Dubai Named Middle East’s Leading Destination at World Travel Awards

Dubai has been named ‘Middle East’s Leading Destination’ at the World Travel Awards Middle East Gala Ceremony 2026, held at One&Only One Za’abeel on September 13th.

The ceremony brought together travel and tourism organisations from across the region, with awards spanning destinations, hotels, hospitality brands and aviation.

Other destination winners included Abu Dhabi as ‘Middle East’s Leading Business Travel Destination’, Saadiyat Island as ‘Middle East’s Leading Beach Destination’ and Riyadh as ‘Middle East’s Leading City Destination’.

Saudi Arabia received both ‘Middle East’s Leading Heritage Destination’ and ‘Middle East’s Leading Cultural Destination’, while Ajman was named ‘Middle East’s Leading Emerging Tourism Destination’. Sharjah’s Mleiha National Park won ‘Middle East’s Leading National Park’.

In hospitality, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental was named ‘Middle East’s Leading Luxury Hotel’, while Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island took ‘Middle East’s Leading City Resort’.

Among new openings, Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai, was named ‘Middle East’s Leading New Hotel’, while InterContinental The Red Sea Resort in Saudi Arabia received ‘Middle East’s Leading New Resort’.

Four Seasons won ‘Middle East’s Leading Luxury Hotel Brand’, while The Ascott Limited took ‘Middle East’s Leading Serviced Apartment Brand’.

In aviation, Qatar Airways was named ‘Middle East’s Leading Airline’, while Emirates won ‘Middle East’s Leading Airline – First Class’ and Emirates Skywards took ‘Middle East’s Leading Airline Rewards Programme’.

Etihad Airways received ‘Middle East’s Leading Cabin Crew’ and ‘Middle East’s Leading Airline – Economy Class’, while flynas was named ‘Middle East’s Leading Low-Cost Airline’.

The Dubai ceremony formed part of the World Travel Awards Grand Tour 2026, which continues across multiple regions ahead of the organisation’s Grand Final.