Muscat – Oman has retained its position among the world’s top ten Muslim-friendly travel destinations, ranking tenth globally and third for accessibility, as international Muslim travel is forecast to reach 262mn arrivals by 2030, according to the latest Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI).

Released by Mastercard and CrescentRating, the 11th edition of the GMTI projects international Muslim visitor arrivals to rise to 208mn in 2026 from 196mn last year, before climbing to 262mn by the end of the decade. Annual spending by Muslim travellers is expected to reach US$310bn by 2030.

The report, which assesses 150 destinations representing more than 98% of global Muslim visitor arrivals, says the sector is entering a new phase where artificial intelligence, digital trust and smart destination infrastructure are becoming as important as traditional tourism offerings.

For Oman, the report underscores the country’s continued strength as a Muslim-friendly destination, awarding it an overall score of 73. The sultanate maintained its position as the world’s third most accessible destination for Muslim travellers, behind the UAE and Qatar, reflecting its transport infrastructure, cross-border connectivity within the GCC and increasingly visitor-friendly entry requirements.

Oman scored 81 for connectivity, 85 for visa requirements and 82 for transport infrastructure under the Access category, highlighting its ease of travel for regional and international visitors.

The sultanate also performed strongly in services tailored to Muslim travellers, recording full marks for the availability of prayer facilities and Muslim-friendly airport services. It scored 97 for halal dining and 76 for accommodation, reinforcing its reputation as a destination where faith-based travel needs are well catered for.

Areas identified for further improvement include destination marketing, stakeholder awareness and expanding heritage and cultural experiences to enhance visitor engagement.

Malaysia retained its position at the top for the 11^th consecutive year, with a score of 83. Indonesia climbed three places to share second position with Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, each scoring 79.

Among non-Organisation of Islamic Cooperation destinations, Singapore remained first and ranked tenth globally, with a score of 73, supported by its Halal culinary ecosystem, strong safety standards, multicultural environment and smart destination infrastructure.

The report says Muslim travel is increasingly being shaped by technology, with 80% of travellers now using AI-powered tools to research and plan trips. Applications such as AI travel assistants, digital concierge services, real-time translation, e-visas and biometric border systems are becoming key factors influencing destination choice.

It warns that destinations which fail to make their Muslim-friendly services digitally visible risk being overlooked by AI-driven travel platforms, regardless of the quality of their physical infrastructure.

The report also points to changing travel patterns driven by geopolitical uncertainty, rising transport costs and security concerns. Rather than cancelling trips, Muslim travellers are increasingly choosing destinations closer to home that offer easier access, greater stability and culturally familiar experiences.

GMTI 2026: Top 10 Muslim-friendly destinations

Rank  Destination

1       Malaysia

2       Indonesia

2       Saudi Arabia

2       Türkiye

5       Qatar

6       UAE

7       Bahrain

7       Iran

7       Kuwait

10      Oman

10      Singapore