Gulf Countries Expand Artificial Intelligence Tools to Transform Regional Tourism and Travel Experiences

Qatar is combining AI travel assistance, smart airport systems and online services as it seeks to attract more than 6 million visitors annually by 2030. Eligible nationals of 47 countries can receive free multiple-entry tourist visa waivers processed on arrival, with stays extendable by 30 days. Saudi Arabia is using AI for travel planning and destination management as it pursues 150 million annual visits by 2030; its Nusuk assistant supports more than 180 languages and has served over 2 million users, and authorities are developing further AI tourism tools. In the UAE, dnata says AI has reduced the processing of thousands of hotel contracts from months to nearly real time, while the country has also expanded access to AI-enabled smart glasses. The region’s efforts aim to improve visitor experiences and manage crowds, alongside growing interest in ski holidays, cruises and food-focused trips; they also raise questions about maintaining trust and the human touch.
Qatar’s visitor journey includes the Hayya platform and smart technology at Hamad International Airport; the country is also planning digital ticketing, while biometric systems are intended to speed airport movement.
Saudi Arabia’s Digital Mutawwif uses spatial AI to guide pilgrims through Tawaf and Sa'i and automatically count their circuits; separate algorithms analyze crowd patterns, peak periods and bus routes.
Qatar’s visa waiver is issued at the point of arrival, with the entry date and the last permitted stay date recorded in the traveller’s passport.
The new UAE smart-glasses launch includes the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3, priced from Dh1,960, and models that support prescription lenses.
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