UAE Hotel Establishment Revenues Surpass AED 26 Billion In First Half Of 2025 With Strong Growth

Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, announced that hotel revenues in the UAE exceeded AED26 billion in the first half of this year. This represents a 6.3% rise compared to the same period last year. The occupancy rate reached 80.5%, indicating steady growth in the sector. This progress aligns with the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031, which aims to boost the sector's contribution to AED450 billion by the next decade.

The Emirates Tourism Council's third meeting of 2025 was chaired by Bin Touq and attended by local tourism authorities' leaders. During this meeting, he highlighted that under wise leadership, the UAE's tourism sector is thriving as a strategic driver of non-oil GDP growth. It plays a crucial role in transitioning to a new economic model.

Bin Touq stated, "Through the Emirates Tourism Council, we continue our efforts to promote sustainable tourism development in the country by fostering effective partnerships between the public and private sectors and launching innovative initiatives and projects." These initiatives aim to enhance tourism growth while offering unique experiences for travellers and opportunities for Emirati talents.

The meeting evaluated various upcoming tourism projects designed to boost competitiveness within the UAE’s tourism industry. Discussions focused on implementing these initiatives effectively and emphasised coordination between tourism authorities and private entities to achieve set goals.

The Council also discussed preparations for hosting the ‘UAE-Africa Tourism Investment Summit’ on October 27. This event is part of the ‘Future Hospitality Summit’ (FHS World) and will include participation from tourism ministers and senior officials from 53 African nations. The summit aims to strengthen strategic partnerships and explore joint investment opportunities in tourism infrastructure.

This summit will highlight sustainable hospitality development and specialised tourism products while reinforcing the UAE’s position as a trusted partner in global tourism investment. It underscores its role in linking African markets with global ones.

Reviewing Achievements and Future Plans

The Council reviewed achievements from local authorities across the UAE during the first nine months of this year. They also examined development plans for 2026, focusing on initiatives that will further solidify the UAE’s status as a leading regional and global tourism destination.

The meeting followed up on recommendations from previous sessions, assessing progress made so far. Emphasis was placed on ensuring all objectives are met through effective collaboration between public and private sectors.

These discussions reflect ongoing efforts to maintain momentum in developing a robust tourism sector that contributes significantly to economic diversification beyond oil reliance.

With inputs from WAM