Tourism’s share of UAE GDP to hit Dhs450bn by 2031

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The UAE is poised to solidify its position as a global tourism hub, with its tourism sector projected to experience a meteoric rise and contribute $123bn (Dhs450bn) to its GDP by the end of the decade.

Driven by a surge in international visitors and hotel bookings, the expansion aligns with the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031, which aims to attract Dhs100bn in tourism investments.

The sector’s contribution to the economy rose by 11.7 per cent to Dhs220bn last year and is forecasted to rise to 12 per cent or Dhs236bn in 2024, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

The WTTC, the leading advocacy group dedicated to quantifying the industry’s economic impact, forecasts that the sector’s contribution to the UAE’s GDP will reach approximately Dhs275.2bn by 2034. The significant increase is attributed to the country’s world-class infrastructure, such as airports and hotels.

Dubai attracted 10.62 million visitors in the first seven months of 2024, a remarkable 8 per cent increase compared to the same period a year earlier. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi’s hotels welcomed over 2.87 million guests during the first half of the year, generating Dhs3.6bn in revenue, a 19.5 per cent year-on-year growth.

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