Musafir Holdings has signed an agreement to take full ownership of FLYCT MEA Holdings, the company behind travel platforms Cleartrip.ae and Flyin.com in the Middle East, in a deal that will reshape one of the region's more visible online travel businesses.
The UAE-based travel group already holds a 25 percent stake in FLYCT. Under the new agreement, Musafir will buy out the remaining 75 percent from the founding management team, a transaction that still needs regulatory approvals before it closes.
What the deal brings together
Once completed, the combined business is expected to give customers a broader set of travel products under one roof, spanning air bookings, visa services, holiday packages, corporate travel management, and B2B agency solutions. Bringing Cleartrip.ae and Flyin.com fully into the Musafir group is being positioned as a way to build a more complete regional travel offering rather than two separate consumer platforms operating alongside a minority shareholder.
Why Musafir is doubling down
Shaikh Mohammed Abdulla Mohammed Al-Thani, co-founder and chairman of Musafir Holdings, said the acquisition reflects confidence in the region's travel sector. "The Middle East is one of the most dynamic travel markets in the world, and we have real conviction in its long-term growth," he said. "FLYCT has built two outstanding consumer platforms and bringing them into the group will help build a stronger, more complete regional travel business that better serves customers."
Sachin Gadoya, co-founder and CEO of Musafir Holdings, framed the move as a straightforward extension of the group's existing strategy. "Cleartrip.ae and Flyin.com are a natural fit for Musafir," he said. "For customers, this means more choice, a fuller range of products and a better experience."
The view from FLYCT
Stuart Crighton, founder and chairman of FLYCT, said the deal should strengthen the platforms customers already use. "Musafir's broader travel proposition and strong regional presence will bring real benefits to our customers and strengthen the platform," he said.
What happens next
The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals, meaning the full transfer of ownership is not yet finalised. Once cleared, Musafir will control the entirety of FLYCT MEA Holdings and, with it, both Cleartrip.ae and Flyin.com, consolidating a group of travel brands that have operated in the Middle East under a mix of ownership until now.
For travellers in the UAE and across the region who use either platform to book flights, arrange visas, or plan holidays, the near-term experience is unlikely to change until the deal closes and Musafir moves to integrate the businesses. The longer-term pitch from all three executives is the same: a single travel group with more products, more scale, and a stronger footprint across the Middle East's travel market.
