Travel and tourism contributed approximately AED251.3 billion ($68.4 billion) to the UAE economy in 2025, with international visitor spending reaching around AED209 billion ($56.9 billion). This data highlights the sector’s growing significance in the country’s economic diversification, as reported by the Emirates News Agency and reviewed by the Emirates Tourism Council.
The contribution from tourism marked a 3 percent increase from 2024 and was over 22.2 percent higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019. These figures were initially announced by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism during a meeting on September 17, held alongside the Arabian Travel Market 2026 in Dubai, chaired by Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, the Minister of Economy and Tourism.
The meeting focused on enhancing coordination among tourism authorities across the seven emirates, developing new visitor experiences, and promoting a unified national tourism ecosystem. This growth aligns with the UAE’s National Tourism Strategy 2031, which aims to boost tourism’s GDP contribution to AED450 billion, attract AED100 billion in additional investments, and welcome 40 million hotel guests annually.
Hotels Extend Growth
The hotel sector played a crucial role in this economic contribution, welcoming approximately 32.34 million guests in 2025, a 5.2 percent increase from the previous year. Guest nights exceeded 110.62 million, reflecting a growth of nearly 5.9 percent, while hotel revenues rose by 9.7 percent to AED49.21 billion. The UAE’s hotel landscape comprises around 217,000 rooms across more than 1,240 establishments, according to WAM.
Domestic tourism has also been a significant driver of demand. The sixth edition of the World’s Coolest Winter campaign generated approximately AED12.5 billion in hotel revenues and attracted around five million hotel guests, a 5 percent increase from the previous edition. The campaign achieved an occupancy rate of 84 percent.
To encourage visitors to explore multiple emirates, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism launched the unified Visit UAE identity and the UAE Grand Tour platform during the Arabian Travel Market 2026. This platform offers itineraries of up to 14 days that cover all seven emirates, combining various tourism experiences with accommodation and transport information.
Ecotourism Agenda Expands
Sustainability is increasingly becoming a focus, following the Cabinet’s approval of the UAE’s National Ecotourism Policy in September. This policy aims to balance tourism’s economic benefits with the protection of ecosystems and natural resources while developing tourism products based on the country’s environmental and cultural assets.
The UAE currently boasts 55 nature reserves and has rehabilitated approximately 4,900 hectares of land across various environments. The Emirates Tourism Council is working on translating this policy into visitor experiences, promoting community participation and cooperation among government authorities and private companies.
National Campaigns Broaden Reach
Individual emirates are also launching initiatives to engage residents as advocates for their destinations. Dubai’s A Dubai Invite program allows residents to invite family and friends to experience the city, running through October 31, 2026. Similarly, Ras Al Khaimah’s RAK Ambassador initiative encourages citizens to promote local tourism and businesses.
Abu Dhabi’s Hayyakum campaign combines attractions at Yas Island with cultural experiences in the Saadiyat Cultural District. Collectively, these initiatives reflect the UAE’s strategy to present the seven emirates as interconnected parts of a comprehensive tourism offering.
Supporting this strategy, UAE airports handled 156.8 million passengers in 2025, a 6.1 percent increase from 2024. Dubai International Airport alone recorded 95.2 million passengers, marking the highest annual international passenger traffic for any airport.
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