The release of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) 2025 Annual Report marks a defining moment in the emirate’s strategic evolution as a global destination. The figures tell a compelling story—not just of growth, but of maturation across both tourism and cultural sectors, reflecting a deliberate shift toward sustainable, high-value development.

Edge at Hudson Yards, the highest indoor/outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere, announces a complete reimagining of its defining New York City experience, set to debut in Summer 2026. The sweeping, multi-million dollar transformation will immerse guests in a kaleidoscopic world of light, color and motion as they ascend 1,100 feet from street level into the Manhattan skyline. Spanning across the entirety of Edge's indoor footprint, from the 4th floor entry to 100th floor sky deck, these new permanent installations invite guests on a multi-sensory journey that uniquely evolves from dawn to dusk, shifting across seasons, ensuring every visit reveals something new.

In a world driven by relentless pace and constant pressure, many of today’s wellness travelers are seeking more than a momentary escape and are demanding experiences that deliver lasting, measurable impact. Miraval Resorts & Spas, a pioneer in the destination wellness space for over 30 years has revealed results from a groundbreaking third-party research study that suggests immersive wellness retreats like those at Miraval resorts are positively correlated with reduced perceived stress, strengthened mindfulness, and reported wellbeing benefits lasting even months after a stay1. The study was led by Humin (formerly Healthy Minds Innovations), a global nonprofit leader in wellbeing science, founded by renowned neuroscientist Dr. Richard J. Davidson.

Yas Waterworld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, the region’s leading waterpark, has officially unveiled its newest expansion today, introducing an unmissable collection of 11 new slides and attractions that take aquatic adventure to new heights. Building on the park’s immersive ‘Lost City’ theming - an extension of The Legend of The Lost Pearl - the new additions invite guests to dive into a world of discovery, where high-energy thrills and family-friendly experiences come together in a dynamic offering. The expansion introduces eight new slides, two jumping platforms and a lounging pool. Yas Waterworld in Abu Dhabi is a highly decorated attraction, most recently winning Middle East's Leading Water Park 2025 at the World Travel Awards, its eighth consecutive year holding this regional title (2018–2025).

The Maldives is set to step onto the global stage as a new hub for the creator economy with the launch of the World Creator Summit 2026 and the World Creator Awards 2026, powered by Creatoll.

So after incredible scenes yesterday, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is now fully set, and with 48 nations heading to the United States, Canada and Mexico, this is not only football’s biggest stage, it is also one of the biggest tourism showcases on the planet. For some teams, the story is pure football pedigree. For others, it is also about destination power, visitor scale, global recognition and the chance to turn tournament visibility into future demand. France remains the world’s most visited destination on the latest comparable figures, with 102 million international tourists in 2024, ahead of Spain on 93.8 million and the United States on 72.4 million, while Turkey, Mexico, Germany and Japan all arrive with huge tourism weight of their own. Sport and tourism are now so tightly bound together, from airlines sponsoring stadiums to destinations sponsoring shirts, that the two are increasingly inseparable. So with that in mind, Breaking Travel News’ football fanatic Editor in Chief Justin “You’ll Never Walk Alone” Cooke has taken huge liberty and attempted to fuse football with tourism data to create his own ranking for who comes out on top at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.