Middle East Hotels Show Resilient Growth
Five-Star Hotels Maintain Exceptional Guest Satisfaction
The Middle East hotel market continues to distinguish itself through operational excellence and consistently high guest satisfaction levels. According to data released by global hospitality technology company Shiji Group, the region remains one of the most stable and mature hotel markets worldwide.
Five-star hotels in the Middle East demonstrate minimal seasonal volatility and achieve a Guest Review Index of 91.1%, compared to 83.1% for four-star properties. This represents one of the widest performance gaps globally between hotel categories, highlighting the strength of luxury service standards across the region.
Midscale Segment Expands at a Faster Pace
While luxury hotels maintain strong and stable performance, three- and four-star properties are growing at a significantly faster rate. The midscale segment expanded at twice the pace of luxury properties, reflecting broader market activity and expanding guest reach.
Review volume increased by 3.9% year over year, supported by a 3% rise in tourist arrivals. The region welcomed approximately 100 million visitors over the past year, reinforcing its position as a global tourism hub. Increased visitor numbers directly contributed to higher levels of digital engagement and online review activity.
Digital Platforms Shape Reputation Management
Online platforms continue to play a decisive role in shaping hotel reputation. Google accounts for 48% of all reviews in the region, maintaining its dominant position. Expedia recorded a 24% year-over-year increase in review volume, underscoring the growing importance of diversified digital distribution channels.
The expanding digital footprint highlights the strategic importance of reputation management and timely guest communication in sustaining long-term competitiveness.
Rapid Response Times Strengthen Market Maturity
Operational efficiency remains a defining strength of Middle Eastern hotels. Both three-star and five-star properties respond to guest feedback in under three days on average. In the mid-luxury segment, response rates exceed 80% of all reviews received.
According to Jessica Kurtz, Global Product Ambassador at Shiji, the combination of rapid response times, consistent review performance, and growing tourist demand demonstrates the region’s operational maturity and adaptability in a highly dynamic hospitality environment.
Technology as the Backbone of Performance
Shiji Group, which published the performance overview, is a global technology provider dedicated to delivering cloud-based solutions for the hospitality industry. Built on the Shiji Platform, the company offers property management systems, point-of-sale solutions, guest engagement tools, distribution services, payment systems, and data intelligence for more than 91,000 hotels worldwide, including major international chains.
The findings are based on the Shiji Reviewpro Reputation Guest Experience Benchmark 2026, reflecting current trends in guest satisfaction, digital engagement, and operational performance across the Middle East hotel sector.
As experts at International Investment report, the resilience of the Middle East hospitality market is driven by sustained infrastructure investment, advanced digital integration, and the region’s strategic positioning as a global tourism hub, ensuring long-term competitiveness across both luxury and midscale segments.