Riyadh Air to Take Delivery of First Planes, Plans 100 Cities in 5 Years
Connecting 22 cities in nine months is a bold ambition.
Deepthi Nair is Skift’s Middle East Reporter, covering aviation, hospitality, tourism policy, and travel trends across the Gulf and wider region. Based in Dubai, she reports on how the region is reshaping global travel — from airline expansion and visa shifts to mega tourism projects. She regularly interviews top industry executives and government leaders. Outside of work, Deepthi is usually planning her next trip.
Dubai’s $400M in Tourism Aid Buys Time. Operators See Empty Rooms.
With occupancy at 10% and summer ahead, fee exemptions may matter less than empty rooms.
Europe’s Air Safety Watchdog Is Grounding Its Own Airlines — and Dubai Carriers Are Winning
Emirates and flydubai are making the most of every day European rivals sit on the ground.
Gulf Travelers Are Searching, Not Booking: How the Iran War Is Reshaping Travel Demand
The Gulf travel story isn’t a demand collapse — it’s a demand deferral. The key question is when hesitation converts back to commitment.
Gulf Hotel Investment Enters Pause Mode as Iran War Clouds Pipeline
Capital isn’t leaving the Gulf. It’s just sitting very, very still.
Wynn, Four Seasons, Nobu: Ras Al Khaimah Is Doubling Its Hotel Rooms
With a Wynn resort, a private jet terminal, and a wave of luxury hotels on the way, the emirate is no longer just a weekend escape from Dubai.
Abu Dhabi’s Sphere Has a Home: Yas Island
The location was the easy part. Whether Abu Dhabi can fill a $1.7 billion venue with its own original content is the harder question.
Morocco Courts Investors Beyond Casablanca and Marrakech — Where the Opportunities Are
Rural Morocco is open for investment. Filling it won’t be easy.
Egypt and Morocco Dominate Africa’s Hotel Pipeline
Egypt’s hotel pipeline looks extraordinary on paper — the real story is whether financing, construction, and demand can keep pace with ambition.
Riyadh Air Files for U.S. Permit as It Scales Toward 100-Destination Network
Repeated delays, many outside its control, have kept Riyadh Air as a glamorous brand rather than a working airline. The U.S. permit filing is a tangible step toward actually getting into the skies.