The United Arab Emirates continued to enhance its status as a global tourist destination in 2025, recording impressive growth across various performance indicators, including visitor numbers, hotel revenues, occupancy rates, and hotel capacity. This remarkable success reflects the innovative strategies and plans implemented by tourism authorities, accompanied by a variety of unique tourism projects that cater to diverse tastes.
The UAE has prioritized the tourism sector as a key contributor to its national economic growth and diversification. In 2025, the country succeeded in providing a unique tourism experience compared to other nations by adopting several proactive tourism initiatives and strategies. These have played a vital role in enhancing the UAE’s attractiveness for investments and diverse tourism projects while promoting the distinct tourist attractions across the seven emirates, thus solidifying the UAE’s leading position on the global tourism map.
The outstanding performance of the tourism sector in 2025 further reinforced the UAE’s standing in traditional markets while achieving strong growth in emerging markets, supported by rising economic and commercial activities, the expansion of national carriers, and a host of exhibitions, conferences, and major events.
Achievements
Indicators show that the UAE’s tourism sector is confidently progressing toward the objectives of the “National Tourism Strategy 2031,” which aims to increase the sector’s contribution to the GDP to 450 billion dirhams and to raise the number of guests in hotel establishments to 40 million annually by the next decade.
In 2025, the tourism sector achieved significant milestones that garnered global recognition. Notably, Sheikha Nasser Al Nahyan was appointed as the Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, and Masfout Village was awarded the title of Best Tourism Village of 2025. Additionally, the UAE ranked among the top seven global destinations for international tourist spending. Performance metrics for hotels continued to trend upwards during the first nine months of the year, with hotel establishments welcoming 23.27 million guests, reflecting a growth of 4.9%. There were over 79.3 million hotel nights recorded, and hotel revenues increased by 7.2%, surpassing 35.9 billion dirhams. The hotel occupancy rate climbed to 79.2%, with occupied room numbers rising by 3.5% to reach 46.17 million rooms, while the average daily room rate saw a 4.2% increase to 557 dirhams, against a total capacity of 216,248 rooms across 1,246 establishments.
According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, international tourist spending in the UAE is projected to rise by 5.2% this year, reaching 228.5 billion dirhams, while local tourist spending is anticipated to grow by 4.3% to hit 60 billion dirhams.
Official data shows that the UAE continues to maintain its leadership as a premier global destination, having welcomed international visitors from major markets, including India, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, and Saudi Arabia. This geographical diversity indicates the UAE’s advanced international position in the global tourism market and underscores the success of the country’s flexible national tourism policies designed to attract various visitor segments.
Development Projects
In 2025, a range of giant tourism and entertainment projects were launched across the emirates, aimed at boosting the attractiveness and competitiveness of the tourism sector on a global scale and increasing its contribution to the national economy. A standout event in the UAE’s tourism and entertainment sector this year was the announcement of the development project for the Disney World Resort on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Additionally, Abu Dhabi opened its first interactive butterfly sanctuary affiliated with the Abu Dhabi Butterfly Garden, which is set to host over 10,000 butterflies.
Dubai announced the launch of the “Therm Dubai” project, featuring a health resort and an interactive park, marking the first of its kind in the Middle East and the longest globally. This project is scheduled for execution in Zabeel Park, with an estimated cost of 2 billion dirhams and expected completion by 2028.
Dubai is also advancing a significant number of notable tourism and entertainment projects, including the mountain walking trail in Mushrif National Park, the first and longest of its kind in the heart of the emirate. This will include “Mushrif Hub,” a recreational initiative offering a package of integrated recreational services, alongside the Hatta mountain biking track, which spans 86 kilometers and features 21 bike trails and 17 walking paths.
In Sharjah, the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) announced the “Kalba Rock Art Center” project, one of the largest and richest rock art sites in the UAE. Shurooq is also progressing with the “Kalba Beach” project, which will cover 700 meters and include 11 commercial units, comprising restaurants, cafes, kiosks, a prayer room, and an indoor play area. In Umm Al-Quwain, the launch of the “Downtown Umm Al-Quwain” project was announced on the emirate’s coastline, covering 25 million square feet and featuring an 11-kilometer beachfront, including 7 kilometers of natural beaches and parks. Umm Al-Quwain also saw the opening of the “Lux Glamp,” one of the latest and most significant eco-tourism projects, located in the heart of Umm Al-Quwain Mangrove Reserve.
Ras Al Khaimah announced the establishment of a new collection of luxury hotels, including NH Collection Ras Al Khaimah Marjan Island with 156 rooms, Fairmont Marjan Island with 250 rooms, Taj Wellinton Muse Marjan with 336 hotel apartments, and Four Seasons Resort and Residences Ras Al Khaimah. Fujairah saw the Minor Hotel Group sign an agreement to launch the Avani+ Fujairah Resort, scheduled to open in 2028.
Award Recognition
The year 2025 further solidified the UAE’s status as one of the leading global tourist destinations, having garnered a wide array of prestigious awards in hospitality, entertainment, sustainability, and visitor experiences.
Dubai received several global awards, including a significant achievement in April when it became the first certified autism-friendly tourist destination in the eastern hemisphere, reflecting its commitment to providing travel opportunities for everyone. Regarding international tourism, Dubai continues to rank as the best global destination in the 2025 Travelers’ Choice Awards by TripAdvisor.
In a study conducted by travel insurance company Insure My Trip, Dubai was named the top city globally for solo female travelers, scoring highly on indicators of “safety” and “feeling safe while walking alone at night” among 62 cities included in the study.
The Dubai Business Events Office, the official conference organizing body for Dubai under the Department of Economy and Tourism, has also enhanced Dubai’s status as a strategic location for impactful business events. Dubai again ranked first in the Middle East for the number of association conferences hosted in 2024, according to the International Association of Meetings and Conventions. Moreover, the Dubai Business Events Office achieved a record of winning 249 bids to host international conferences, seminars, and incentive programs in the first half of 2025, projected to attract over 127,000 participants to Dubai in the coming years.
Abu Dhabi established its presence in the 2025 World Travel Awards, securing leading positions across various categories, including tourism, cultural, beach destinations, amusement and water parks, business, and adventure tourism, solidifying its reputation as a major Middle Eastern destination in these areas.
The Emirate of Abu Dhabi was awarded the Leading Business Tourism Destination in the Middle East for the fifth consecutive year, while for tourism and cultural destinations, Saadiyat Island won the award for Leading Beach Destination in the Middle East, and “Qasr Al Watan” received the award for Leading Cultural Tourism Destination.