UAE tourism hits record highs in visitors, revenue, and investment, strengthening its role as a global tourism hub.
DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates has firmly positioned itself as a global leader in tourism, with robust growth across key indicators including visitor numbers, hotel revenues, and international investments. The momentum continues as the nation prepares to observe World Tourism Day on 27th September.
According to Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, the sector saw unprecedented gains in 2024 and early 2025. The UAE’s tourism contribution to GDP surged to AED257.3 billion, accounting for 13 percent of the national economy—an increase of 26 percent compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
Among the highlights is the approval of the new passenger terminal design at Al Maktoum International Airport, set to become the world’s largest, with a final capacity of 260 million passengers. The airport expansion reflects the country’s long-term vision to serve rising demand in international travel.
Visitor statistics remain strong, with the UAE welcoming over 29 million international travellers in 2024. Spending from foreign tourists reached AED217.3 billion—a 30.4 percent increase from 2019. Domestic tourism also showed strength with AED57.6 billion in spending last year.
Hotel performance was another standout, with 30.75 million guests in 2024 and revenues topping AED45 billion. The UAE’s 78 percent hotel occupancy rate is among the highest globally. The sector expects to welcome 33 million hotel guests by the end of 2025.
Tourism investments hit AED32.2 billion in 2024, with projections to reach AED35.2 billion in 2025. Signature campaigns like “World’s Coolest Winter” have played a major role, helping raise awareness of the UAE’s tourism appeal and reaching over 1.2 billion people worldwide.
