Page 585 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - MAY 2025 ( Part 2)

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.
He 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.

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.”

During discussions with the tourism ministers of Spain and Croatia, 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.

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 %, 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.

During his meeting with Rosario Sánchez Grau, Spanish Secretary of State for Tourism, 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% 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.

Bin Touq and Tonči 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.

https://www.msn.com/en-ae/money/general/bin-touq-meets-with-tourism-ministers-of-spain-
croatia-to-enhance-prospects-for-cooperation-in-sector/ar-AA1E8erf