Inbound tourism in South Korea surpassed 2 million visitors in July 2026, maintaining levels above those seen before the COVID-19 pandemic. The country attracted a total of 2,093,223 international travelers during that month, as reported by the Korea Tourism Organization. This figure represents a 20.8% increase compared to 1,733,199 arrivals in July 2025, and it also amounts to 144.6% of the July 2019 count, prior to the global travel disruptions caused by the pandemic. Foreign visitor arrivals in South Korea rose 20.8% year on year in July. Furthermore, July’s total marked a 48.6% rise from the 1,408,499 foreign visitors recorded in July 2024. The latest statistics reveal significant growth across South Korea’s main inbound tourism markets. China remained the top source of visitors for the month, with approximately 777,000 arrivals from there, followed by travelers from Japan, Taiwan, the United States, and Hong Kong. Each of these five markets also exceeded their respective July 2019 figures. Chinese arrivals grew by 49.6% compared to July 2019, Japanese visitors increased by 20.2%, and Taiwan experienced the largest percentage growth, rising 129.4% from its 2019 level. Leading Asian Markets Drive Visitor Expansion Compared to July 2019, arrivals from the United States grew by 54.4%, and those from Hong Kong
Air Arabia is set to begin nonstop flights connecting Sharjah and Gdansk on Dec. 14, 2026. This new route will link Sharjah International Airport with Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport, operating five times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. This addition provides another direct connection between the UAE and northern Poland, broadening Air Arabia’s flight network within the country. Ticket sales for the new service are already available via the airline’s sales channels.
Business
Oil prices experienced a modest rebound on Tuesday following a decline of over 2% in the previous session for Brent crude and WTI. Brent futures increased by 27 cents, or 0.3%, reaching $92.44 a barrel at 0330 GMT. Meanwhile, U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose by 37 cents, or 0.4%, to $85.38. This upward movement came after Monday’s sharp retreat, which marked the end of six straight sessions of gains across the two main crude benchmarks.
News
The nearly 22,000 Pakistanis deported over just four months for visa breaches and begging underscore a tightening of immigration controls across the Middle East. Law enforcement agencies monitor international airport customs checkpoints and passenger flows. A written statement from the Ministry for Narcotics Control outlined that Saudi Arabia was responsible for the bulk of these repatriations, with 15,500 Pakistanis sent back during this period. The United Arab Emirates deported 3,803 individuals, Oman 1,606, Bahrain 521, Qatar 429, and Kuwait 97. A substantial portion of those expelled included 4,628 absconders, 1,294 who served prison terms, and 472 identified as beggars.
Health
EU diagnostic support expands as health authorities respond to the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak. The PCR tests will be transported to the World Health Organization’s Logistics Hub for Global Health Emergencies in Dubai. WHO will coordinate their distribution to the zones involved in Ebola containment. PCR testing is crucial for confirming infections because laboratories can analyze numerous samples with high precision. The equipment is compatible with existing laboratory setups, enabling faster diagnosis, which helps health teams identify infected individuals, organize suitable treatment and isolation, and carry out contact tracing around confirmed cases.
