The UAE tourism sector contributed in 2023 AED220 billion ($59.89 billion) to the country’s GDP, accounting for 11.7 percent of the overall economy. This significant contribution is expected to continue its upward trend in 2024, with projections indicating the sector will reach AED236 billion ($64.25 billion) and account for an even greater share of the GDP at 12 percent.
Speaking at the end of the three-day UN Tourism 50th Regional Commission Meeting for the Middle East in Muscat, Oman, Khaled Al Midfa, chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) who led the UAE delegation, highlighted the sector’s significant role in generating 809,000 job opportunities across various tourism activities and fields in the UAE in 2023.
According to Al Midfa, projections suggest that the number of job opportunities will increase to 833,000 in 2024. He added that the UAE Tourism Strategy aims to further boost the sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP, reaching AED450 billion by 2031, while also attracting AED100 billion in new investment and welcoming 40 million guests to the UAE’s hotels in the next decade.
Read more: UAE leads MENA region, ranks among top 20 on WEF travel and tourism index
UAE rises in global tourism rankings
Additionally, the UAE’s remarkable performance in the tourism sector is reflected in its ranking. The country has claimed the top position in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and the 18th spot globally, according to the recent World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) report. The UAE has further improved its score by 4.4 percent in the 2024 index, climbing seven places from its 25th global ranking in the previous report issued in 2021.
The TTDI report evaluates 119 economies based on various factors, including the enabling environment, travel and tourism policy and infrastructure, infrastructure and services, travel and tourism resources such as nature and culture, and the sustainability of the travel and tourism sector.
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