His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Mari, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the UAE Tourism Council, emphasized that the tourism sector is a key priority for the UAE’s economy, serving as a fundamental pillar and driving force for sustainable development. He noted that it plays an active role in enhancing growth, diversifying income sources, and increasing its contribution to the country’s GDP.
In statements to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the occasion of World Tourism Day 2025, he remarked that following positive results in the UAE tourism sector, efforts are currently focused on innovating and developing more diverse tourism initiatives, projects, and programs that align with the “National Tourism Strategy 2031.” This includes the upcoming launch of the sixth edition of the “Most Beautiful Winter in the World” campaign in December.
He indicated ongoing collaboration with local and international partners to qualify Emirati human resources for entry into various tourism job markets while also encouraging the UAE business community, alongside global investors and entrepreneurs, to invest and expand in tourism, hospitality, travel, and aviation sectors within the UAE markets.
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism is working on providing new programs aimed at fostering the growth of emerging businesses for Emirati entrepreneurs in tourism-related activities. Additionally, the UAE is enhancing its presence in regional and international platforms by actively participating in international events and exhibitions to highlight its position and leadership role globally.
His Excellency affirmed the commitment to enhancing technological infrastructure for tourism data, aligning with best global practices, to improve information management capabilities and support appropriate decision-making while enhancing visitor experiences.
He mentioned that, in line with the UAE’s strategy to boost investments in African markets, the country will host the “UAE-Africa Tourism Investment Summit” in October, lasting three days in conjunction with the Future of Hospitality Forum, aimed at strengthening UAE-African economic partnerships across various tourism and hospitality sectors.
His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq noted that the business and investment environment in the UAE is continuously evolving through legislative and economic policy advancements over recent years, which have enhanced the country’s attractiveness to companies, investors, and capital holders worldwide. This has positively impacted investment opportunities within tourism, travel, and aviation sectors, creating a competitive business environment aligned with the best global practices.
He added that, reflecting on these developments, the number of business licenses operating in tourism, hospitality, aviation, transport, and digital tourism solutions has reached 39,546 as of mid-September 2025, showing a growth rate of 275% compared to mid-September 2020. This significant increase highlights the UAE’s leadership as a nurturing environment for businesses and commercial licenses across diverse tourism sectors.
Regarding updates on the unified Gulf tourism pathway, he stated that the number of Gulf visitors to the UAE in 2024 reached approximately 3.3 million, accounting for 11% of total hotel guests in the country. Notably, Saudi Arabia topped the list with 1.9 million visitors, representing 58% of the total Gulf visitors, followed by Oman with 777,000 visitors at 24%, Kuwait with 381,000 visitors at 12%, Bahrain with 123,000 visitors at 4%, and finally Qatar with 93,000 visitors at 3%.
He highlighted that the Gulf unified tourist visa represents a strategic step towards enhancing tourism integration among GCC countries, signifying a qualitative leap for the tourism sector across the Gulf and the region. This initiative will amplify the diverse tourism attributes inherent in each member state and bolster the Gulf’s attractiveness as a unified regional tourism destination.
His Excellency anticipated that the pilot launch of this visa is expected during the fourth quarter of 2025, paving the way for its full activation later, all within a shared Gulf vision for developing the tourism sector and increasing its contribution to the GDP of Gulf economies.