeing a major jump in international interest this year.

Other Gulf cities are also catching momentum, with Muscat and Kuwait City posting noticeable increases in travel demand.

Western Asia Sees Strongest Growth Worldwide

Western Asia—including the GCC—now accounts for 8.9% of global international travel inspiration in the first half of 2026. That’s the strongest upward trend of any region worldwide.

The growth is being driven by rising flight searches and more airline seats being added across the region.

More Flights, More Visitors

Airlines are clearly betting big on the Gulf. International air capacity across GCC countries is set to grow by 3.6% over the next six months compared to last year.

The biggest source markets fueling this demand include:

• UK (up 5.6%)

• US (up 3.3%)

• Germany and Russia (both up 7.2%)

Travel Demand Holds Steady Despite Regional Tensions

Even with recent unrest in Iran, travel interest in the Gulf stayed steady in early 2026. After a brief dip in February, demand bounced back in March—slightly higher than last year—showing how resilient the region’s tourism pull has become.

Tourism Money Is Pouring In

The momentum is already paying off. GCC tourism revenues have jumped nearly 40% over the past five years, reaching $120.2 billion in 2024. The region now accounts for 7.5% of global tourism receipts, a record high.

In short: the Gulf isn’t just a stopover anymore—it’s becoming the destination.

This article was previously published on saudimoments. To see the original article, click here