The UAE cemented its position as a global tourism powerhouse in 2024, with the sector contributing AED257.3 billion ($70.1 billion) to the national economy — equivalent to 13% of GDP. That marks a 3.2% increase from 2023 and a remarkable 26% jump above pre-pandemic 2019 levels, according to official figures released ahead of World Tourism Day on September 27.
UAE Tourism GDP 2024: Strategy and Global Recognition
A defining moment of the year was the launch of the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031, which aims to boost the country's global competitiveness and diversify its tourism offerings well into the next decade. The strategy's ambitions were given added credibility when Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais became the first Emirati elected as Secretary-General of the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) for the 2026–2029 term — a historic milestone reflecting the UAE's expanding influence on the world stage.
Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, highlighted the 2024 results as key milestones in the UAE's long-term economic diversification vision.
Record Visitor Spending and Hospitality Growth
Tourist spending drove much of the surge. International visitors spent AED217.3 billion ($59.2 billion) in 2024, up 5.8% year-on-year and more than 30% above 2019 levels. Domestic tourism also performed strongly, contributing AED57.6 billion ($15.7 billion) — a 2.4% annual rise and 41% higher than pre-pandemic figures.
The hospitality sector reflected the broader boom. Hotel revenues reached nearly AED45 billion ($12.3 billion), with an average occupancy rate of 78% — one of the highest in the world. The UAE welcomed 30.75 million hotel guests in 2024, up 9.5% from 28.08 million in 2023, fulfilling 77% of its national target of 40 million annual visitors.
Momentum carried strongly into 2025. In the first half of the year, 16 million hotel guests were welcomed — up 5.5% on the same period in 2024 — while hotel revenues for H1 2025 reached AED26 billion ($7.1 billion), a 6.3% rise. The number of operating hotels grew to 1,243, offering more than 216,000 rooms.
Aviation as a Core Growth Engine
Aviation remains central to UAE tourism dominance. Passenger traffic through UAE airports surpassed 1 billion between 2015 and 2024, with aircraft movements crossing 6.4 million. International visitor arrivals nearly doubled in a decade, from 15 million in 2014 to more than 29 million in 2024.
In just the first eight months of 2025, UAE airports handled 102.9 million passengers, a 5.3% year-on-year rise — underscoring the country's vital role as a global air hub.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, approved the AED128 billion ($34.8 billion) passenger terminal expansion at Al Maktoum International Airport, which is set to become the world's largest airport with a capacity of 260 million passengers annually.
Tourism Investment and Global Partnerships
Tourism-related investment rose sharply, from AED28.8 billion ($7.8 billion) in 2023 to AED32.2 billion ($8.8 billion) in 2024, with projections of AED35.2 billion ($9.6 billion) for 2025. The "World's Coolest Winter" initiative further amplified growth, generating around AED6.7 billion ($1.8 billion) in hotel revenues across five editions and reaching 1.2 billion people globally.
On October 27, 2025, Dubai will host the UAE Africa Tourism Investment Summit as part of the Future Hospitality Summit, welcoming tourism ministers and officials from 53 African nations to explore partnerships and investment opportunities.
A Top-Seven Global Destination
The UAE's transformation into one of the top seven global destinations for international tourist spending is the result of deliberate, sustained investment in aviation, hospitality, and visitor experience. The country consistently ranks among the highest in aviation competitiveness, particularly in the Quality of Air Transport Infrastructure index.
With projections of 33 million hotel guests in 2025 and a 7% year-on-year revenue growth forecast, the UAE is firmly on course to maintain — and extend — its standing as one of the world's premier tourism destinations.
