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Press Release

Hospitality Advisory Council discusses new national initiatives to
boost growth and employment opportunities in the sector

Tourism and hospitality sectors see sustained growth as hotel occupancy
rates reach 81.3% in Q1 2025

Abu Dhabi, June 18, 2025:

The Hospitality Advisory Council convened its second meeting of 2025 under the chairmanship
of H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism
Council. The session brought together 16 Council members, including CEOs and senior executives
from leading national and international hotel groups. Discussions focused on a range of new
national initiatives developed in partnership with the private sector to accelerate the growth of the
UAE’s hospitality sector. The initiatives also aim to generate employment opportunities across all
sectors of this vital industry.

H.E. Bin Touq said: "Thanks to the vision and guidance of our wise leadership, the UAE’s tourism
and hospitality sectors continue to thrive. In the first quarter of 2025, hotel revenues reached AED
13.5 billion, with over 8.4 million guests recorded, a two per cent increase compared to the same
period in 2024. Total hotel nights reached 29.3 million, and the national hotel occupancy rate stood
at 81.3 per cent during the same period."

H.E. added: "These impressive figures reflect the UAE’s strong commitment to advancing its
hospitality industry in line with global best practices. We have invested heavily in developing hotel
and entertainment infrastructure across all seven emirates, organizing major international events,
and delivering exceptional hospitality experiences that reflect authentic Emirati heritage and
culture. As a result, the UAE has become one of the world's leading hospitality destinations today."
The Minister of Economy continued: "The year 2025 marks a major milestone for UAE tourism,
marked by the election of Shaikha Al Nowais as the first woman globally to serve as Secretary-
General of the UN World Tourism Organization for the term 2026-2029. This achievement
reinforces the UAE’s prominent role in supporting international efforts to advance the global
tourism industry.”

The meeting’s discussions covered a comprehensive array of key files and initiatives that support
the UAE’s efforts to enhance the growth and competitiveness of its hospitality sector. Participants
emphasized the importance of promoting collaboration between the public and private sectors to
meet the objectives of the National Tourism Strategy 2031, which aims to establish the UAE as
the top global tourism brand by the next decade.