Page 30 - MOE ENGLISH PR - APRIL 2024

Press Release

UAE tourism sector achieves record in key performance indicators.

Reviewing performance indicators and results achieved by UAE tourism in 2023, H.E. Bin Touq
confirmed its full recovery from the pandemic and return to higher levels of growth than 2019. The
national tourism sector grew by a significant 26 per cent in 2023 compared to that of 2022 and
surpassed 2019 levels by 14 per cent. Its contribution to the country's GDP amounted to AED 220
billion, accounting for 11.7 per cent. This is expected to rise in 2024 to AED 236 billion, equivalent
to 12 per cent of the country's GDP, according to a recent report by the World Travel and Tourism
Council.

In addition, this vital sector provided 809000 of jobs in various activities and tourism fields in the
country in 2023, equivalent to 12.3 per cent of the total labor market. With five per cent growth
from 2022, exceeding 2019 levels with 11.4 per cent growth, the number of jobs it creates is
expected to reach 833,000 in 2024. There are currently 1,235 hotels in the UAE providing a total
of 210,000 rooms for guests and visitors.

Unified GCC Tourism Visa

H.E. Bin Touq explained that efforts are underway in collaboration with other GCC partners to
launch the unified GCC tourist visa. Once it comes into effect, it will contribute to highlighting the
diverse tourism destinations in GCC countries, attracting and retaining tourists for longer periods,
thus increasing the number of hotel guests and making the region one of the leading destinations
for regional and international tourists alike.

World Economy Forum, Riyadh

Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh hosted the special meeting of the World Economic Forum, its first
meeting outside Davos after the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 1,000 participants attended the
Forum, including senior officials, international experts, opinion leaders and intellectuals from
government and private sectors, international organizations and academic institutions to discuss
various global economic issues and developments with an aim to find common solutions to address
them.

-Ends-

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