Ibn Touq: 39,546 commercial licenses in the fields of tourism, hospitality and aviation until mid -September 2025

Abu Dhabi, September 27/ WAM/ His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al -Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, said that the UAE puts the tourism sector in the forefront of its economic priorities as a pivotal pillar and a major engine for sustainable development, and an effective element in promoting growth and diversification of income sources and increasing its contribution to the state’s gross domestic product.

His Excellency added, in statements to the Emirates News Agency “WAM” on the occasion of World Tourism Day 2025, that in light of the positive results achieved by Emirati tourism, we are currently focusing on creating and developing more initiatives, projects and various tourism programs, which serve the achievement of the targets of the “National Tourism Strategy 2031”, especially the launch of the sixth edition of the campaign “The most beautiful winter in the world” during the month of December.

He pointed to the continuation of work with partners at the local and global levels to qualify the Emirati human cadres to enter the labor market in various tourism sectors and activities, in addition to motivating the Emirati business community as well as investors and businessmen from all over the world to invest and expand the sectors of tourism, hospitality, travel, aviation and air transport in the UAE markets.

He said that the Ministry of Economy and Tourism is working to provide new programs that contribute to the growth of emerging projects for Emirati entrepreneurs in tourism activities, in addition to enhancing the presence of the UAE in regional and international forums through active participation in international events and exhibitions, which contributes to highlighting its position and pioneering role on the global scene.

His Excellency emphasized the continued development of the technological infrastructure of tourism data in line with the best global practices to enhance the ability to manage information, support appropriate decisions and improve visitors’ experience.

He pointed out that in light of the state’s directions to enhance Emirati investments in the African markets, the country will host the country next October and over three days, the “Emirates Africa Tourism Investment Summit” on the sidelines of the Future of the Hospitality Sector Forum, aimed at strengthening the Emirati -African economic partnership in various fields of tourism, hospitality, travel and aviation and exchanging the best experiences and practices in this regard.

His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq said that the business and investment environment in the UAE is witnessing continuous developments in legislation and economic policies over the past years, which contributed to enhancing the state’s attractiveness to companies, investors and capital owners from all over the world, and this positive impact was also on stimulating investment opportunities in sectors and activities related to tourism, travel and aviation, and preparing a competitive tourism business environment according to best practices World.

He added that in light of these developments, the number of commercial licenses that operate in the fields of tourism, hospitality, aviation, air transport, aviation technologies and tourism solutions in the country reached 39,546 licenses until mid -September 2025, and with a growth rate of 275% compared to the middle of September 2020, and this great growth reflects the leadership of the Emirates as an incubator environment for companies and commercial licenses for various tourist sectors.

On the new unified Gulf tourist path, His Excellency said that the number of Gulf visitors to the UAE during the year 2024 amounted to about 3.3 million visitors, and they acquired 11% of the total hotel guests in the country, where the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia came first with 1.9 million visitors with 58% of the Gulf total, followed by the Sultanate of Oman with 777 thousand visitors by 24%, then Kuwait with 381 thousand visitors by 12%, then 12% Bahrain with 123 thousand visitors, 4%, and finally Qatar with 93 thousand visitors, or 3%.

He pointed out that the unified Gulf tourism visa represents a strategic step towards enhancing tourism integration between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and will constitute a qualitative shift in the tourism sector at the level of the Gulf and the region, and will enhance the highlight of the various tourism components that characterize each of the GCC states, and will contribute to enhancing the attractiveness of the Gulf states as a unified destination for regional tourism.

His Excellency said that it is expected that the experimental launch of this visa will take place during the fourth quarter of 2025, in preparation for its full action later, within the framework of a joint Gulf vision to develop the tourism sector and enhance its contribution to the gross domestic product of the Gulf economies.

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