Yatra Goes Global
Yatra Online Partners Kanoo Travel, Launches Enterprise Travel Platform Across Middle East
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Key Points
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Yatra is transitioning from consumer-focused domestic sales to a B2B global model, leveraging asset-light international technology licensing.
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The agreement includes a seven-year MoU signed on July 13, 2026, outlining an outsourcing services framework and deployment of the integrated platform—with no quantified contract value disclosed.
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Yatra will operate core backend customer service pipelines via its dedicated outsourcing wing to Kanoo Travel’s Middle East operations.
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The collaboration will enable carbon footprint analytics, duty-of-care alerts, and instant mobile-first flight adjustments as part of the platform’s capabilities.
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Siddhartha Gupta, CEO of Yatra, said the partnership demonstrates the ability of world-class enterprise technology built in India to serve customers globally.
Indian travel tech firm Yatra Online has signed a seven-year partnership with Bahrain-based Kanoo Travel, marking its first major push into international markets. The deal deploys Yatra's enterprise travel and expense management platform across the Middle East, reaching Kanoo's network of more than 100 locations across the GCC region, according to HDFC Sky.
The memorandum of understanding was signed on July 13, 2026. No contract value was disclosed. The agreement covers everything from flight booking and expense tracking to carbon footprint analytics and duty-of-care alerts, according to Travel and Tour World.
Yatra Bets on B2B Licensing to Go Global
Yatra has been shifting away from consumer travel sales in India. The company is now targeting high-margin, asset-light technology licensing deals abroad. This partnership with Kanoo is the clearest sign yet of that pivot, according to Sahi.
Yatra CEO Siddhartha Gupta said the deal shows that "world-class enterprise technology built in India" can serve customers globally. The platform-as-a-service model bundles software with outsourcing — meaning Yatra also runs core backend customer service pipelines for Kanoo's Middle East operations.
Kanoo's 100-Location Footprint Meets Yatra's Tech Stack
Kanoo Travel is one of the largest travel management companies in the MENA region. It operates as a division of the Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo Group. Its reach spans the GCC and broader Middle East, according to TradingView.
Yatra's platform gives Kanoo tools for automated booking, travel policy management, and real-time expense tracking. A 24/7 multilingual Kanoo Global Operations Centre will support the rollout. The centre is designed to handle instant mobile-first flight changes and alert travelers to safety risks, per IndexBox.
Carbon Tracking and Duty-of-Care Features Headline the Platform
Beyond booking, the platform includes carbon footprint analytics. Companies can track the environmental impact of every trip. Duty-of-care alerts notify managers when travelers face risk. These features target large corporates under growing pressure to manage both cost and compliance, according to Travel and Tour World.
The deal also includes a full analytics layer. Corporate clients get data on spending patterns, policy compliance, and trip efficiency. This kind of real-time visibility is a key selling point as Middle East firms modernize their travel operations, per Sahi.
Indian Travel Tech Eyes a Bigger Global Role
This deal fits a wider trend. Indian travel technology companies are using regional partnerships to break into fast-growing markets. The Middle East is investing heavily in digital transformation across corporate services. Yatra wants to be at the front of that shift, according to IndexBox.
For Kanoo, the upgrade modernizes an operation built on decades of relationships but in need of a tech overhaul. For Yatra, landing a partner with 100-plus locations gives its platform immediate regional scale. Both sides see the seven-year horizon as enough time to prove the model, per HDFC Sky.
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