Seychelles puts GCC at heart of high-value tourism growth with Emirates MoU at ATM 2026

Six in ten visitors reach Seychelles through Gulf aviation hubs, while UAE arrivals rise 6.2 per cent and tourism earnings climb 29 per cent to US$1.196 billion

Key highlights

•    Emirates MoU: Seychelles Tourism Board is set to sign an MoU with Emirates at Arabian Travel Market 2026, building on a longstanding strategic partnership and strengthening Dubai’s role as a gateway to the islands.
•    Tourism earnings outpace arrivals: Seychelles generated approximately US$1.196 billion in tourism earnings in 2025, an increase of around 29 per cent year on year, compared with 13 per cent growth in visitor arrivals.
•    Six in ten visitors travel through Gulf hubs: Approximately 60 per cent of visitors to Seychelles connect through Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi, underlining the GCC’s importance as both a source market and a global aviation gateway.
•    UAE arrivals increase 6.2 per cent: Seychelles welcomed 20,980 visitors from UAE in 2025, up from 19,761 in 2024, reflecting sustained demand from high-value and repeat travellers.

Dubai, UAE, 15 September 2026: With approximately six in ten international visitors reaching its shores through Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi, Seychelles Tourism Board is placing the GCC at the centre of its strategy for high-value, sustainable tourism at Arabian Travel Market 2026.

The destination’s participation is anchored by plans to sign an MoU with Emirates, stronger engagement with the regional travel trade and a renewed ambition to introduce Middle Eastern travellers to a Seychelles experience that extends far beyond its world-famous beaches.

At the heart of the strategy is a clear shift from volume to value, focused on attracting visitors who stay longer, explore more islands and contribute more widely to local businesses, communities and the Seychellois economy.

“The GCC is central to Seychelles’ tourism future, both as a source of high-value travellers and as an aviation bridge connecting our islands with the world,” said Vesna Rakic, Chief Executive Officer of Seychelles Tourism Board.

“Our partnership with Emirates has played an important role in expanding access to Seychelles. The new MoU will build on that longstanding relationship and create further opportunities to strengthen awareness and demand across the region and international markets.”

Gulf connectivity powers Seychelles’ international reach

The planned Emirates MoU will be a central element of Seychelles Tourism Board’s programme at ATM 2026, reinforcing Dubai’s position as one of the destination’s most important gateways.

Emirates currently operates 14 flights a week between Dubai and Mahé, providing double-daily connectivity. Air Seychelles operates a daily service from Abu Dhabi, while Qatar Airways resumed four weekly services through Doha in June 2026.

Together, these routes give travellers across the GCC convenient access to Seychelles while connecting the archipelago with international markets across Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Approximately 60 per cent of visitors travelling to Seychelles pass through Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi, making the three Gulf hubs critical to the destination’s international tourism network.

UAE demand reinforces high-value opportunity

UAE continues to grow as an important source market in its own right. Seychelles welcomed 20,980 visitors from UAE in 2025, representing a 6.2 per cent increase from 19,761 in 2024.

Strong repeat visitation further demonstrates the destination’s appeal among UAE residents, particularly families, couples and luxury travellers seeking privacy, exclusivity, personalised experiences and an easily accessible island escape.

“Travellers from the GCC already know Seychelles for its beaches, privacy and exceptional hospitality. Our opportunity now is to introduce them to the fuller Seychelles story,” Rakic added.

“That story includes our people, Creole culture and gastronomy, nature, wellness, marine experiences, adventure and the distinctive character of our different islands. We want visitors to stay longer, explore further and build a deeper connection with the destination.”

Beyond the beach: a richer Seychelles experience

Seychelles is broadening its international positioning beyond the traditional perception of the destination primarily as a luxury beach escape.

Visitors are increasingly being encouraged to explore Mahé beyond its role as an international gateway, discovering Victoria, Creole culture, local cuisine, hiking trails, nature reserves and island communities.

Praslin combines celebrated beaches with the UNESCO-listed Vallée de Mai, nature, gastronomy and luxury experiences, while providing a convenient base for discovering neighbouring islands.

La Digue offers a distinctly slower rhythm shaped by cycling, iconic landscapes and authentic island life. Seychelles’ private and outer islands provide another compelling proposition for GCC travellers seeking seclusion, personalised luxury and exceptional marine adventures.

Tourism earnings grow more than twice as fast as arrivals

Seychelles’ broader visitor proposition forms part of its value-over-volume tourism strategy, which prioritises economic contribution, visitor experience and environmental protection over growth in arrivals alone.

The strength of this approach was evident in 2025. Seychelles welcomed 398,841 international visitors, approximately 13 per cent more than in 2024, while tourism earnings rose at more than twice that rate, increasing by around 29 per cent to approximately US$1.196 billion.

The performance highlights the economic potential of attracting travellers who stay longer, explore a wider range of islands and spend more across hotels, restaurants, experiences and local businesses.

Sustainability remains fundamental to this ambition. Seychelles’ marine ecosystems, biodiversity, natural environment and distinctive Creole culture are among its greatest tourism assets, and future development will continue to prioritise their long-term protection.

Expanded connectivity supports tourism recovery

Air access remains a major priority as Seychelles rebuilds momentum following disruptions to international connectivity earlier in 2026.

Signs of recovery are already emerging. Seychelles welcomed 31,628 visitors in July 2026, an increase of 1.8 per cent compared with July 2025, bringing total arrivals for the year to date to 232,342.

Additional airline capacity is strengthening the destination’s access to international markets. Ethiopian Airlines will introduce double-daily services between Addis Ababa and Seychelles from 1 December 2026, adding more than 1,000 seats each week.

Qatar Airways resumed four weekly flights in June, Turkish Airlines returned with three weekly summer services and Aeroflot resumed two weekly flights in July.

These developments are creating a broader and more diversified connectivity network as Seychelles looks towards the remainder of 2026 and into 2027.

New hospitality investment expands visitor choice

Seychelles’ evolving tourism offering will also be supported by new hospitality investment, including the scheduled opening of a Meliá property towards the end of 2026.

The development will complement the destination’s established portfolio of luxury resorts, boutique hotels, guesthouses and private-island properties, while providing travellers with greater choice across different experiences and price points.

During ATM 2026, Seychelles Tourism Board is engaging with airlines, tour operators, travel agents, media and luxury travel specialists from across the GCC and international markets to deepen partnerships and stimulate demand.

“Our ambition is sustainable growth that creates greater value for Seychelles,” Rakic said.

“This means strengthening connectivity, diversifying our markets and experiences, and ensuring that tourism benefits our communities and wider economy while protecting the extraordinary natural and cultural assets that make Seychelles unique.”

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About Seychelles:

Seychelles is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean renowned for its exceptional natural beauty, biodiversity, beaches and marine environment. Beyond its iconic coastline, the destination offers experiences spanning Creole culture and gastronomy, nature and soft adventure, wellness, marine activities, island-hopping, community experiences, and luxury and boutique accommodation.

Seychelles recorded 398,841 international visitor arrivals in 2025, approximately 13 per cent higher than in 2024, while tourism earnings reached approximately US$1.196 billion, an increase of around 29 per cent.

The destination continues to pursue a tourism strategy centred on value rather than volume, seeking to increase tourism’s contribution to the Seychellois economy while safeguarding its environmental and cultural heritage.