His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Mari, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of “Investopia,” held a bilateral meeting with Joseph Schow, Minister of Labour, Economy, Trade, and Immigration for the province of Alberta, Canada, and Andrew Butchinko, Minister of Tourism and Sport for the province. The discussion focused on enhancing collaborative opportunities in the new economy, tourism, travel, hospitality, aviation, and air transport in the upcoming period.
This meeting took place during the “Investopia – Alberta” dialogue event, which saw significant participation from business leaders, investors, innovators, officials, decision-makers, and entrepreneurs from both countries.
His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq highlighted that economic ties between the UAE and Canada are experiencing continuous growth across various sectors, supported by the strong commitment of the leadership in both friendly nations to develop these relations and expand the horizon for mutual cooperation.
The Minister noted that both countries have promising prospects for developing their economic partnership, particularly in emerging economic sectors, which will contribute to reinforcing mutual economic growth and broadening the scope of bilateral investments.
He briefed the Canadian representatives on the developments in the UAE’s business environment and economy, which has seen the issuance and updating of over 35 economic legislations, policies, and decisions over the past five years, including 10 policies in the new economy sectors and allowing 100% foreign ownership of companies.
Additionally, the UAE has provided more than 2000 economic activities, alongside efforts to enhance tourism landmarks and unique destinations, offering exceptional tourism experiences to visitors from around the globe, while modernizing its tourism infrastructure in line with global best practices.
Andrew Butchinko, the Minister of Tourism and Sport in Alberta, remarked, “My participation in Investopia and engagement with our exceptional partner was a valuable opportunity to exchange insights, experiences, and ideas. This event highlighted Alberta’s efforts in developing year-round resorts that enhance outbound tourism and winter activities, as well as initiatives aimed at promoting new luxury and cultural experiences across the province.”
Economic Development
Joseph Schow, Alberta’s Minister of Labour, Economy, Trade, and Immigration, stated, “It is my honor to welcome His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Mari during his visit to Alberta and to showcase the opportunities our province offers. Our competitive advantages, natural resource abundance, and workforce efficiency enhance our appeal as a leading business destination, particularly with a focus on economic development.”
Promotion of Destinations
His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq and the Minister of Tourism and Sport discussed strengthening collaborative efforts to exchange tourism-related expertise, promote unique destinations of both regions, and increase tourist exchanges and flight connections in the near future.
Given that the province is renowned for its Rockies national parks, enchanting turquoise lakes, and majestic mountain landscapes, Alberta also boasts several sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage.
Tourism cooperation between the UAE and Canada has been steadily increasing, with the number of Canadian tourists visiting the UAE reaching 297,176 in 2024, compared to 264,408 in 2023, representing a growth rate of approximately 12.4%. The number of flights connecting the two countries has increased to 21 weekly via Emirates Airlines.
Furthermore, His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq discussed with Joseph Schow opportunities to support connectivity between the Emirati and Canadian business communities, encouraging them to expand their operations and projects in new economic sectors and to pursue growth in international markets by taking advantage of the unique advantages and opportunities offered by the UAE and Canada.