UAE Celebrates 54th Eid Al Etihad With Significant Economic Growth And Tourism Successes

The UAE's 54th Eid Al Etihad marks a year of significant economic and tourism milestones, reflecting the leadership's vision and the Union's strength. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, highlighted these achievements as a testament to the nation's progress. "The 54th Eid Al Etihad reminds us of the pivotal moment when the seven Emirates united under one nation — a nation whose solid foundations, progress, and leadership were established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his fellow founding fathers. Their vision transformed the Emirates into a leading model of growth, development, and prosperity, achieving exceptional accomplishments across diverse fields that have earned global recognition and strengthened the country’s prominent regional and international standing," he stated.

The UAE has seen remarkable economic growth, with its real GDP increasing by 4.2% in the first half of 2025 compared to 2024. Non-oil GDP grew by 5.7%, contributing 77.5% to real GDP. This underscores the success of economic diversification efforts. The minister noted that over 220,000 new companies entered the UAE market from January to November 2025, highlighting its business environment's competitiveness.

In tourism, Sheikha Nasser Al Nowais was appointed Secretary-General of UN Tourism, while Masfout Village was named World’s Best Tourism Village 2025. These accolades reflect the UAE's growing global tourism reputation. The nation ranked among the top seven destinations for international tourist spending.

Hotel performance also improved significantly in 2025's first nine months. Hotels welcomed 23.27 million guests, a rise of 4.9% from 2024. This led to over 79 million hotel room nights booked. Hotel revenues increased by 7.2%, exceeding AED 35.9 billion.

The Ministry of Economy and Tourism has been active in enhancing legislative frameworks to boost competitiveness. From January to November 2025, it contributed to issuing 11 economic laws covering areas like consumer protection and sustainability.

Hotel occupancy rates rose to 79.2%, driven by international visitors and domestic tourism growth. The average stay lengthened slightly from 3.38 to 3.41 nights, indicating deeper visitor engagement with local attractions.

The number of available hotel rooms reached over 216,000 across more than 1,200 establishments nationwide. Occupied rooms increased by 3.5% to approximately 46 million.

Future Vision

Bin Touq emphasised that Eid Al Etihad inspires dedication and commitment to advancing under wise leadership toward strategic goals like 'We the UAE 2031'. This vision aims to double the national economy to AED3 trillion within a decade.

Hotel Average Daily Rate (ADR) rose by 4.2%, reaching AED557 from AED534 previously, showing effective yield management amid strong demand across market segments.

The Ministry issued eight regulatory policies on topics such as rules of origin and competition regulation during this period, reinforcing its role in creating an investor-friendly legislative environment.

This year's achievements highlight the UAE's ongoing journey toward becoming a global hub for innovation and economic growth while maintaining its cultural identity and unity under visionary leadership.

With inputs from WAM