Business travel surges in the Mena region

The business travel sector in the Mena region has grown since last year, surpassing $17 billion, data shows.

- Somshankar Bandyopadhyay

Internal data from Tumodo, an online business travel platform, indicates a 35 per cent increase in booking value, a 20 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, and the incorporation of AI-driven predictive analytics to optimise budget forecasts, implement effective travel policies, and maximise savings.

Business travellers predominantly choose airlines such as Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Flydubai. Throughout the year, Dubai remained a central hub for travel, with roundtrip journeys to London, Riyadh, and Cairo being consistently popular. As the year progressed, new routes emerged, such as round trips between Yerevan and Belgrade, and one-way flights from Dublin to Belgrade. Furthermore, there was a shift in passengers’ choice of travel class: 70 per cent opted for economy, 29 per cent chose business class, and less than 1 per cent selected first class.