The UAE tourism sector generated lodge revenues of roughly AED44.4bn ($12.1bn) between January and November 2025, underlining its position as a key driver of sustainable financial development and worldwide competitiveness.
The efficiency was highlighted on the Worldwide Tourism Honest – FITUR Madrid 2026, the place senior UAE officers showcased the nation’s tourism achievements, world partnerships and long-term development technique.
Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Financial system and Tourism and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, participated in FITUR Madrid 2026, held from 21 to 25 January at IFEMA in Spain.
The exhibition goals to strengthen worldwide tourism partnerships with key regional and world markets, reinforce the presence of the UAE’s tourism id and merchandise internationally, change experience on sustainable tourism insurance policies and improve vacationer locations.
UAE–Spain relations
Al Marri mentioned the UAE and the Kingdom of Spain get pleasure from robust and strategic financial relations, reflecting a shared imaginative and prescient to develop cooperation and broaden joint partnerships throughout financial, funding and tourism sectors.
He famous that tourism represents a key pillar in strengthening bilateral relations by creating new alternatives for joint funding, enhancing cultural change and tourism experience, and driving financial cooperation in the direction of broader horizons, whereas supporting sustainable development in each international locations.
Al Marri mentioned the UAE tourism sector represents a elementary pillar and key driver of sustainable growth, contributing successfully to the nationwide economic system’s gross home product.
Guided by the imaginative and prescient of the nation’s management, he added, the UAE has consolidated its place as a number one world tourism vacation spot, attracting tens of millions of holiday makers yearly and providing various tourism experiences supported by superior infrastructure, growth-supportive insurance policies and revolutionary initiatives which have enhanced competitiveness regionally and globally.
UAE tourism milestones
Reviewing key achievements in 2025, Al Marri highlighted a number of regional and worldwide milestones, together with the election of Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais as Secretary-Basic of UN Tourism for the 2026–2029 time period.
He additionally pointed to the number of Masfout as Greatest Tourism Village within the World for 2025, in addition to the designation of Al Ain as Capital of Arab Tourism for 2026, following its choice as Gulf Tourism Capital for 2025.
In accordance with Al Marri, these achievements replicate the UAE’s distinguished standing within the tourism sector and its continued efforts to boost competitiveness and develop sustainable tourism locations at each regional and world ranges.
Presenting tourism efficiency indicators for January to November 2025, Al Marri mentioned lodge revenues reached roughly AED44.4bn ($12.1bn), representing development of 8.8 per cent in comparison with the identical interval in 2024, pushed by a rise within the common every day price.
The variety of lodge company rose to round 29.1m, recording development of 5.2 per cent, whereas lodge visitor nights exceeded 99.4m, up 6 per cent in comparison with the identical interval in 2024.
Sustainable tourism
Al Marri mentioned the exhibition serves as a number one world platform for exchanging finest practices associated to tourism sustainability and for creating revolutionary tasks and options that improve the sector’s means to deal with challenges and obtain long-term financial and social growth.
Throughout his go to to the Abu Dhabi and Dubai pavilions, he underlined the energy and competitiveness of UAE tourism services and products and their position in delivering excellent customer experiences that meet the expectations of vacationers from all over the world.
He additionally pressured the significance of strengthening the presence of nationwide tourism firms at worldwide exhibitions and occasions.
