The United Arab Emirates participated in the G20 Tourism Ministers’ meeting for 2025, held in Mbombela, South Africa. The UAE was represented by His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, the Minister of Economy and Tourism. During the meeting, the UAE reaffirmed its dedication to advancing global tourism initiatives.
Key Discussions
The agenda covered several priority topics aimed at enhancing the worldwide tourism sector, including:
– Promotion of digital innovation
– Sustainable financing and investment
– Expansion of air connectivity
– Building resilience in this vital industry
A Commitment to Tourism Growth
In his address, His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq emphasized the UAE’s strategic position as a leading global tourist destination, attributed to the visionary leadership. He noted significant advancements in infrastructure, the introduction of flexible regulations, and quality investments that have bolstered the sector’s competitiveness and attractiveness on both regional and global levels. He underscored that tourism is a cornerstone of economic diversification efforts and a key element in achieving the goals of the “We Are the UAE 2031” vision by increasing contributions to the GDP and boosting visitor numbers, solidifying the UAE’s role as a premier global hub for tourism and travel.
Embracing Digital Transformation
His Excellency Al Marri highlighted that the G20 Tourism Ministers’ meeting serves as a strategic platform for enhancing international collaboration in tourism. He reiterated the UAE’s commitment to supporting key agendas, including artificial intelligence, digital innovation, sustainable financing, and the expansion of air connectivity while ensuring resilience for the benefit of all communities.
He viewed this international gathering as an opportunity for knowledge exchange and partnership building to shape the future of tourism. The UAE is dedicated to fostering collaborative efforts with G20 partners to ensure inclusive digital transformation and to adapt to technological advancements.
National Efforts in Sustainability
Al Marri outlined the national initiatives aimed at integrating sustainability and digital innovation in tourism, notably the launch of the fifth edition of the “Most Beautiful Winter in the World 2024” campaign under the theme of “Green Tourism.” This campaign promotes diverse tourism experiences by encouraging green, agricultural, and environmentally sustainable tourism, thus creating a thriving market for investments and projects in this field. He added that the UAE has prioritized digital transformation within its “National Tourism Strategy 2031.”
Sustainable Financing as a Pillar
Furthermore, he stated that sustainable tourism financing and investment are vital for the continuity and growth of the sector, facilitated through innovative funding programs and strategic partnerships with development banks. Connecting air destinations remains essential for the sustainability of global tourism, as the UAE continues to invest in modern aviation networks, integrate multimodal transport systems, and update infrastructure while adopting digital travel solutions to ease global mobility.
Addressing Digital Solutions
The meeting explored strategies for accelerating the adoption of digital solutions and artificial intelligence to support small and medium enterprises and startups in the tourism sector, alongside new mechanisms for financing sustainable tourism investments. There was also a discussion about enhancing air connectivity through the development of flight routes, market liberalization, and transportation integration, while addressing measures to bolster the sector’s resilience against health, climate, and economic crises.
Tourism Growth in the UAE
The tourism sector in the UAE has demonstrated robust growth over the past few years. In the first half of the current year, hotel establishments welcomed over 16 million guests, reflecting a growth rate of 5.5% compared to the same period in 2024. Additionally, the total number of occupied hotel nights reached 56 million, up by 7.3%, with an average stay of 3.5 nights. Hotel revenues exceeded 26 billion dirhams, marking a 6.3% increase from the previous year, while the hotel occupancy rate stood at 80.5% during the first half of this year.