A recent report from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has highlighted the exceptional performance of the UAE’s travel and tourism sector in 2024. The sector contributed AED257.3 billion ($70.1 billion) to the national GDP, accounting for 13% of the economy. This reflects a 3.2% increase from 2023 and an impressive 26% growth compared to 2019, marking one of the highest growth rates in tourism’s contribution to economic development globally and regionally, as reported by WAM.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, commended the sector’s achievements, noting that international visitor spending exceeded AED217 billion last year, while domestic tourism expenditure reached AED57 billion. He stated, “The UAE ranks among the world’s top seven destinations for international tourist spending, surpassing countries that have been in this industry for centuries.” He emphasized the nation’s commitment to welcoming tourists and creating a conducive environment for visitation and investment.

Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, emphasized the UAE’s strategy to place tourism at the core of its economic diversification and sustainable growth efforts. He attributed the sector’s success to proactive initiatives and strategic plans that position the UAE as an attractive global destination. Improvements in infrastructure across the seven emirates have significantly enhanced the appeal of tourism-related investments.

Al Marri highlighted a recent historic milestone with the election of Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais as Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). He mentioned that the WTTC results reaffirm the vision of UAE leadership to enhance tourism competitiveness and create job opportunities for Emiratis. He stated that these achievements align with the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031, which aims to increase the sector’s contribution to the national GDP to AED450 billion and attract 40 million hotel guests annually by the next decade.

The report noted that the UAE welcomed international visitors from diverse markets in 2024, including India (14%), the United Kingdom (8%), Russia (8%), China (5%), Saudi Arabia (5%), and the rest of the world (60%). This broad distribution indicates the UAE’s growing global appeal and the effectiveness of its inclusive tourism policies in attracting a wide range of visitors.

In 2024, international visitor spending in the UAE reached AED217.3 billion ($59.2 billion), a 5.8% increase from 2023 and a 30.4% rise compared to 2019. Domestic tourism spending also grew to AED57.6 billion ($15.7 billion), reflecting a 2.4% increase over 2023 and a remarkable 41% rise compared to 2019. These figures highlight the resilience and upward momentum of the UAE’s tourism sector.

Looking ahead, the WTTC projects that international visitor spending in the UAE will rise by 5.2% in 2025, reaching approximately AED228.5 billion, while domestic tourism spending is expected to grow by 4.3%, hitting AED60 billion by the end of the year. The report also revealed that leisure tourism accounted for 84.7% of total tourism expenditure in the UAE in 2024, while business tourism represented 15.3%.

Additionally, the report highlighted that women made up 16.3% of the direct workforce in the UAE’s travel and tourism sector in 2023, and youth aged 15–24 years constituted 9.7% of total employment in the sector. This reflects the sector’s role in empowering women and younger generations in the labor market.

Furthermore, the tourism and travel sector generated $8.6 billion in tax revenues in 2023, representing 5.4% of total government revenues. On a global scale, the travel and tourism sector contributed $10.9 trillion to the global GDP in 2024, marking a significant increase from previous years. The report projects a continued recovery and expansion of global tourism in the coming years.