Business Traveller Middle East – January 2026

Summary

Twenty-six extraordinary experiences to try in 2026 — from a bioluminescent kayak tour in the Maldives to a hydrogen-powered train journey in Germany — anchor the January 2026 Business Traveller Middle East, a Going Places issue that also tracks the evolution of the hotel breakfast.

The cover story (p.26) lists 26 experiences across six continents, each with a booking contact and approximate price. Heritage hotels get the feature treatment (p.38), tracking how castles and historic houses across Europe and the Middle East have been converted into business-appropriate accommodation. The luxury lane feature (p.42) covers ultra-exclusive airport departures including private VIP terminals. The breakfast club feature (p.48) examines how hotel breakfasts have evolved from a buffet standard into a cultural gateway, with specific hotel examples from Tokyo to Marrakech. Trains through time (p.50) marks 200 years since the first steam-powered rail service.

Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi is the hot ticket. Taipei gets a 24-hour guide, and the Explore section covers supper clubs and community dining. Corinthia Brussels, Sobremesa, and Eurostar Plus are reviewed.

—————

Content Guide

▸ Cover Story / Features

p.26 · 26 Extraordinary Experiences to Try in 2026
The year's definitive experiential-travel list, with each entry costed and contactable. Standouts include the hydrogen train in Germany (from $120, book via Deutsche Bahn), the bioluminescent kayak in the Maldives ($200 per person, book via Soneva Fushi), and a private tour of the Vatican archives ($500, book six months ahead). Takeaway: the Vatican archives tour requires a formal letter of request from your employer — most corporate travel desks can generate this in 24 hours.

p.38 · The Inheritance of Excellence
Converted castles and historic houses that function as modern business hotels. The feature covers 12 properties including Ashford Castle in Ireland, Alila Fort Bishangarh in India, and a converted Ottoman palace in Istanbul. Takeaway: Alila Fort Bishangarh offers a "Boardroom in the Bastion" package — a converted watchtower meeting room with 360-degree views, $300 per half day including lunch.

p.42 · Life in the Luxury Lane
Ultra-exclusive airport departures are profiled: the PS Private Terminal at Los Angeles, the VIP Wing at Dubai, and the new Private Suite at London Heathrow. Each includes pricing and access requirements. Takeaway: Heathrow's Private Suite costs $3,000 per person but includes a direct-transfer vehicle to the aircraft steps — cost-effective for a VIP client arriving on a separate private jet.

p.48 · The Breakfast Club
Hotel breakfasts are evolving from standard buffets to cultural gateways. The feature names five hotels where breakfast is a destination experience: the multicourse Japanese breakfast at Aman Tokyo, the Moroccan spread at La Mamounia, and the dim sum breakfast at The Upper House in Hong Kong. Takeaway: Aman Tokyo's Japanese breakfast costs $65 for non-guests — book 24 hours ahead for the private tatami room.

p.50 · Tracks Through Time
Two hundred years of rail innovation marked with predictions for 2026 and beyond. High-speed rail in India and the Middle East is covered. Takeaway: the new Riyadh-Jeddah high-speed line cuts travel time to 2 hours 45 minutes — book business class for $80 and use the onboard wifi for uninterrupted video calls.

▸ Insight

p.15 · Dr. Fabien Fresnel, Riyadh School of Hospitality and Tourism
The CEO discusses the talent pipeline for Saudi's hospitality expansion. Takeaway: the Riyadh School offers a 12-week executive certification in hospitality management for $4,000 — eligible for Saudi companies' training budget reimbursement.

p.20 · The Man Who Went Everywhere Without Taking Off
A profile of a travel writer who circumnavigated the globe using only ground transport and sea travel. Takeaway: the writer's route is published as a Google Maps layer — download it before your next multi-city trip for routing inspiration.

▸ Reviews

p.61 · Corinthia Brussels
A review of this newly renovated property near the EU district. The spa and meeting-room facilities are evaluated. Takeaway: the Corinthia's "EU Parliament Package" includes a dedicated concierge who can arrange last-minute access to European Parliament sessions — useful for policy-adjacent travellers.

p.63 · Sobremesa
A restaurant review of this Dubai hotspot. The Spanish-inspired tasting menu costs $120. Takeaway: the wine-pairing upgrade at $60 adds five glasses — request the sommelier's off-menu Rioja for the best value.

▸ Regulars

p.07 · Hot Ticket: Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi
The newly opened museum on Saadiyat Island is reviewed for corporate event suitability. Takeaway: the museum's Great Hall can be rented for evening events starting at $15,000 for 200 guests — book 12 months ahead for 2027 dates.

p.25 · 24 Hours in Taipei
A guide covering the Taipei Performing Arts Center, the Dadaocheng historic district, and the reopened Grand Hotel. Takeaway: the Taipei Metro's 72-hour pass costs $15 and includes unlimited rides plus a 20 percent discount at 50 restaurants.

—————

Editor's Take

The January Going Places issue is ambitious in scope — 26 experiences across six continents is a logistical editorial feat — but the list format means some entries get only two sentences each. The Heritage Hotels feature is the best-written piece in the issue, with genuine architectural detail. The Breakfast Club feature makes you hungry and useful simultaneously. Weaknesses: the "Man Who Went Everywhere Without Taking Off" is a charming curio but takes up a page that could have gone to a deeper feature. The supper-club article in Explore is too short to explain why community dining matters for business travellers. The issue feels like it was assembled for a broad audience rather than targeted at Middle Eastern corporate buyers specifically. Best suited for leisure-minded corporate travellers planning their 2026 personal travel alongside business trips.

Strengths
• 26-experience list with specific prices and booking contacts
• Heritage hotel conversion coverage with architectural detail
• Breakfast Club feature with hotel-specific cultural context

Weaknesses
• List format limits depth on individual experiences
• Target audience is broader than the magazine's core Middle East reader

Verdict: Recommended — A good reference issue for personal travel planning, but less focused on corporate needs than other issues this year.