Travel leaders gather at One&Only One Za'abeel for World Travel Awards Middle East Gala Ceremony 2026

Dubai is preparing to welcome travel and tourism leaders from across the region for the World Travel Awards Middle East Gala Ceremony 2026, taking place at One&Only One Za’abeel on 13 September.

The VIP gala evening will bring together the Middle East’s leading travel, tourism and hospitality brands to celebrate excellence across a wide range of categories, including hotels, airlines, tour operators, destinations and tourism attractions.

Set in the heart of Dubai, One&Only One Za’abeel is the first vertical urban resort from ultra-luxury hospitality brand One&Only. Located within the landmark One Za’abeel development, the destination comprises two striking towers connected by The Link, a dramatic sky-high boulevard suspended 100 metres above the city.

Graham Cooke, Founder, World Travel Awards, said: “We are delighted to bring together the leading lights of the Middle East travel and tourism sector at One&Only One Za’abeel. Dubai is a global hub for hospitality, aviation, business and leisure, and provides an exceptional setting in which to celebrate the organisations and destinations raising the benchmark for excellence across the region. I look forward to welcoming our guests for what promises to be a memorable evening.”

The World Travel Awards Middle East Gala Ceremony 2026 will recognise the organisations and destinations shaping the future of travel and tourism throughout the region.

The event forms part of WTA’s Grand Tour 2026, a global search for the finest travel and tourism organisations. Following the Africa Gala Ceremony in Zanzibar, the Grand Tour also includes regional ceremonies in the Maldives, Jamaica and Montenegro, before culminating in the Grand Final in Tanzania.

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About World Travel Awards

World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. Today, the WTA brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire. For more information, visit worldtravelawards.com.