Page 560 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - MAY 2025 ( Part 2)

5/19/25, 1:45 PM Latest News
Enhancing tourism cooperation with European markets
H.E. Bin Touq expressed the UAE’s desire to enhance cooperation with European markets and foster fruitful

partnerships in various tourism sub-sectors and activities, thereby supporting overall economic development
and creating new opportunities for shared prosperity. H.E. pointed out that the tourism sector in the UAE has

undergone significant development, characterized by the adoption of forward-looking national initiatives; the
establishment of distinguished tourism infrastructure in line with global best practices; the development of

leading destinations and tourism products, and an increase in tourist inflows.
H.E. Bin Touq said: “The UAE continues to support initiatives and projects aimed at sustaining global tourism

growth, fostering collaboration with the UN Tourism and its member states, and expanding cooperation in
various tourism sub-sectors.”
Objectives of UAE Tourism Strategy

During discussions with the tourism ministers of Spain and Croatia, H.E. Bin Touq highlighted the importance
of the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031 and its key role in supporting the sustainability and competitiveness of the

country’s tourism sector over the next decade. The strategy has established a set of national objectives,
which include elevating the UAE’s status to become a leading global destination, increasing the sector's
contribution to the national GDP to AED 450 billion, attracting tourism investments worth AED 100 billion to

the country's markets, and welcoming 40 million guests by the year 2031.
Strong growth in UAE tourism

The Minister of Economy reviewed key performance indicators of the UAE tourism sector, which include a
total of AED 45 billion in hotel revenues in 2024 with a three per cent year-over-year growth. The hotel

occupancy rate in the country reached 78 per cent, which is among the highest regionally and globally.
Additionally, 16 new hotels were launched across the UAE in 2024, taking the total number of hotels to 1,251

by the end of last year.
Increasing tourism movement between the UAE and Spain
During his meeting with H.E. Rosario Sánchez Grau, Spanish Secretary of State for Tourism, H.E. Bin Touq

reviewed latest developments in the global tourism sector, the mechanisms to enable sustainable growth, as
well as enhancing cooperation in various tourism fields. The two sides explored the potential for establishing

new partnerships to increase mutual tourism flows.
The number of Spanish tourists to the UAE reached 150,231 in 2024, representing an increase of more than

14 per cent compared to that of 2023. The number of flights between the UAE and Spain amount to
approximately 48 weekly services, operated by airlines of both countries.

Cooperation between tourism companies in the UAE and Croatian Markets
H.E. Bin Touq and H.E. Ton?i Glavina discussed enhancing cooperation between tourism companies and
entities in the UAE and Croatian markets, in addition to enhancing joint efforts to create new tourism and

leisure programs to promote mutual tourism flows. There are currently more than 42 monthly flights between
the UAE and Croatia, operated by the airlines of both countries.

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