Page 157 - Ajman Department of Tourism, Culture and Media PR REPORT - OCTOBER 2025

10/20/25, 11:08 AM UAE’s Masfout Featured On UN Tourism’s Best Tourism Villages 2025 List
The list was announced at a special ceremony in Huzhou City, China, which was attended by
a UAE delegation led by Mahmood Khaleel Alhashmi, director general of the Ajman Department of

Tourism Development (ADTD).

It recognizes rural tourism destinations featuring accredited cultural and natural assets, a dedication
to maintaining community-based values, and a strong focus on innovation and sustainability across

economic, social, and environmental aspects.

Launched in 2021, the initiative aims to boost the role of tourism in rural development by “valuing
and safeguarding rural areas along with their associated landscapes, knowledge systems, biological

diversity and cultural heritage.”

The recognized villages include Akyaka, Anıtlı, Barbaros, and Kale Üçağız, in Türkiye, along with

Kandelous, Shafiabad, and Soheili in Iran.

Other countries whose villages were featured include Spain, Guatemala, Brazil, Italy, Japan,
Slovenia, Argentina, Mauritius, China, Germany, Hungary, Croatia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Bosnia

Herzegovina, Portugal, Vietnam, South Korea, Colombia, Israel, Ecuador, Indonesia, Lithuania,
France, and Switzerland.

Crucial quote

“Tourism can be a powerful tool to progress shared prosperity, inclusive growth and territorial
cohesion in rural areas,” said UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, adding that “Our

Best Tourism Villages 2025 highlight communities that are working to safeguard their cultural

heritage, preserve their natural resources and create economic opportunities through tourism.”

Upgrade Program list

The Best Tourism Villages Upgrade Program supports high-potential villages in their efforts to meet
recognition criteria by assisting them in addressing areas identified as weaknesses during

evaluation.

From the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the villages selected for this category
include the Al-Bashandi Village in Egypt and Iraq Al-Amir in Jordan.

What to watch for

The call for submissions for the next edition of the list will be announced in the first quarter of

2026.

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