Dubai picks up speed

Dubai. With the Arab Spring entering into its third year, tourism prospects in the Middle East and North Africa are divided between 'safe haven' countries like the United Arab Emirates and countries still mired in turmoil, such as Egypt, Tunisia, and Syria. The clear star of the industry is Dubai, which continued to be the hot topic at the annual "Arabian Hotel Investment Conference" which took place last Sunday and Monday. And the first announcement of a deal at the conference was a Wyndham hotel in Dubai, the first for the Wyndham brand in the hotel group, which has other brands operating in the city.

Dubai. The Arabian world has become a shade more sober since the last year but, indeed, remains optimistic. This week, tourism professionals from all over the world once again flowed into the "Arabian Travel Market" in Dubai; the trade show halls hummed from the first hour. Dubai is still the shining star of the United Arab Emirates, but the region is in motion. Qatar displayed a massive presence everywhere – from the large-scale advertising in and beyond the trade show up to the sponsorship of the new multimedia information centre. The hottest trade show news also came from Qatar. The small emirate clearly signalled: Now it is involved in the determining regions and business segments – and as the richest country in the world, is also establishing still new accents in the international expansion in parallel while others are struggling with their debt. And likewise, the remaining emirates and countries of the Middle East are vigorously polishing their tourist profiles with new hotel facilities or ecological projects.