UAE Tourism 2025 Delivers AED 257.3 Billion GDP And Record Visitor Numbers

The UAE tourism sector recorded strong growth in 2025, reinforcing its status as a key driver of the national economy and investment. Travel and hospitality activity increased across hotels, aviation and attractions, supported by large-scale projects, extensive infrastructure and competitive performance indicators monitored by both domestic and international stakeholders.

Tourism and travel activities contributed AED257.3 billion to gross domestic product, representing 13 percent of the national economy in 2025. Hotel establishments hosted 23.27 million guests during the first nine months, an annual rise of 4.9%, while hotel nights exceeded 79.3 million, indicating longer stays and sustained demand from international and domestic visitors.

Hotel revenues reached more than AED 35.9 billion, an increase of 7.2% compared with the previous year. Average occupancy across the country climbed to 79.2%. The number of occupied rooms grew 3.5% to 46.17 million, while the average daily rate increased 4.2% to AED 557, supported by a total capacity of 216,248 rooms in 1,246 hotel establishments.

The aviation segment continued to support UAE tourism performance through strong passenger flows. Abu Dhabi Airports, Dubai International Airport and Sharjah International Airport together handled 108.59 million passengers by the end of September. These volumes underpinned hotel demand and confirmed the country’s role as a major global transit and destination hub for leisure and business travel.

Several major tourism projects were launched or announced during 2025, strengthening the future pipeline. These included the AED 2 billion "Therme Dubai" wellness and leisure destination and Abu Dhabi’s interactive Butterfly Sanctuary. Other notable developments were the Wynn Al Marjan Island hotel and resort in Ras Al Khaimah and the Avani+ Fujairah Resort, scheduled to open in 2028.

Additional UAE tourism projects advanced across other emirates. The AED 3.5 billion Al Tay Hills project in Sharjah moved forward, alongside the second phase of the Umm Al Qaiwain Creek Waterfront. Authorities also announced a Disney theme park and resort on Yas Island, described as one of the largest global entertainment projects and expected to attract significant international visitor interest.

UAE tourism campaigns, rankings and global role

The fifth edition of the "World’s Coolest Winter" campaign ended in February under the theme "Green Tourism". The campaign generated hotel revenues of nearly AED 1.9 billion, an 86.9% increase, and attracted more than 4.4 million guests, up 62% compared with the previous edition. Overall, the campaign reached 224.7 million people worldwide through various media and digital channels.

The UAE tourism profile on the international stage also strengthened in institutional terms. The country renewed its membership on the Executive Council of UN Tourism for the 2025–2029 term, confirming its input in shaping global tourism policy discussions. In a historic milestone, Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais was elected Secretary-General of UN Tourism for the 2026–2029 term, becoming the first woman to hold the post since the organisation’s establishment.

Recognition of destinations within the country supported the UAE tourism brand. Masfout village received the title "Best Tourism Village in the World 2025," highlighting rural and nature-based offerings. At the same time, the UAE ranked among the world’s top seven destinations for international tourism spending, reflecting strong visitor outlays and reinforcing the sector’s economic importance.

With inputs from WAM