The UAE advanced its standing as a global tourism leader at the BRICS Tourism Ministers' Meeting in Moscow, with Minister of Economy and Emirates Tourism Council Chairman Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri leading the country's delegation at the high-level summit.
UAE at the BRICS Tourism Ministers' Meeting
The meeting was held in Moscow under Russia's 2024 BRICS chairmanship, with the theme "Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security." Bin Touq presided over discussions focused on deepening coordinated partnership among BRICS member countries to promote sustainable tourism and unlock new opportunities within member states.
Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, Abdullah bin Touq underscored the UAE's commitment to strengthening tourism cooperation with BRICS nations under the guidance of the country's leadership.
"We stand for ensuring our BRICS colleagues' cooperation in building a reliable and sustainable tourism sphere," he said.
Key UAE Proposals on Air Access, Digital Tourism, and Visas
The UAE put forward a set of concrete proposals to accelerate tourism growth across BRICS nations:
- Expanding air infrastructure to improve connectivity between member states - Optimising the UAE's strategic geographic position as a global transit and tourism hub - Promoting digital tourism and innovation across tourism-related sub-sectors - Sharing best practices on visa liberalisation to increase tourism flows between member countries
Bin Touq stressed that sustainable tourism cooperation is central to advancing the economies of BRICS nations, facilitating cultural exchange, and cementing the UAE's position as one of the most attractive destinations in the world.
Alignment with 'We the UAE 2031' and UNWTO Partnership
These initiatives are aligned with the UAE's national agenda under the "We the UAE 2031" vision, which targets positioning the country among the world's premier tourist destinations.
The UAE is also working closely with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) on the adoption of the Sustainable Tourism Measurement Framework — a global initiative to standardise how countries track and report tourism's economic and environmental impact.
Bin Touq affirmed the UAE's readiness to support BRICS partners in realising shared tourism goals, citing the country's steadfast leadership in promoting sustainable tourism cooperation across the bloc.
