Abu dhabi: Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, announced that hotel establishment revenues in the UAE exceeded AED26 billion in the first half of 2025, reflecting a 6.3 percent growth compared to the same period last year. The hotel occupancy rate reached 80.5 percent during this period, demonstrating continued progress in this crucial sector due to the combined efforts of public and private sectors. This aligns with the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031, which aims to boost the sector's contribution to the national economy to AED450 billion by the next decade.
According to Emirates News Agency, during the Emirates Tourism Council's third meeting of 2025, attended by local tourism authorities' chairpersons and directors general, Bin Touq emphasized the UAE tourism sector's exceptional performance under the nation's leadership. The leadership prioritizes tourism development as a strategic driver of non-oil GDP growth and a key component in transitioning to a new economic model.
Bin Touq stated that the Emirates Tourism Council is committed to promoting sustainable tourism development by fostering public-private partnerships and launching innovative initiatives and projects. These efforts aim to drive tourism growth, create exceptional travel experiences, offer unique opportunities to Emirati talents, and strengthen the UAE's national tourism identity globally.
The meeting also assessed various upcoming tourism initiatives and projects intended to enhance the UAE's tourism sector competitiveness. Discussions included the implementation of these initiatives and the importance of coordination between tourism authorities and the private sector to achieve related objectives. Progress on recommendations from the previous meeting was evaluated.
Additionally, the meeting covered preparations for hosting the 'UAE-Africa Tourism Investment Summit' on October 27, as part of the 'Future Hospitality Summit' (FHS World). This event will feature participation from tourism ministers and senior officials from 53 African countries and will serve as a platform to strengthen strategic partnerships and explore joint investment opportunities. The summit aims to highlight the UAE's role as a trusted tourism investment partner and its importance in connecting African and global markets.
The Council was also briefed on local tourism plans and achievements from the first nine months of the year and reviewed 2026 development plans. These initiatives are designed to further solidify the UAE's position as a leading regional and global tourism destination.