School holiday periods mean a significant increase in not only tourism activity but also in housing investments for Dubai. This study evaluates the shift in Turkish investors' interest in Dubai during this period.Angelshine Property Founder Betül Işık pointed out that the line between vacation and investment is becoming increasingly blurred.

"A visit that started as a vacation is turning into an investment plan."

Betül Işık, noting that the primary motivation for Turks coming to Dubai during the mid-term break is mostly vacation, summarized the most common situation they encountered in the field as follows: “Many people come saying 'I came to vacation.' However, after experiencing Dubai for a few days, the following question inevitably arises: 'What would it be like to have a house here?' The scenario we experience most often is that a visit that starts as a vacation turns into a project tour, and then the project tour turns into a serious investment plan.”

1+1 and holiday home concepts are gaining popularity.

Stating that investor interest is concentrated in certain housing types during school break periods, Işık listed the most sought-after options as follows:

Highlighting that investors no longer want "empty houses," Işık said, "They are turning to houses they can both use themselves and generate rental income from when they are not in use."

"A sunny, safe, and child-friendly city"

Betül Işık also touched upon the factors that increase Dubai's appeal for Turks during school breaks, stating that climate and living comfort are particularly decisive factors in the preferences of families: “While it's cold in Türkiye during school breaks, Dubai is sunny. Besides that, security is very high; it's a city where you can comfortably travel with children. Entertainment, shopping, and the sea are all available. Families with children, in particular, feel truly comfortable in Dubai; everything is planned, organized, and comfortable.”

“The first question is clear: What will this house bring me?”

Işık emphasized that Turks who come for vacation and consider investment are now acting much more consciously, noting that the most frequently asked questions focus on financial returns: “The first question is usually very clear: 'What will this house bring me?'Then questions arise about the monthly rental income, how many years it will take to pay for itself, and whether it can be rented out if there are no investors. So it's no longer just about buying a house, making a smart investment They want it.”

Short-term rent, long-term value appreciation.

Betül Işık stated that purchases made during school break periods include both short-term and long-term goals, and said that Dubai is one of the rare markets that can offer this balance: “Investors generally say the following: 'I'll rent it out in the short term, and it will appreciate in value in the long term.' Dubai is a very advantageous market in this respect. It is strong in short-term rentals, and also provides reliability in the long term.”

"Dubai is no longer just a holiday destination."

Stating that the perception of Dubai is rapidly changing for Turks, Işık concluded his remarks as follows: “Previously, people would say 'Let's go to Dubai for a holiday,' now they are talking about 'Should we buy a house in Dubai?' Mid-term holidays are also periods when this transformation accelerates. People come, see, experience, and in the end they say: 'If I come here every year, why shouldn't I have a house here?'"

Kaynak: HORECA TREND and Angelshine Property

WIN Ltd The event, hosted by General Manager Alexandros Arampatzis, Central Macedonia Regional Deputy Governor for Tourism Vicky Hatzivasiliou, Halkidiki Tourism Organization President Giorgos Broutzas, and chef, writer, and TV presenter Maria Ekmekçioğlu, attracted significant attention from the press and media.

This special evening, aimed at further strengthening tourism ties between Greece and Türkiye, as well as increasing the dynamism and sustainability of tourism in both countries, focused on tourism destinations in the Central Macedonia region of Greece.

The event highlighted the visibility of regions in Greece beyond just the islands and specific tourist destinations. Tourism routes emphasizing cultural, historical, gastronomic, and touristic opportunities in areas such as Central Macedonia, the Halkidiki peninsula, Kavala, and the Pieria coast with its views of Mount Olympus were shared with participants as incentives for travel.

Kaynak: HORECA TREND and Win LTD 

Cruise tourism, which reached its peak in the last 12 years in 2025, is entering 2026 with strong bookings. Having left behind the post-pandemic recovery period, cruise tourism has reached its highest levels in the last 12 years in terms of both passenger numbers and port traffic as of 2025. Increased ship voyages, especially on the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Black Sea routes, have made Türkiye an indispensable stop on cruise routes.

2026 Bookings Give Strong Signals

Industry data indicates that early bookings for 2026 show a remarkable increase in both passenger numbers and flight frequency. Cruise tourismAhmet Yazıcı emphasized that tourism is not just about sea travel, and pointed out that this sector plays a critical role for city economies.

Yazıcı stated, “Cruise passengers create added value in many areas, from accommodation and gastronomy to shopping and cultural and artistic activities. For our port cities, this mobility means direct and indirect economic benefits. The increase in the number of ships and passenger traffic in 2026 will create a significant tourism dynamism for many cities, especially Istanbul, Izmir, Kusadasi, and the Black Sea ports.”

Türkiye is on its way to becoming a regional cruise hub.

The increasing global demand for cruise tourism, coupled with new ship investments and a diversifying passenger profile, is strengthening Türkiye's potential to become a regional hub.

Stating that 2025 was an extremely productive year for the sector Sea Genesis Group Chairman of the Board Ahmet Yazıcı stated, “2025 was not only a year of recovery for cruise tourism, but also a year of a strong leap forward. During this period, which surpassed pre-pandemic figures, Turkish ports have once again strongly entered the radar of international cruise companies. Reservations already made for 2026, planned new ship voyages, and expanding routes clearly indicate that a new record will be broken next year.”

Türkiye Strengthens Its Leadership in Cruise Tourism

Turkey, which reached its peak in cruise tourism in 2025 in the last 12 years, is further solidifying its leading position in the sector with a strong booking chart for the 2026 season. Increased ship voyages, expanding routes, and early booking data demonstrate that Türkiye has become one of the central countries for cruise tourism in the Mediterranean and Black Sea basins.

Ahmet Yazıcı stated that Türkiye's position in cruise tourism is now being discussed not only in terms of potential but also with concrete data, saying, "Turkey is no longer a follower but a route-setting country in cruise tourism. The figures achieved in 2025 are the clearest indicator of this. Reservations made for 2026 show that this leadership has become permanent."

Kaynak: HORECA TREND and Sea Genesis Group