Page 237 - MOET PR REPORT- SEPTEMBER 2025

The Minister noted that the UAE ranked among the top seven global destinations for international
tourist spending. It also secured top worldwide positions in several travel and aviation competitive
indicators, notably the Quality of Air Transport Infrastructure index.
He further pointed to the approval by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, of the designs for the new passenger terminal at
Al Maktoum International Airport. The facility, set to be the world's largest with a final capacity of
260 million passengers, carries a total cost of AED128 billion.

Bin Touq stated that the tourism sector's contribution to the UAE’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
rose to AED257.3 billion in 2024, representing 13 percent of the national economy. This marks a 3.2
percent increase from 2023 and a 26 percent increase from the pre-pandemic levels of 2019.

The country welcomed international visitors primarily from key markets, including India (14
percent), the United Kingdom (8 percent), Russia (8 percent), China (5 percent), and Saudi Arabia (5
percent), with 60 percent arriving from other global regions.
Total international visitor spending in the UAE reached AED217.3 billion in 2024, showing a 5.8
percent growth over 2023 and a 30.4 percent increase from 2019. Domestic tourism spending
totalled AED57.6 billion last year, a 2.4 percent increase from 2023 and a 41 percent jump from
2019.

Revenue from hotel establishments grew to nearly AED45 billion in 2024. The hotel occupancy rate
climbed to 78 percent, one of the highest regionally and globally. The number of hotel guests
reached approximately 30.75 million in 2024, a 9.5 percent increase from 28.08 million in 2023,
meeting about 77 percent of the national target of 40 million guests annually.

Total passenger traffic through the UAE’s airports exceeded one billion between 2015 and 2024. The
total number of aircraft movements (arrivals and departures) increased to over 6.4 million, while
the number of international visitors rose from about 15 million in 2014 to over 29 million in 2024.

UAE airports handled approximately 102.9 million passengers in the first eight months of 2025, a
5.3 percent growth compared to 97.9 million passengers during the same period in 2024.

Bin Touq also reported that tourism investments attracted by the UAE reached AED28.8 billion in
2023, rising to AED32.2 billion in 2024, with projections to hit AED35.2 billion in 2025.

The Minister confirmed that the UAE's travel and tourism sector achieved robust growth in H1 2025.
Hotel establishments hosted more than 16 million guests, a 5.5 percent growth compared to the
same period in 2024. As of the end of H1 2025, the country has 1,243 hotel establishments with
over 216,000 rooms. Sixteen new hotels entered the UAE market in 2024.

Hotel revenues increased to over AED26 billion in H1 2025, a 6.3 percent growth compared to the
same period last year.

Bin Touq projected that the number of hotel guests in the country would reach 33 million in 2025.
Hotel revenues are expected to increase by 7 percent this year compared to AED45 billion in 2024,
with UAE airports anticipated to handle approximately 160 million passengers due to airport
expansions and the launch of new routes.

https://www.wam.ae/en/article/blwitpo-uae-solidifies-role-key-player-global-tourism