GCC travel activity jumps 66% in May as UAE and Qatar lead rebound

Dragonpass says travel volumes across GCC aviation hubs rose 66.2% in May from April, with the UAE and Qatar driving the recovery. The data points to returning traveler confidence and stronger demand heading into peak summer travel season.

Why it matters: - GCC travel demand appears to be rebounding quickly after a slower start to the year. - The recovery matters for airlines, airports and travel-service providers that depend on steady regional passenger flows. - The surge also signals returning traveler confidence across major aviation hubs in the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

What happened: - Dragonpass data showed travel activity across GCC hubs rose 66.2% in May compared with April. - Travel activity across GCC hubs increased 72.8% from March to May. - The rebound was led by the UAE and Qatar, with Saudi Arabia also posting continued growth. - Andrew Harrison-Chinn, Dragonpass chief marketing officer, said traveler confidence across the GCC is returning faster than many anticipated.

The details: - The UAE recorded a 75.6% increase in travel activity from April to May. - The UAE's share of total GCC travel rose to 48.7% in May. - Dubai International Airport grew 75.1% in the period. - Abu Dhabi International Airport grew 76.7%. - Sharjah International Airport grew 72.9%. - Qatar posted the strongest growth among established regional travel markets, up 165.1% from April to May. - Hamad International Airport in Doha posted the highest increase among major GCC hubs. - Qatar's share of regional travel rose from 5.9% in April to 9.5% in May. - Saudi Arabia accounted for 41.2% of total travel across GCC hubs. - Saudi travel volumes rose 34.9% between April and May, supported by strong performances from Riyadh and Dammam.

Between the lines: - Dragonpass framed the May rebound as a sign that GCC travelers are prioritizing reliability, connectivity and smoother airport experiences. - The data suggests the region's aviation infrastructure has helped absorb a sharp pickup in demand. - The strongest gains came from markets that already anchor regional travel, which points to broad-based recovery rather than a narrow one-off surge.

What's next: - Dragonpass expects demand to keep strengthening as the region moves into the peak summer travel season. - The company said travelers are increasingly prioritizing seamless and stress-free airport experiences. - Continued recovery will likely hinge on sustained connectivity and airport capacity across the GCC.

The bottom line: - GCC travel is not just recovering; Dragonpass says the rebound is accelerating across the region's most important hubs.