Kenya, Sept 17 – Kenya is looking to more than double the number of tourists visiting the country from the Middle East by expanding air connectivity, increasing destination marketing and using investment and diaspora networks to attract more visitors
The Middle East recorded 20,480 visitors to Kenya in the 2025/26 financial year, with Israel, Yemen and Iran accounting for 48 percent of the arrivals. The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia contributed 10 percent and seven percent respectively.
Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) Chief Executive Officer June Chepkemei said the country would target travellers interested in wildlife, the Coast, luxury, wellness, family experiences, adventure and short breaks.
“Connectivity has opened the door. Our task now is to bring more travellers through it and to bring investors with them. We are targeting 50,000 visitors from the Middle East by leveraging air access, targeted marketing, investment and our diaspora networks,” Chepkemei spoke on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai.
Nairobi will also be marketed as a gateway for travellers connecting through the region.
Emirates operates three daily flights between Dubai and Nairobi, while flydubai operates four weekly direct flights. Kenya Airways and Qatar Airways also connect Kenya with the Gulf and other <a href="https://absafricatv.com/hyderabads-young-footballers-represent-india-at-international-youth-football-tournament-in-usa/” title=”Hyderabad’s young Footballers represent India at International Youth Football Tournament in USA -“>international destinations.
KTB also plans to attract investment from the UAE in hotels, resorts, wellness facilities, luxury tourism, family entertainment and other tourism infrastructure. The country is working with UN Tourism to identify investment opportunities in the sector.
Kenya’s Ambassador to the UAE Kenneth Milimo Nganga said the UAE should be treated as both a tourism
“The UAE is not only a Kenya. There is interest from Emirati investors in hospitality, and we need to make it easier for that investment to come into Kenya, establish and grow,” Nganga said
He called for stronger airline partnerships, removal of bureaucratic bottlenecks and improvements in the ease of doing business to support investment.
KTB will also work with travel agents through training, joint marketing activities and events with airlines and tourism trade partners to convert interest in Kenya into bookings.
The board plans to engage Kenyans living in the UAE and other parts of the Middle East through its “One Diaspora, One Visitor” initiative, which encourages every Kenyan abroad to bring at least one visitor to the country.
A Diaspora Open Day scheduled for October 10 will provide an opportunity for KTB to engage the Kenyan community in the region.
