Page 162 - MOET ENGLISH PR REPORT - JUNE 2025

7/1/25, 3:20 PM Global visitors to UAE spent Dhs217 billion in 2024, says...
Regarding international tourism, the WTTC report highlighted that the UAE continues to assert
its position as one of the world's leading travel destinations. In 2024, the country welcomed
international visitors from a diverse range of key markets, including India: 14%, United Kingdom:
8%, Russia: 8%, China: 5%, Saudi Arabia: 5%, and rest of the world: 60%.

This broad geographical distribution reflects the UAE's growing global appeal and the

effectiveness of its flexible and inclusive tourism policies in attracting a wide array of visitors.

The report further revealed that international visitor spending in the UAE reached Dhs217.3
billion ($59.2 billion) in 2024, marking a 5.8% increase from 2023 and a 30.4% rise compared to

pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

Meanwhile, domestic tourism spending also witnessed strong growth, reaching Dhs57.6 billion
($15.7 billion) in 2024, an increase of 2.4% over 2023 and a remarkable 41% rise compared to

2019.

These figures underscore both the resilience and upward momentum of the UAE's tourism
sector across international and domestic fronts, further solidifying its position as a premier
global destination.

The WTTC report projects that international visitor spending in the UAE will rise by 5.2% in
2025, reaching approximately Dhs228.5 billion.

Meanwhile, domestic tourism spending is expected to grow by 4.3%, hitting DHS60 billion by
the end of the year.

The report also highlighted that leisure tourism accounted for 84.7% of total tourism

expenditure in the UAE in 2024, while business tourism represented 15.3%. This demonstrates
the sector's adaptability and its ability to balance both recreational and commercial tourism
demands.

Moreover, the breakdown of spending showed that 79% of total tourism expenditure came from
international visitors, while 21% was attributed to domestic tourists.

The report further emphasised that despite the UAE's rapid tourism sector growth, the country

has remained firmly committed to environmental standards and sustainability goals.

In 2023, carbon emissions linked to tourism activities accounted for only 13.3% of the nation's
total emissions, reflecting the UAE's strategic focus on integrating sustainability across its
tourism landscape.

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