Page 275 - MOET PR REPORT- SEPTEMBER 2025

9/29/25, 5:06 PM UAE solidifies role as key player in global tourism
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.

The minister further pointed out that the 'World's Coolest Winter' campaign, over its five editions, has yielded
outstanding results in terms of hotel revenues in the country, which amounted to approximately AED6.7 billion.
The campaign also recorded a significant 90 percent growth in hotel revenues, with revenues in the first edition
reaching AED1 billion and AED1.9 billion in the fifth edition.

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