Page 181 - MOET ENGLISH PR REPORT - JUNE 2025

The report further revealed that international visitor spending in the UAE reached AED217.3 billion
(US$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 AED57.6 billion
(US$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 AED228.5 billion. Meanwhile, domestic tourism spending is expected to
grow by 4.3%, hitting AED60 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.

Aligns with the UAE’s broader vision to promote sustainable practices across all sectors

This performance aligns with the UAE’s broader vision to promote sustainable practices across all
sectors — ensuring that tourism growth goes hand-in-hand with environmental responsibility and
long-term ecological balance.

On the social front, the report highlighted that women accounted for 16.3% of the direct workforce
in the UAE’s travel and tourism sector in 2023. Additionally, youth aged 15–24 years made up 9.7%
of the total employment in the sector, reflecting its growing role in empowering both women and
younger generations within the national labour market.

From a fiscal perspective, the tourism and travel sector generated US$8.6 billion in tax revenues in
2023, representing 5.4% of total government revenues. This underscores the sector’s increasing
financial significance and its vital contribution to the country’s public treasury.

On the global level, the report stated that the travel and tourism sector contributed US$10.9 trillion
to the global GDP in 2024, representing 10% of the world economy. This reflects an 8.5% increase
compared to 2023 and a 6% rise compared 2019.
Looking ahead, the sector’s contribution is projected to reach US$11.7 trillion in 2025, which would
mark a 6.7% increase over 2024 and a 13% growth over 2019, underscoring the sustained recovery
and expansion of global tourism.

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