Latest news with #Parthenon
Arabian Business
2 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Business
MENA region records $46bn in M&A activity in Q1
The MENA region recorded M&A activity worth $46bn in Q1, according to the latest EY MENA M&A Insights report. It represents an increase of 66 per cent, when compared to $27.6b in Q1 2024. The MENA region witnessed 225 M&A deals in Q1 2025, up from the 172 deals recorded in Q1 2024, reflecting a 31 per cent increase in deal volume when compared year-on-year. MENA M&A activity 2025 Cross-border deals were the primary driver of M&A activity in the MENA region, contributing 52 per cent of total deal volume with 117 deals and 81 per cent of total deal value at $37.3bn. The first quarter of 2025 recorded the highest cross-border deal activity both in volume and value when compared to the same period in the past five years, as companies increasingly pursued growth and diversification beyond domestic markets. Brad Watson, MENA EY-Parthenon Leader, said: 'In 2024 we saw a steady flow of M&A deals and the MENA region continues to exhibit a robust influx of M&A transactions in 2025. This is supported by regulatory reforms, policy shifts, and a favourable macroeconomic outlook, including easing interest rates and improved investor sentiment. 'This growth is also reflected in the steady increase of domestic M&A activity, which contributed 48 per cent of total deal volume in Q1 2025. 'The rise in domestic M&A transactions aligns with the IMF projection that MENA GDP will grow by 3.6 per cent this year and is further supported by the strong global M&A momentum. 'Companies are realigning their strategies to better accommodate the need for diversification, digital transformation, and the integration of emerging technologies.' In the MENA region, the UAE remained the top target country with 63 deals totalling $20.3bn in Q1 2025. Kuwait ranked second in terms of deal proceeds, reaching $2.3bn, driven by two major transactions in the Diversified Industrial Products and Power and Utilities sectors. During the first three months of 2025, Canada attracted the highest outbound deal value from MENA investors at $6.4bn, while the USA remained the preferred target destination in terms of deal volume. Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) like ADIA, PIF, and Mubadala, along with other government-related entities (GREs), remained key M&A drivers in Q1 2025, aligning with national economic strategies and diversification goals. In the first quarter of 2025, M&A activity in the MENA region witnessed a 20 per cent increase in deal volume while deal value rose significantly reaching $8.7bn as compared to $1.69bn recorded in Q1 2024. The technology sector led domestic M&A activity in MENA in Q1 2025, contributing 37 per cent of total domestic deal value and 27 per cent of total domestic deal volume. The largest domestic deal during the first quarter of the year was a $2.2bn acquisition where Group 42, an Abu Dhabi based AI and cloud computing firm, agreed to acquire a 40 per cent stake in Khazna Data Centres, a digital infrastructure provider. Intraregional deals involving the UAE, Kuwait, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) accounted for 83 per cent of total domestic deal value and 56 per cent of total domestic deal volume, highlighting strong intraregional M&A activity, particularly in the technology, industrials, and real estate sectors. The MENA region continues to emerge as one of the most attractive destinations for foreign direct investment during the first few months of 2025, with inbound deal volume surging by 21 per cent and deal value reaching $17.6bn, when compared to $2.5bn in Q1 2024. The UAE remains the leading destination for foreign direct investment in the MENA region in Q1 2025, capturing 53 per cent of total inbound deal volume and 99 per cent of the total inbound deal value. Austria was the top investor country, accounting for 94 per cent of total inbound deal value, largely driven by a major transaction in the chemicals sector. During the first three months of 2025, outbound deal volume increased by 63 per cent when compared to Q1 2024, with a total deal value of $19.7bn, contributing 43 per cent of overall deal value. The UAE and KSA led the outbound investment from the MENA region, accounting for 77 per cent of total deal volume and 94 per cent of total outbound value. Though chemicals and oil and gas dominated in outbound deal value, outbound deal volume was primarily focused on technology, diversified industrial products, and professional services. This trend reflects the region's broader diversification strategy into high-growth global sectors. The UK was the leading destination for outbound M&A deals from MENA by volume, recording 13 transactions in Q1 2025. Canada and Peru together contributed 50 per cent of total outbound deal value driven primarily by a major transaction in Canada's chemical sector. ADNOC and Austria's OMV AG has agreed to acquire Canada's Nova chemicals for $6.3bn by holding 46.94 per cent each in the newly formed Borouge International Group. Anil Menon, MENA EY-Parthenon Head of M&A and Equity Capital Markets Leader, said: 'The MENA deal markets remained resilient despite lack of clarity on two fronts: the impact of monetary policy on cost of capital and the ongoing tariff and trade discussions. 'The MENA deal book for the remainder of 2025 is promising and we can expect to see increased activity in consumer, technology, and energy sectors. In addition, with AI expected to drive material shifts in fundamental value, we can expect to see significant capital allocation in technology.'
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE remains top target country for Mena M&As in first quarter
The UAE remained the top target country in terms mergers and acquisitions (M&A) within the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region in the first quarter of this year, with 63 deals totaling $20.3 billion in Q1 2025 data showed. According to the latest EY Mena M&A Insights 2024 report, Kuwait ranked second in terms of deal proceeds, reaching $2.3 billion, driven by two major transactions in the Diversified Industrial Products and Power & Utilities sectors. The Mena region witnessed 225 M&A deals in Q1 2025, up from the 172 deals recorded in Q1 2024, reflecting a 31 per cent increase in deal volume when compared year-on-year. Total deal value rose by 66 per cent to $46 billion in Q1 2025, when compared to $27.6 billion in Q1 2024. Cross-border deals were the primary driver of M&A activity in the Mena region, contributing 52 per cent of total deal volume with 117 deals and 81 per cent of total deal value at $37.3b. The first quarter of 2025 recorded the highest cross-border deal activity both in volume and value when compared to the same period in the past five years, as companies increasingly pursued growth and diversification beyond domestic markets. Brad Watson, Mena EY-Parthenon Leader, said: 'In 2024 we saw a steady flow of M&A deals and the Mena region continues to exhibit a robust influx of M&A transactions in 2025. This is supported by regulatory reforms, policy shifts, and a favorable macroeconomic outlook, including easing interest rates and improved investor sentiment. This growth is also reflected in the steady increase of domestic M&A activity, which contributed 48 per cent of total deal volume in Q1 2025. The rise in domestic M&A transactions aligns with the IMF projection that Mena GDP will grow by 3.6 per cent this year and is further supported by the strong global M&A momentum. Companies are realigning their strategies to better accommodate the need for diversification, digital transformation, and the integration of emerging technologies.' During the first three months of 2025, Canada attracted the highest outbound deal value from Mena investors at $6.4 billion, while the USA remained the preferred target destination in terms of deal volume. Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) like the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and Mubadala, along with other government-related entities (GREs), remained key M&A drivers in Q1 2025, aligning with national economic strategies and diversification goals. Domestic M&A activity continues to rise from previous years In the first quarter of 2025, M&A activity in the Mena region witnessed a 20 per cent increase in deal volume while deal value rose significantly reaching $8.7 billion as compared to $1.69 billion recorded in Q1 2024. The technology sector led domestic M&A activity in Mena in Q1 2025, contributing 37 per cent of total domestic deal value and 27 per cent of total domestic deal volume. The largest domestic deal during the first quarter of the year was a $2.2b acquisition where Group 42, an Abu Dhabi based AI and cloud computing firm, agreed to acquire a 40 per cent stake in Khazna Data Centres, a digital infrastructure provider. Intraregional deals involving the UAE, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia accounted for 83 per cent of total domestic deal value and 56 per cent of total domestic deal volume, highlighting strong intraregional M&A activity, particularly in the technology, industrials, and real estate sectors. The Mena region continues to emerge as one of the most attractive destinations for foreign direct investment during the first few months of 2025, with inbound deal volume surging by 21 per cent and deal value reaching $17.6 billion, when compared to $2.5 billion in Q1 2024. During the first three months of 2025, outbound deal volume increased by 63 per cent when compared to Q1 2024, with a total deal value of $19.7 billion, contributing 43 per cent of overall deal value. The UAE and Saudi Arabia led the outbound investment from the Mena region, accounting for 77 per cent of total deal volume and 94 per cent of total outbound value. Though chemicals and oil and gas dominated in outbound deal value, outbound deal volume was primarily focused on technology, diversified industrial products, and professional services. This trend reflects the region's broader diversification strategy into high-growth global sectors. The UK was the leading destination for outbound M&A deals from Mena by volume, recording 13 transactions in Q1 2025. Canada and Peru together contributed 50 per cent of total outbound deal value driven primarily by a major transaction in Canada's chemical sector. Adnoc and Austria's OMV agreed to acquire Canada's Nova chemicals for $6.3 billion by holding 46.94 per cent each in the newly formed Borouge International Group. Anil Menon, Mena EY-Parthenon Head of M&A and Equity Capital Markets Leader, says: 'The Mena deal markets remained resilient despite lack of clarity on two fronts: the impact of monetary policy on cost of capital and the ongoing tariff and trade discussions. The Mena deal book for the remainder of 2025 is promising and we can expect to see increased activity in consumer, technology, and energy sectors. In addition, with AI expected to drive material shifts in fundamental value, we can expect to see significant capital allocation in technology.'
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
MENA region recorded 225 M&A deals with a value of $46bln during Q1 2025
Cross-border deals where the primary driver of M&A activity in the MENA region with 117 deals valued at US$37.3b The UAE remains the top target country in Q1 2025 with 63 deals totaling US$20.3b Dubai, UAE – According to the latest EY MENA M&A Insights 2024 report, the MENA region witnessed 225 M&A deals in Q1 2025, up from the 172 deals recorded in Q1 2024, reflecting a 31% increase in deal volume when compared year-on-year. Total deal value rose by 66% to US$46.0b in Q1 2025, when compared to US$27.6b in Q1 2024. Cross-border deals were the primary driver of M&A activity in the MENA region, contributing 52% of total deal volume with 117 deals and 81% of total deal value at US$37.3b. The first quarter of 2025 recorded the highest cross-border deal activity both in volume and value when compared to the same period in the past five years, as companies increasingly pursued growth and diversification beyond domestic markets. Brad Watson, MENA EY-Parthenon Leader, says: 'In 2024 we saw a steady flow of M&A deals and the MENA region continues to exhibit a robust influx of M&A transactions in 2025. This is supported by regulatory reforms, policy shifts, and a favorable macroeconomic outlook, including easing interest rates and improved investor sentiment.' 'This growth is also reflected in the steady increase of domestic M&A activity, which contributed 48% of total deal volume in Q1 2025. The rise in domestic M&A transactions aligns with the IMF projection that MENA GDP will grow by 3.6% this year and is further supported by the strong global M&A momentum. Companies are realigning their strategies to better accommodate the need for diversification, digital transformation, and the integration of emerging technologies.' In the MENA region, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) remained the top target country with 63 deals totaling US$20.3b in Q1 2025. Kuwait ranked second in terms of deal proceeds, reaching US$2.3b, driven by two major transactions in the Diversified Industrial Products and Power & Utilities sectors. During the first three months of 2025, Canada attracted the highest outbound deal value from MENA investors at US$6.4b, while the USA remained the preferred target destination in terms of deal volume. Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) like ADIA, PIF, and Mubadala, along with other government-related entities (GREs), remained key M&A drivers in Q1 2025, aligning with national economic strategies and diversification goals. Domestic M&A activity continues to rise from previous years In the first quarter of 2025, M&A activity in the MENA region witnessed a 20% increase in deal volume while deal value rose significantly reaching US$8.7b as compared to US$1.69b recorded in Q1 2024. The technology sector led domestic M&A activity in MENA in Q1 2025, contributing 37% of total domestic deal value and 27% of total domestic deal volume. The largest domestic deal during the first quarter of the year was a US$2.2b acquisition where Group 42, an Abu Dhabi based AI and cloud computing firm, agreed to acquire a 40% stake in Khazna Data Centres, a digital infrastructure provider. Intraregional deals involving the UAE, Kuwait, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) accounted for 83% of total domestic deal value and 56% of total domestic deal volume, highlighting strong intraregional M&A activity, particularly in the technology, industrials, and real estate sectors. MENA region remains an attractive destination for foreign direct investment The MENA region continues to emerge as one of the most attractive destinations for foreign direct investment during the first few months of 2025, with inbound deal volume surging by 21% and deal value reaching US$17.6b, when compared to US$2.5b in Q1 2024. The UAE remains the leading destination for foreign direct investment in the MENA region in Q1 2025, capturing 53% of total inbound deal volume and 99% of the total inbound deal value. Austria was the top investor country, accounting for 94% of total inbound deal value, largely driven by a major transaction in the chemicals sector. Outbound M&A activity highlights diversification efforts During the first three months of 2025, outbound deal volume increased by 63% when compared to Q1 2024, with a total deal value of US$19.7b, contributing 43% of overall deal value. The UAE and KSA led the outbound investment from the MENA region, accounting for 77% of total deal volume and 94% of total outbound value. Though chemicals and oil & gas dominated in outbound deal value, outbound deal volume was primarily focused on technology, diversified industrial products, and professional services. This trend reflects the region's broader diversification strategy into high-growth global sectors. The UK was the leading destination for outbound M&A deals from MENA by volume, recording 13 transactions in Q1 2025. Canada and Peru together contributed 50% of total outbound deal value driven primarily by a major transaction in Canada's chemical sector. ADNOC and Austria's OMV AG has agreed to acquire Canada's Nova chemicals for US$6.3b by holding 46.94% each in the newly formed Borouge International Group. Anil Menon, MENA EY-Parthenon Head of M&A and Equity Capital Markets Leader, says: 'The MENA deal markets remained resilient despite lack of clarity on two fronts: the impact of monetary policy on cost of capital and the ongoing tariff and trade discussions. The MENA deal book for the remainder of 2025 is promising and we can expect to see increased activity in consumer, technology, and energy sectors. In addition, with AI expected to drive material shifts in fundamental value, we can expect to see significant capital allocation in technology.' -Ends- About EY | Building a better working world EY exists to build a better working world, helping to create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets. Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate. Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit The MENA practice of EY has been operating in the region since 1923. Over the past 100 years, we have grown to over 8,000 people united across 26 offices and 15 countries, sharing the same values and an unwavering commitment to quality. As an organization, we continue to develop outstanding leaders who deliver exceptional services to our clients and who contribute to our communities. We are proud of our accomplishments over the years, reaffirming our position as the largest and most established professional services organization in the region. © 2025 EYGM Limited. All Rights Reserved. ED None This material has been prepared for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be relied upon as accounting, tax, legal or other professional advice. Please refer to your advisors for specific advice. About EY-Parthenon Our unique combination of transformative strategy, transactions and corporate finance delivers real-world value – solutions that work in practice, not just on paper. Benefiting from EY's full spectrum of services, we've reimagined strategic consulting to work in a world of increasing complexity. With deep functional and sector expertise, paired with innovative AI-powered technology and an investor mindset, we partner with CEOs, boards, private equity and governments every step of the way – enabling you to shape your future with confidence. EY-Parthenon is a brand under which a number of EY member firms across the globe provide strategy consulting services. For more information, please visit © 2025 EYGM Limited. All Rights Reserved.
NDTV
3 days ago
- NDTV
Europe's Hottest City Scorches Past 40 Degrees, Struggles To Stay Cool Amid Influx Of Tourists
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. The Athens Acropolis faces unprecedented challenges from extreme heat. Authorities have closed the site during peak heat hours for safety. Record temperatures over 40°C are impacting visitor experiences. The Athens Acropolis, Greece's most popular tourist site, has faced unprecedented challenges in recent years due to extreme heat, according to CNN. During peak tourism seasons over the past two years, soaring temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) have forced authorities to close the landmark during the hottest hours to protect visitors and staff. This marks a new reality for the UNESCO World Heritage site, which offers little shade amid its iconic white marble Parthenon columns. According to CNN, visitors to the Acropolis often describe the experience as an endurance test rather than a leisurely visit, especially when wildfires nearby send smoke drifting across the skyline. The situation reflects a broader trend affecting Athens, which has always been known for its hot summers but is now experiencing record-breaking temperatures. In 2024, Athens became the hottest capital in mainland Europe, with climate experts warning that such extremes are becoming the norm as the Mediterranean region warms faster than the global average. Tourism in Greece continues to grow rapidly, with officials expecting Athens to welcome a record 10 million visitors this year. However, the influx of travellers arriving during the peak summer months of July and August will coincide with predicted extreme heat waves, according to the national weather service. This convergence of booming tourism and escalating temperatures presents a significant challenge for local authorities, businesses, and tourists alike. Efforts to manage visitor safety and preserve the historic site amid these harsh conditions are ongoing, highlighting the urgent need to address climate change impacts on cultural heritage and tourism.
CNN
3 days ago
- Business
- CNN
Europe's hottest city battles to keep its cool as tourists arrive for another scorching summer
Climbing to the top of the Acropolis of Athens, the birthplace of democracy, has always been a feat for the brave. Never more so, perhaps, than in recent summers when the city has sweated through long and perilous heatwaves. In the past two years, during peak tourism season, relentless heat has repeatedly forced authorities to shut Greece's most-visited site during the hottest hours of the day to protect visitors and staff from temperatures exceeding 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). The UNESCO World Heritage site has little shade. Standing among the exquisitely-crafted white marble columns of the Parthenon as they reflect the fierce Mediterranean sun can feel more like an endurance test than the fulfillment of a childhood dream — especially when the smoke from out-of-control wildfires drifts across the horizon. And it's not just the Acropolis. Athens has always been scorching in the summer, but never to current levels. It's the hottest capital in mainland Europe but witnessed record highs in 2024, a situation that's becoming the new normal. The Mediterranean as a whole is warming up faster than the global average. With travel to Greece booming, officials say Athens is forecast to welcome a record 10 million visitors this year. Those arriving in July and August will be on a collision course with yet more extreme temperatures, predicts the country's national weather service, creating a perfect storm of tourism and scorching weather. The situation has raised existential questions for Greece and its relationship with the visitors whose spending power has helped the country out of crisis during financially turbulent times. Increased tourism means increased pressure on scarce water resources and infrastructure. It also means inflation, pushing locals out in favor of wealthy incomers. A much-talked-about opinion article in the Greek press suggested that the country's single-minded pursuit of maximum tourism no longer made sense, and that Greeks were in danger of losing their birthright. 'Starkly put, we are bequeathing the subsequent generations of Greeks not just a massive pile of debt, but also a summerless Greece,' it said. Trepidation about the months ahead, when the sun will once again bake down, is high. And yet, amid the fear, there is certainly hope — and a realization that the country must adapt or face disastrous consequences. For the mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, 'building resilience is a matter of survival.' Managing those high temperatures alongside the surge in summer tourists has become a priority. In the short-term, that means early-warning systems for heatwaves and real-time monitoring of temperature data, along with fountains, air-conditioned cooling centers and shady pocket parks are all in place to provide relief. Emergency services have been put at the ready, including around the foothills of the Acropolis, to assist visitors experiencing discomfort. 'Tourists often underestimate the heat, especially those from colder climates,' says Iris Plaitakis, a tour guide who regularly visits the Acropolis. 'They don't think to wear hats or bring enough water. You're much more exposed to the sun and heat up there because of the higher elevation and lack of trees and other shade.' Extreme heat is incredibly dangerous. 'Heatwaves are responsible for more than 80% of deaths caused by weather and climate events in Europe,' says Ine Vandecasteele, a European Environment Agency urban adaptation expert. In the longer term, Athens faces the challenge of reshaping a city that has become a concrete heat sink with limited green spaces — it's one of the least green cities in Europe and the second-most densely populated after Paris. To complicate things, Greece, and Athens in particular, is home to one of the oldest populations in Europe, a demographic at risk from extreme heat. In 2021, the city became Europe's first to appoint a dedicated 'chief heat officer' to promote and coordinate adaption and resilience strategies, as it began focusing on nature-based solutions to reduce the heat-island effect, which sees cities becoming much hotter than the surrounding natural environment. 'In just over a year we have planted 7,000 trees which is difficult in such a densely built city. We want that number to reach 28,000 in four years. We are also establishing green corridors,' says Doukas, the Athens mayor. 'Athens is rethinking urban infrastructure, redesigning roads and selecting heat-absorbing materials.' Resilience-building initiatives include the creation of detailed heatwave maps that enable targeted interventions. Among them is the creation of a microforest, Greece's first, in Kypseli, Europe's most densely populated neighborhood. 'The goal is to lower perceived temperatures by 5 degrees Celsius within five years by creating targeted microclimates,' says Doukas. In the leafy Chalandri suburb, the revitalization of a second-century Roman aqueduct to irrigate green spaces and cool neighborhoods has gained much attention. 'The aqueduct transports water that would otherwise go to waste,' says project manager Christos Giovanopoulos. 'When the new pipelines are operational this summer, we'll save 80,000-100,000 cubic meters annually.' Heavily built up and covered in graffiti, modern Athens bears little resemblance to the idyllic location people chose to settle millennia ago. Back then it offered proximity to both mountains and the sea, a mild climate, verdant and abundant resources and flowing rivers — the same waterways that were concreted over during rapid urbanization in the 1950s and 1960s to build highways. And some of that concrete will now have to go, says Juanjo Galan, an associate professor of urban planning at Spain's Technical University of Valencia, who has watched his own city undergo a green revolution, being named European Green Capital 2024 for its achievements in green transition and climate neutrality. 'In Spain, we say you cannot make an omelet without breaking some eggs,' says Galan. 'Like Valencia, Athens will have to break some concrete, invest in green infrastructure and heat-absorbing materials. It will take some time but can be done.' One major project already underway is reconnecting Athens with the sea that defines so much of life in the rest of Greece. With enchanting ancient wonders and picturesque jasmine-scented alleyways in its historic center, it is easy for visitors to forget that Athens is actually very close to the Greek coast and many beautiful coves and beaches. Athenians have always known this, often heading out of town to cool down. And now their city is following suit, expanding along the waterfront, revamping an area recently branded The Athens Riviera. Stretching south 50 kilometers (about 30 miles) from the main port of Piraeus, the coastline is home to organized beaches, quality restaurants and five-star hotels and resorts. It is also where the country's largest-ever urban green transformation is taking place at Ellinikon, Athens' decommissioned former airport. The 600-acre mixed-use private development will include Greece's first skyscraper — the 50-floor Riviera Tower, which will house luxury sea-view apartments. At the heart of the project is the Ellinikon Metropolitan Park. Projected to become the largest green area in Athens and one of the biggest coastal parks in the world, it's expected to attract a million tourists annually. The role of tourists in Athens' future is a contentious issue. On one hand, they're seen as a lifeblood. During the 2010s, when Athens was the epicenter of a painful financial crisis that saw Greece's GDP slashed by a quarter, it was tourism that brought the economy back. On the other hand, Athenians have found themselves increasingly priced out by gentrification partly driven by tourism, and are concerned about the impact of the industry on a city stretched to the limits by extreme heat. Real estate prices along the coast have hit the roof, with many prime Athens properties now in the hands of big international investors and others transformed into boutique hotels and global luxury chains that pull in more visitors. Those same hotels are installing aircon and swimming pools to keep their guests cool in a city with already stretched power and water supplies. Many Athenians are anxious about the summer ahead, with official reports about falling reservoir water levels regularly making the TV news. The situation is exacerbated by the extensive wildfires that have destroyed 40% of forested areas around their city in less than a decade — the blazes fanned by similar, windy conditions seen in the recent Los Angeles fires and, like in LA, worsened by man-made climate change. Meanwhile, with tourism still a key economic driver, Greece must continue to tap the industry while trying not to get burned. And despite the challenges facing Athens and the rest of the country, tourists are expected to keep coming. A record 36 million came in 2024, over three times the country's population. Data analysts Fitch Solutions says the number is expected to hit 40 million by 2030. 'People come from all over the world to understand, and experience, the cradle of Western civilization, to see where Aristotle and Plato walked, where the first modern Olympics were held,' says Plaitakis, the archaeological guide. 'This cannot be recreated. And it will always bring people to Athens.' As with other overtouristed destinations around the world, Athens is hoping to try to funnel some of its peak summer-season tourism into shoulder or even off-peak times Mild temperatures in spring and early fall present an ideal opportunity to explore the city's landmark sites, vibrant art scene and fun-loving, laid-back culture. And with colder months also becoming milder, Athens is a growing winter destination, mostly for northern Europeans, hungry for olive-oil-drenched Greek-salad-and-moussaka days and fresh-fish-and-ouzo nights. Athens' efforts to keep cool can already be seen. In the historic center, tourists are learning to drink their iced coffee like locals, nice and slow — a cooling companion to see them through the hottest part of the day. At information points, smiling young women advise tourists, in polished English, to purchase tickets to the Acropolis in advance to avoid long lines and the midday sun. If the Acropolis is temporarily off limits due to extreme heat, Plaitakis suggests heading to 'the top three' as a cooler option: The Acropolis Museum, the National Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Cycladic Art. To take in some coastal views, she advises to 'start at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, designed by the great Renzo Piano, and stop for a dip and a Greek taverna lunch at one of the many beaches on the way to the magnificent Temple of Poseidon, a sunset destination.' As daylight dwindles, and temperatures cool down, the city's energy rises around an outdoor culture that features open-air cinemas, live performances and a vibrant nightlife. Greeks are famously late-night eaters and known to occupy every available space at bars, beaches and benches waiting for their city to cool down. A form of climate adaptation by default. A Mediterranean way of life that needs to up its game in a time of climate emergency.
