Skift Global Forum East Heads to Abu Dhabi With a Bold Look at Travel’s Power Shift

Skift Global Forum East is back – and this year, it lands in Abu Dhabi. On October 29-30, 2025, the Middle East’s most essential travel conference convenes at the St. Regis Abu Dhabi to explore how global power in travel is tilting toward the East – and what it means for the decade ahead.

As technology evolves, traveler behavior shifts, and geopolitical alignments realign, the region is emerging not just as a destination, but as a global travel architect. This year’s Forum will bring together CEOs, policymakers, creators, and community leaders to unpack how travel’s future is being built – right now.

Spotlight on the Future

Skift Global Forum East will dig into the forces shaping the next chapter of travel through a future-forward lens. From AI deployments and air infrastructure to luxury transformation and cultural experiences, the program will trace how today’s decisions are paving the way to 2030 and beyond.

Key themes include:

Growth and Agility Across the Region
With shifting traveler flows and new demand drivers, destinations across the Gulf and Asia are retooling their strategies and infrastructure – often at record speed.

Luxury, Redefined
Today’s luxury isn’t just about opulence. It’s about meaning, identity, and hyper-personalization. We’ll explore how high-end travel is being reshaped by new consumer mindsets and regional innovations.

Aviation’s Expanding Horizon
From next-gen fleets to mega-airport investments, the region’s carriers are staking their claim as global connectors – even as disruption and capacity constraints reshape the skies.

The Rise of Experience-Led Travel
Whether it’s mega-events, immersive design, or content creators shaping itineraries, experiences are becoming the heart of travel storytelling – and the key to destination loyalty.

AI in Action
No longer hype, artificial intelligence is transforming everything from operations to personalization. But what does real-world implementation actually look like today?

Live Tourism’s Soft Power
Sporting events, entertainment, and film tourism aren’t just moments – they’re national brand builders. We’ll examine their growing role in demand generation and diplomacy.

Community and Culture at the Core
As growth accelerates, so does the question: how can tourism create lasting value for local communities, safeguard heritage, and ensure inclusive development?

The Eastward Shift
As Asia and the Gulf increasingly set the pace for global travel, what does it mean for strategy, capital flows, and competitive positioning across the industry?

Where Global Meets Regional Ambition

Skift Global Forum East will feature high-impact CEO interviews, deep-dive market sessions, and candid conversations with the people shaping travel’s trajectory. It’s where global perspectives meet regional dynamism – and where new alliances are forged.

Whether you’re a travel executive, policy leader, or investor, this is where the industry’s most consequential conversations happen.

October 29-30, 2025
St. Regis Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Stay tuned for speaker announcements and agenda details – and join us as we map the future of global travel from the heart of where it’s happening.