Developing a Futuristic Travel Application in the GCC: Procedures, Pricing, and Essential Elements
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region is making significant strides in the travel and tourism industry, leveraging digital advancements to create seamless experiences for travellers. This digital focus is evident in the UAE's partnership with the UN Tourism organisation to develop a Costco-like digital platform that enhances communication among member countries.
The GCC's commitment to digital transformation is noteworthy, with the travel and tourism market in the MENA region expected to reach $4.80 billion by 2030. This growth is driving the development of innovative travel apps, ranging from basic booking platforms to advanced solutions offering AI-based trip recommendations, AR experiences, and powerful user analytics.
The cost of developing a travel app in the GCC varies, with a niche or specialized app estimated to cost between 184,000 AED and 740,000 AED ($50,000 - $200,000). On the other hand, a basic travel booking app could cost between 110,000 AED and 370,000 AED ($30,000 - $100,000). The cost depends on factors such as feature complexity, backend architecture, third-party integration, localization, and compliance considerations.
The process of developing a travel app in the GCC follows a standardised step-by-step approach, including market research and requirement analysis, UI/UX design, technology stack selection, development phase, testing and quality assurance, launch and post-launch, and ongoing maintenance.
Starting with a minimum viable product (MVP) is a safe way to test demand for travel apps in the GCC without incurring high upfront costs. This approach allows developers to gather user feedback and iterate on the product before investing in more complex features.
To keep costs down while maintaining quality, outsourcing app development to local talent hubs is a popular strategy. Additionally, using pre-built APIs and frameworks can help cut development time and costs.
The GCC is also implementing AI-powered technologies and promoting mobile-first solutions in the travel industry. Key features for a GCC travel app include multi-language support, local payment gateway integration, flight and hotel booking, trip planning, real-time updates and notifications, search and filtering options, maps and navigation, reviews and ratings, travel deals and discounts, and offline access.
Advanced functionalities of a GCC-based travel app may include AI-Based Trip Recommendations, AR Experiences, Multi-Currency / Dynamic Pricing Support, Smart Itinerary Planning, Live Flight/Traffic Data, Gamification, Social Media & Sharing Integration, Push Notifications & Customized Alerts, In-App Chatbots & 24/7 Assistance, and Powerful User and Admin Analytics.
Focusing on scalability from the start is essential for travel apps in the GCC, given the industry's expected growth. Ongoing maintenance for the app is estimated to cost 18,400 AED - 55,000 AED per year ($15,000 - $30,000 per year).
In 2023, there were approximately 150 to 200 startups in the travel technology sector in the United Arab Emirates, reflecting the region's commitment to digital innovation in the travel and tourism industry. Creating a travel app in the GCC requires understanding the cultural nuances of the region, comprehending regional payments, and developing apps that are intuitive and natural for Arabic speakers to use.
