Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, the Minister of Economy and Tourism, conducted a series of bilateral meetings with tourism ministers from Brazil, Portugal, Azerbaijan, and Argentina. The objective of these discussions was to enhance opportunities for tourism collaboration in the future, aiming for greater advancement and prosperity, as well as to share the latest practices in sustainable tourism development.
These meetings took place during his participation in the International Tourism Fair FITUR Madrid 2026. During these discussions, he emphasized that the UAE, under the guidance of its visionary leadership, prioritizes the strengthening of strategic partnerships with prominent global tourism markets. Such partnerships are seen as essential for the growth and competitiveness of the tourism sector, facilitating broader collaboration with friendly nations and enhancing integration in tourism promotion, in line with global shifts in the tourism industry.
He noted that international visitors’ spending in the UAE reached approximately AED 217.3 billion in 2024, reflecting a growth of 5.8% compared to 2023 and a significant increase of 30.4% since 2019. This spending is expected to rise by 5.2% in 2025, reaching AED 228.5 billion, according to a report from the World Travel and Tourism Council.
Al Marri stated: “The hospitality sector has shown remarkable growth from January to November 2025, with the hotel occupancy rate in the country climbing to 79.5%. The average length of stay has increased to 3.42 nights, alongside an expansion in capacity, raising the number of hotels to 1,260 and rooms to approximately 216,900, which reflects the resilience of this vital sector and its ability to meet growing demand while boosting its contribution to the national economy.”
Portugal
Al Marri met with Pedro Machado, the Minister of State for Tourism, Trade, and Services in Portugal, where they discussed mechanisms to enhance cooperation in developing joint tourism products across cultural, environmental, and marine tourism sectors. They also focused on strengthening aviation ties and supporting knowledge exchange in tourism experiences, hospitality, and vocational training. The number of Portuguese tourists visiting the UAE reached around 89,000 in 2025, marking a 4% increase compared to 2024, and there are currently 21 direct flights weekly between the two nations.
Argentina
Al Marri also held a meeting with Daniel Scioli, the Minister of Tourism, Sports, and Environment in Argentina, to explore collaboration opportunities in sports and cultural tourism. They exchanged initiatives and programs aimed at engaging visitors with events and activities while considering the organization of mutual events to stimulate tourism flow between the two countries. Notably, the number of Argentine tourists to the UAE grew to 34,900 in 2025, up by 9% from 2024.
Brazil
In discussions with Gustavo Feliziano, Brazil’s Minister of Tourism, Al Marri examined ways to expand tourism collaboration, focusing on joint promotion of tourist destinations, sharing best practices, and attracting investments in tourism infrastructure, including hotels, resorts, and recreational facilities. Additionally, they talked about increasing flight connections and the vital role of the private sector and sovereign wealth funds in supporting tourism projects, agreeing to establish a joint working group to monitor projects and set future priorities in tourism for both countries.
The number of Brazilian guests in UAE hotels increased significantly to 165,000 last year, achieving a 4% growth from 2024. There are currently 14 direct flights weekly linking the two nations, highlighting the growing mutual interest in their tourism offerings and enhancing the potential for collaboration.
Azerbaijan
Al Marri concluded his meetings with a discussion with Fuad Nagiyev, head of the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan. They focused on tourism investment opportunities, event organization, developing specialized tourism products, sharing expertise in destination management, and enhancing investments in the hospitality sector to support increased tourist flow between the two nations.
The number of Azerbaijani tourists visiting the UAE rose to 38,600 last year, reflecting a growth rate of 7% compared to 2024. This indicates the growing significance of the tourism partnership between the UAE and Azerbaijan, with 20 direct flights per week between the countries.