Post by : Mariam
Al-Faris
The United Arab Emirates has achieved strong growth in its tourism sector, becoming more attractive to international visitors and global investors. This progress is part of a clear national strategy designed to place the country among the world’s top tourism destinations while also offering high returns for investors in a competitive and business-friendly environment.
The country has introduced many incentives to encourage investment, entrepreneurship and innovation in tourism. These efforts are supported by strong tourism advantages, including the UAE’s natural beauty, modern laws and social stability. With pleasant winters and diverse attractions, the UAE has positioned itself as a year-round travel destination for people from all parts of the world.
The UAE benefits from its strategic location connecting East and West, along with landscapes that include deserts, beaches, mountains, oases and valleys. Political and economic stability, religious tolerance, world-class infrastructure, year-round events and a wide range of hotels further strengthen its appeal to tourists and investors.
Due to these strengths, the UAE has secured top positions in global tourism rankings. It ranks among the world’s top seven destinations for international tourist spending and holds leading global positions for aviation competitiveness and air transport infrastructure quality.
Tourism performance continued to improve in the first half of the year, with hotels hosting more than 16 million guests. By mid-year, the UAE had 1,243 hotel establishments with over 216,000 rooms, and 16 new hotels opened during 2024, reflecting strong confidence in the sector.
The “World’s Coolest Winter” campaign, launched under the theme “Our Winter is Entrepreneurial,” highlights investment opportunities and support measures for tourism businesses. Several national initiatives such as the National Tourism Charter, hospitality training programmes, domestic tourism support and global tourism partnerships have further strengthened the sector.
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism is implementing digital projects under the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031, including systems that connect hotel data with local tourism authorities. By 2026, new projects will focus on diversifying tourism products, advancing digital transformation and ensuring sustainability across all tourism services.
Over the years, major investments by government bodies, local investors and international companies have built strong tourism infrastructure, including airlines, airports, hotels and entertainment destinations. These developments have helped create premium travel experiences and promote cultural and heritage tourism across the country.
The UAE offers attractive incentives for tourism investors, including tax exemptions, 100 percent foreign ownership, access to more than 40 free zones, no local sponsor requirement, no income tax and full profit repatriation. Long-term residency visas, easy hiring of skilled workers and flexible labour laws further support business growth.
To enhance investor confidence, the UAE introduced wide-ranging legal reforms from 2021 onwards and launched the National Tourism Strategy 2031. The strategy aims to increase tourism’s contribution to GDP to AED450 billion, attract AED100 billion in new investments and welcome 40 million hotel guests in the coming years.
Tourism investment reached AED28.8 billion in 2023 and rose to AED32.2 billion in 2024, with projections of AED35.2 billion in 2025. During the first eight months of 2025, UAE airports handled nearly 102.9 million passengers, showing steady growth.
International visitor spending reached AED217.3 billion in 2024, while domestic tourism spending stood at AED57.6 billion. Reflecting this strong performance, the UAE ranked first in the region and 18th globally in the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Travel & Tourism Development Index, confirming its position as a global tourism and investment hub.
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