The World Travel Awards 2026 gala was held at the One&Only One Za'abeel hotel in Dubai to honor the best in the Middle East tourism industry. During this event, leading organizations and destinations in this field were recognized, and Dubai was introduced as the Top Tourist Destination in the Middle East.
Top Winners
Dubai, which is always recognized as a global tourism powerhouse, claimed the title of Top Tourist Destination in the Middle East at this event. Abu Dhabi was also selected as the Top Business Destination in the Middle East, and Saadiyat Island won the title of Top Beach Destination in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia succeeded in two categories, Top Cultural Heritage Destination and Top Cultural Destination in the Middle East, while Riyadh was recognized as the Top Urban Destination in the Middle East.
Tourism Growth in the UAE
The UAE, especially Dubai and Abu Dhabi, is rapidly growing due to strong infrastructure and cultural diversity. Ajman was introduced as the Top Emerging Tourist Destination in the Middle East, while Al Mleiha National Park in Sharjah earned the title of Top National Park in the Middle East. In the hospitality sector, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental was selected as the Top Luxury Hotel in the Middle East, and Four Seasons Abu Dhabi on Al Maryah Island received the title of Top Urban Resort in the Middle East.
In the new hotels category, Mandarin Oriental Downtown in Dubai earned the title of Top New Hotel in the Middle East, and InterContinental Red Sea Resort in Saudi Arabia was recognized as the Top New Resort in the Middle East. In the brands category, Four Seasons was named Top Luxury Hotel Brand in the Middle East, and The Ascott Limited was recognized as the Top Serviced Apartment Brand.
In the aviation sector, Emirates Airlines earned the title of Top First Class Airline in the Middle East, while Emirates Airlines' Skywards rewards program was chosen as the Top Airline Rewards Program in the Middle East. Etihad Airways received the titles of Top Cabin Crew and Top Economy Class Airline. Additionally, Qatar Airways was recognized as the Top Airline in the Middle East, and flynas was introduced as the Top Low-Cost Airline in the Middle East.
Graham Cooke, founder of the World Travel Awards, stated at the event: "Our winners represent the best of the tourism and travel industry in the Middle East, and each of them plays a prominent role in elevating the common standards of our industry." This announcement is part of the grand tour of the World Travel Awards 2026, which seeks the best tourism and travel organizations globally and includes other ceremonies in the Maldives, Zanzibar, Jamaica, and Montenegro, culminating in a grand finale in Tanzania.
