The India–Middle East travel corridor has staged a strong recovery, driven by sustained leisure demand, improving corporate travel and a gradual revival in MICE movements, according to Santosh Kanchan, Country Head – India, Cozmo Travel.
Kanchan said passenger confidence has returned steadily, with airline operations largely restored across the region. “The India–Middle East corridor has recovered well, with passenger confidence and airline operations steadily returning. Leisure travel continues to lead demand, particularly for the UAE, supported by family holidays, VFR (Visiting Friends & Relatives) travel and short breaks. At the same time, corporate travel is strengthening, while MICE enquiries are gradually picking up as businesses resume regional engagements,” he said.
He noted that the Middle East continues to be one of the strongest outbound markets for Indian travellers due to its proximity, extensive air connectivity and ease of travel. Among all routes, the India–UAE sector has witnessed the fastest normalisation, especially services linking major Indian cities with Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, fuelled by strong leisure, business and VFR traffic.
“As Cozmo Travel is headquartered in Sharjah, we continue to see robust demand through Air Arabia’s hub, which offers seamless connectivity across the GCC and beyond,” Kanchan added. He also pointed out that routes to Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have stabilised, supported by business, workforce and religious travel.
According to Kanchan, most Gulf carriers, including Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai and Qatar Airways, are now operating close to normal capacity, while Indian airlines have reinstated the majority of their Middle East services. The increase in frequencies and seat capacity is providing travellers with greater flexibility and connectivity.
Looking ahead, he remains optimistic about the corridor’s growth prospects. “We expect the market to remain positive, provided there are no fresh geopolitical disruptions. Demand should continue to strengthen, supported by improved airline capacity, stable schedules and healthy summer travel. Corporate and MICE movements are also expected to gain further momentum, keeping the India–Middle East corridor among the most resilient international markets,” Kanchan said.
He added that the corridor’s balanced mix of leisure, business, MICE, VFR and religious travel continues to underpin its resilience, while ongoing investments in tourism, aviation and infrastructure across the Gulf are expected to further boost India–Middle East travel in the coming months.
Janice Alyosius is a travel and MICE journalist focusing on business travel, destination marketing, aviation and industry policy. She leads editorial content at MICEtalk and also writes for TravTalk, covering global trends, trade developments and key industry conversations. With regular reporting from tourism forums, conventions and on-ground industry events, her work blends news-led analysis with strong industry voices, offering clear context and relevance for travel trade professionals and decision-makers.