The travel and tourism sector in the UAE is projected to maintain its rapid growth in 2024. The sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP is expected to exceed in 2024 AED236 billion ($64.25 billion), compared to AED220 billion ($59.9 billion) last year, according to a new report.
The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2024 Economic Impact Research (EIR) revealed that the number of jobs in the sector will increase by over 23,500, reaching nearly 833,000. International visitor spending is forecasted to grow by nearly 10 percent, reaching AED192 billion, while domestic visitor spending is expected to increase by 4.3 percent to reach almost AED58 billion.
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Record-breaking year for UAE’s travel and tourism sector
The EIR reveals that the Travel and Tourism sector in the UAE had a record-breaking year in the previous year, achieving new highs in key metrics such as GDP contribution, employment, and visitor expenditure.
In 2023, the sector experienced a remarkable growth rate of 26 percent, contributing a record AED220 billion to the UAE’s GDP, which accounted for 11.7 percent of the entire economy. This surpasses the previous record set in 2019 by almost 15 percent and underscores the sector’s crucial role in the nation’s economic framework.
Strong job growth, domestic visitor spending
Employment supported by the Travel and Tourism sector increased by 41,000, surpassing 809,000 jobs, which represents one in nine jobs in the country. Following the recovery of jobs lost during the pandemic in 2022, these findings indicate an 11 percent increase in sector jobs since the peak in 2019.
While domestic visitor spending fully recovered in 2022, it continued to grow in the following year, reaching over AED55.5 billion, an increase of almost 40 percent compared to 2019. International visitor spending also surged by nearly 40 percent in 2023, exceeding AED175 billion, reflecting the UAE’s enduring appeal as a top global tourism destination.
Robust growth in Middle East’s travel and tourism sector
Across the Middle East, the Travel and Tourism sector experienced a growth rate of over 25 percent in 2023, reaching almost $460 billion. Employment reached nearly 7.75 million, and international spending grew by 50 percent to surpass $179.8 billion. Domestic visitor spending increased by 16.5 percent, reaching over $205 billion.
WTTC further forecasts that Travel and Tourism across the region will continue to grow throughout 2024, with the GDP contribution expected to reach $507 billion. Employment is projected to reach 8.3 million, international visitor spending is forecasted to reach $198 billion, and domestic visitor spending is expected to surpass $224 billion.
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