His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, the Minister of Economy and Tourism, emphasized that the 54th Union Day this year is marked by remarkable economic and tourism achievements that reflect the wise leadership’s vision and the strength of the union. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has led the economic growth rates among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, achieving a real GDP growth of 4.2% in the first half of 2025. Notably, the non-oil GDP grew impressively by 5.7%, elevating the contribution of non-oil sectors to 77.5% of the total real GDP. This demonstrates the success of the economic diversification strategy and the robust foundations of the nation’s economy, which continues to attract investments and projects from around the globe.
He also revealed that Emirates markets welcomed over 220,186 new companies from January to November 2025, alongside the registration of more than 36,000 national and international trademarks entering the country’s markets, marking a growth rate of 48.2% compared to the same period last year.
Furthermore, he explained that this economic surge has been supported by an active legislative movement, with the ministry issuing 11 economic laws and policies in the first 11 months of this year. These initiatives covered vital sectors such as consumer protection, eco-tourism, food security, air transport, and sustainability, along with 8 regulatory policies aimed at enhancing competition and addressing harmful practices, thus fostering an integrated legislative environment that strengthens economic competitiveness.
On the tourism front, he noted that the sector has achieved significant milestones that have gained worldwide recognition. Notably, Emirati national Sheikha Nasir Al Nuaimi has been appointed as the Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, and Masfout Village was awarded the title of Best Tourism Village in the world for 2025. Additionally, the UAE ranked among the top 7 global destinations for international tourist spending. Hotel performance indicators show a strong upward trend, with 23.27 million guests welcomed in the first nine months of the year, reflecting a growth of 4.9%. Over 79.3 million hotel nights were recorded, with hotel revenues increasing by 7.2% to over 35.9 billion dirhams. The hotel occupancy rate rose to 79.2%, and the number of occupied rooms increased by 3.5% to reach 46.17 million, alongside a 4.2% rise in average daily room rates reaching 557 dirhams, all supported by an accommodation capacity of 216,248 rooms across 1,246 establishments.
He reflected on this day’s historical significance when the seven Emirates united under one banner, established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his fellow founding fathers. This made the UAE a leading model of growth and prosperity.
He added: “Today, we celebrate this cherished national occasion under the slogan ‘United,’ reaffirming our shared values of unity and pride in our Emirati identity. This anniversary highlights our national solidarity and the commitment to continuously support the comprehensive development journey of our beloved nation, led by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and guided by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister, Ruler of Dubai, along with the oversight of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs, and their Highnesses the members of the Supreme Council of the Federation, the rulers of the Emirates.
He concluded by affirming that Union Day evokes the values of hard work and dedication, renewing the commitment to advance towards achieving national goals, especially the ‘We are the Emirates 2031’ vision, which aims to double the national economy to reach 3 trillion dirhams and transform the country into a global center for the new economy by the next decade.