Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri, the Minister of Economy and Tourism, emphasized that the UAE has established itself as a leading model for growth, development, and prosperity. The nation has achieved remarkable successes and accomplishments across various sectors, earning global recognition and enhancing its status both regionally and internationally.
He further noted that the country has realized extraordinary and unprecedented economic and tourism milestones, reflecting its ongoing evolution and ambitious vision aimed at creating a more advanced and prosperous future for current and future generations. Economically, the UAE topped growth rates among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, with a real GDP growth of 4.2% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Meanwhile, the non-oil GDP grew by 5.7%, with non-oil activities contributing 77.5% to real GDP, highlighting the nation’s expanding economic diversification and robust economic foundations.
36,000 Brands
Moreover, he pointed out that the UAE markets attracted over 220,186 new companies from January to November 2025. The Ministry of Economy and Tourism recorded more than 36,000 national and international brands entering the UAE market during the current year up to November, marking a growth rate of 48.2% compared to the same period last year. This underscores the competitiveness and leadership of the UAE’s business environment and its strong appeal for investments and projects from around the globe.
Tourism Growth
In terms of tourism, the UAE has achieved significant milestones that recognize its global standing, including the appointment of Emirati Sheikha Nasir Al Nuaimi as the Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization. Additionally, the village of Muflot was awarded the title of the Best Tourism Village in the World for 2025, reflecting the high standards of UAE tourism and garnering widespread international acclaim.
The UAE ranked among the top seven global destinations for international tourist spending, and the hotel sector continued its strong upward trajectory throughout the first nine months of 2025, hosting 23.27 million guests, an increase of 4.9% compared to the same period in 2024.
This recovery resulted in over 79.3 million hotel nights, affirming the UAE’s position as one of the world’s most competitive and high-performing tourism markets.
Hotel Revenue
Furthermore, hotel revenues during the first nine months of this year saw a significant rise of 7.2%, exceeding 35.9 billion dirhams compared to the same period last year. The number of available hotel rooms increased to 216,248, distributed across 1,246 establishments in various emirates.
Operational performance indicators for the tourism sector also showed ongoing growth, with the hotel occupancy rate rising to 79.2%, an increase of 1.8%, driven by strong international visitor flows and domestic tourism growth. The average length of stay increased from 3.38 to 3.41 nights, indicating a greater engagement from visitors with the UAE’s diverse tourism offerings.
At the same time, the number of occupied hotel rooms rose by 3.5%, reaching 46.17 million rooms, and the average daily room rate (ADR) increased by 4.2% from 534 dirhams to 557 dirhams, reflecting improved revenue management and sustained demand across various market segments.
Business Competitiveness
The Minister also explained that the Ministry of Economy and Tourism has continued its efforts to enhance the economic legislative framework, having issued 11 laws and economic policies from January to November 2025. These regulations encompass vital and diverse areas related to consumer protection, tourism, environmental sustainability, food security, air transport, and sustainability. During the same period, the ministry introduced eight policies and regulatory decisions covering aspects such as origin, combating harmful practices, corporate regulations, and competition, showcasing its essential role in developing an integrated legislative environment that supports national economic competitiveness and enhances its attractiveness for investments.
Al Marri added that the UAE continues its remarkable developmental journey across various sectors, notably through the “We are the UAE 2031” vision, which aims to double the national economy to reach 3 trillion dirhams and position the country as a global center for the new economy by the next decade.