(MENAFN- Mid-East Info) Dubai – The Arabian Travel Awards 2025 concluded on a high note in Dubai, celebrating the region's leading innovators, leaders, and changemakers in travel, tourism, and hospitality. Often hailed as the“Oscars of the travel industry,” the awards ceremony brought together a constellation of industry heavyweights to acknowledge a year of exceptional achievements and highlight the GCC's rapidly evolving tourism landscape.

The gala, hosted at Embassy Suites by Hilton Business Bay, opened with a warm welcome from SanJeet, Director of DDP Group and master of ceremonies for the evening. The audience included a distinguished lineup of leaders and dignitaries, such as Dr. Mohammed Al Ahbabi, Director of Tourism Development at the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism, His Excellency Tengku Dato' Sirajuzzaman Tengku Mohamed Ariffin, Ambassador of Malaysia to the UAE, and prominent industry figures including Jamal Abdulnazar, Nasir Jamal Khan, Saleem Sharif, Mohd Faharuddin Hatmin, Kathryn Wallington, Mohamed Khater, Jaal Shah, Mohamed Awadalla, Ziad Tantawi, and Iftikhar Hamdani.

A highlight of the evening was the launch of an exclusive collector's edition coffee table book, unveiled on stage in the presence of the Guest of Honour dignitaries. The book chronicles the milestones, stories, and personalities driving the GCC's tourism growth, offering a tangible celebration of the sector's evolution.

In his keynote, SanJeet highlighted the extraordinary engagement this year, revealing that the awards platform received over 6,000 votes, a clear indicator of the trust and enthusiasm the Arabian Travel Awards command within the regional travel community.“Recognition is a powerful motivator,” he noted,“and these awards inspire individuals and organisations alike to push the boundaries of excellence.”

The ceremony's Chief Guest, Dr. Mohammed Al Ahbabi, emphasized the importance of platforms that elevate industry standards and foster innovation, while His Excellency Tengku Dato' Sirajuzzaman highlighted the event's global relevance and its role in positioning the GCC as a world-class travel hub.

The evening celebrated the region's most outstanding contributors to tourism and hospitality. Alaa Al Ali, CEO of NG9 Holding and Nirvana Travel and Tourism, was inducted into the Gallery of Legends for his enduring contribution to the sector. Hatim Alharbi, Chief of Tourism at the Aseer Development Authority, received the DDP Game Changer Award for his pivotal role in Saudi Arabia's tourism transformation. Naeem Darkazally, Founder and CEO of Keef Hospitality Consultancy, was honoured with the DDP Trailblazer Award for his strategic impact across hotels and tourism authorities, while Meerah Ketait, Head of Retail and Leisure UAE at dnata Travel, claimed the DDP Face of the Future award for redefining customer experience for the next generation of travellers.

The Arabian Travel Awards 2025 reaffirmed its role as the definitive benchmark of excellence in the region's travel industry. Winners left not only with accolades but also with renewed inspiration to shape one of the world's most dynamic tourism landscapes.

Full list of 2025 winners:

1	Gallery of Legends	Alaa Al Ali
2	DDP Gamechanger	Hatim Al Harbi
3	DDP Trailblazer	Naeem Darkazally
4	Face of the Future	Meerah Ketait
5	Best Family Friendly Resort in Northern Emirates	Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island
6	Best B2B Travel Portal – Middle East	Akbar Travels
7	Best Debut Hotel Apartments	Cheval Maison – Expo City Dubai
8	Best City Hotel	Novotel Dubai Al Barsha
9	Most Promising Destination	Jamaica Tourist Board
10	Best Corporate Travel Management Company	Satguru Travel & Tourism
11	Best Destination Wedding Resort	Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai
12	Best Business & Leisure Hotel	Grand Millennium Dubai
13	Most Innovative Corporate Booking Tool Developed in the Middle East	Blue Seven Technologies (OBT7)
14	Best Lifestyle Resort	Th8 Palm Dubai Beach Resort
15	Best Cultural Tourism Destination	Spain
16	Fastest Growing Hotel Management Company	Gewan Hotels & Resorts
17	Best Destination Management Company – Qatar	Tawfeeq Holidays
18	Most Comfortable Hotel Apartments	Golden Sands Hotel Apartments
19	Fastest Growing GSA	ITVAR GSA Travel LLC
20	Best Travel Booking Platform	RezLive
21	Fastest Growing GCC Tourism Destination	Aseer Region
22	Most Promising Travel Management Company	Pluto Group
23	Best Destination Marketing Initiatives	Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board
24	Best 5 Star Business Hotel	Swissotel Al Murooj Dubai
25	Fastest Growing B2B Travel Portal	Book Your Voyage
26	Best Beach Resort	Fairmont Ajman
27	Best Corporate Travel Company	Musafir Business
28	Emerging DMC – Qatar	Odyssey DMC Qatar
29	Outstanding Sales Performance to Malaysia	Emirates Holidays
30	Outstanding Travel Trade Partner for Malaysia	Sharaf Travel
31	Fastest Growing Airline Partner to Malaysia	flydubai
32	Best Debut 5-Star Hotel	Embassy Suites by Hilton Dubai Business Bay
33	Best Luxury Serviced Apartments	Two Seasons Hotel & Apartments
34	Best Travel Management Company in the UAE	ATS Travel
35	Most Loved Travel Destination by Millennials & Gen Z	Korea Tourism Organization
36	Best Wedding & MICE Hotel	Mövenpick Grand Al Bustan Hotel & Convention Centre Dubai
37	Fastest Growing Luxury Tour Operator	Concierge ONE Tourism
38	Most Reliable B2B Travel Portal	Smart Travel LLC
39	Best Wellness Destination	Czech Tourism
40	Best B2b Travel Company	Top Travel Trip (T3)
41	Best 4-Star Leisure Hotel	Golden Tulip Media Hotel
42	Fastest Growing TMC in Africa	European Travel
43	Most Active in Promoting Sustainable and Accessible Travel	German National Tourist Office – Gulf Countries
44	Best Leisure Tour Operator	TravTips
45	Best Family Friendly Hotel	Swissotel Al Ghurair
46	Fastest Growing DMC Portal – UAE	Arabian Journeys
47	Best Urban Lifestyle Hotel	Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach
48	Fastest Growing Travel Management Company	Blueberry Travel (Friends Travel & Tourism LLC)
49	Best NTO – South East Asia	Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board
50	UAE's Leading DMC	Odyssey DMC UAE
51	Best Refurbished 4 Star Hotel	MD Hotel by Gewan
52	Fastest Growing B2B Online Portal – Qatar	EzyTrip
53	Sharjah's Leading 4-Star Hotel	Golden Sands Hotel & Residences Sharjah
54	Leading Online Travel Enterprise in the region	Travelwings
55	Best 4-Star Corporate Hotel	Hilton Garden Inn Dubai Business Bay
56	Emerging DMC – Oman	Odyssey DMC Oman
57	Platinum Sponsor	Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board
58	Hospitality Partner	Embassy Suites by Hilton Dubai Business Bay

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