Page 230 - MOET PR REPORT- SEPTEMBER 2025

9/30/25, 4:21 PM 39,546 tourism, hospitality, aviation licences issued until mid-September: Minister
Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on World Tourism Day 2025, Dub
Dubai - Hyderabad
Al Marri attributed this surge to the UAE's continuous reforms to business from
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and investment regulations, which have strengthened the country's appeal Bo
to international companies and capital while boosting opportunities in

tourism-related sectors.

He stressed that tourism remains central to the UAE's economic priorities

as a driver of sustainable growth, with new initiatives under the UAE

Tourism Strategy 2031, including the sixth "World's Coolest Winter"

campaign set to launch in December.

He noted ongoing efforts with local and international partners to train

Emirati talent for the tourism workforce, encourage investment in

hospitality, travel and aviation sectors, and support start-ups through new

programmes.

As part of its outreach to Africa, the UAE will also host the "UAE-Africa

Tourism Investment Summit" in October as part of the Future Hospitality

Summit, aimed at deepening bilateral partnerships across tourism,

hospitality and aviation.

On Gulf tourism, Al Marri said the UAE welcomed 3.3 million visitors from

GCC countries in 2024, accounting for 11 percent of total hotel guests. Saudi

Arabia led with 1.9 million visitors (58 percent of GCC total), followed by

Oman with 777,000 (24 percent), Kuwait with 381,000 (12 percent), Bahrain

with 123,000 (4 percent) and Qatar with 93,000 (3 percent).

He added that the upcoming unified GCC tourist visa represents a strategic

step towards deeper regional integration and will enhance the Gulf's

collective appeal as a single tourism destination. A pilot launch is expected

in the fourth quarter of 2025, ahead of full implementation at a later stage.

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