Middle East OTA Investment Opportunities: Religious Travel’s $12B Inflection Point
Saudi Arabia's Nusuk platform processed 12M downloads and now mandates all Umrah bookings—reshaping the $12B religious travel economy. MENA-native OTAs like Almosafer (604% EBITDA surge) are winning by mastering what global players can't: Hajj quota systems, mahram requirements, installment payment structures, and direct government integration. The investment opportunities in travel fintech, regulatory integration platforms, and authorized Nusuk partnerships.
The Unseen Disruption: 10 Early-Stage Startups Redefining GCC Travel
As a VC deeply actively watching this market, I see the landscape shifting. The first wave of travel tech was about digital brochures and building online travel agencies (OTAs). The next, and far more interesting, wave is about embedding intelligence into the very fabric of the travel experience. GCC Travel Startups solving deep, complex problems in operations, accommodation, and local experiences. This is where...
July 2025 Posts from AbrarNotes
Latest Posts Critical Forces Shaping MENA, South Asian, and Southern African Travel Startups The travel startup landscape across MENA, India, and South Africa is being reshaped by several interconnected forces that most industry observers are missing. Having worked many years in key MENA markets, I’ve witnessed firsthand how regulatory shifts, consumer behavior changes, and infrastructure investments are creating unprecedented opportunities. Beyond Booking: 20 Exciting...
Critical Forces Shaping MENA, South Asian, and Southern African Travel Startups
The travel startup scene across MENA, India, and South Africa is quietly undergoing a radical transformation, driven by forces most industry watchers are overlooking. Having worked extensively in this dynamic region, I've seen firsthand how regulatory windows, the digitization lag in corporate travel, and even climate-driven seasonality shifts are opening up massive market gaps. The startups that will dominate by 2026-2027 aren't just 'emerging'—they're...
Beyond Booking: 20 Exciting Travel Startups Transforming the Industry
The travel industry is buzzing with innovation, as startups globally are leveraging technology to redefine everything from how we book trips to how we experience destinations. Here's a look at 20 noteworthy travel startups making waves as of mid-2025.