The UAE welcomes the “Riyadh Declaration on Innovation and Artificial Intelligence in Tourism”

The UAE expressed its welcome of the “Riyadh Declaration on Innovation and Artificial Intelligence in Tourism,” which was officially adopted during the work of the twenty-sixth session of the United Nations Tourism Organization, which is hosted by the Saudi capital during the period from 7 to 11 November. The declaration aims to shape the future of tourism through innovation and digital transformation.

This came as part of the participation of the UAE delegation, headed by Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, in a session within the work of this session, where Bin Touq stressed the UAE’s keenness to support the implementation of all the objectives of this declaration through the exchange of knowledge and best practices in the field of developing sustainable tourist destinations, supporting cooperation in digital innovation and data systems in this vital sector, and expanding capacity-building and vocational training programs for the member states of the organization, in a way that contributes to creating a sustainable tourism sector at the regional and global levels.

Bin Touq said during his intervention in the session that the declaration contributes to the crystallization of a common global vision that pushes the tourism sector regionally and internationally towards new levels of progress and prosperity, through pioneering efforts by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the member states of the organization, which contributes to building a more flexible and integrated future for tourism.

Bin Touq pointed out that the declaration provides a clear road map to address the challenges facing the global tourism sector, and how tourist destinations can achieve a balance between economic growth on the one hand, and the preservation of culture and environmental responsibility on the other hand. The declaration also supports investing in future opportunities, placing innovation, sustainability and international cooperation at the core of our common agenda.

Bin Touq added that the priorities of the Riyadh Declaration are in line with the UAE’s approach to developing the tourism sector, which is based on integrating sustainability into destination planning, promoting digital transformation and data governance, and investing in developing human competencies, ensuring that tourism continues as a source of opportunities and development for our societies.

In addition, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri participated in an open discussion session on artificial intelligence policies in tourism, entitled “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence and Innovation in Shaping Global Tourism,” where he reviewed the digital transformation experience of the national tourism sector, which included employing artificial intelligence technologies and advanced digital solutions to enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of this vital sector, providing distinguished tourism experiences driven by technology and smart digital applications according to world-leading standards for tourists and visitors, and developing and diversifying tourist products and destinations in the various emirates of the country.

Bin Touq said during this session that this dialogue comes at a pivotal stage in which the global tourism sector is witnessing a qualitative transformation towards digital acceleration. We in the UAE, thanks to the vision and directives of our wise leadership, do not view artificial intelligence as an independent technology, but rather as a strategic enabler for the growth of sustainable tourism, competitiveness, and excellence of the visitor experience. In this direction, we are keen to develop our international partnerships to be active contributors to the production of artificial intelligence directed to tourism development, and not just consumers of its technologies and applications.

Bin Touq pointed out that the Ministry of Economy and Tourism is currently working on implementing a group of digital initiatives and projects within the framework of the National Tourism Strategy 2031, including the project to electronically link hotel establishments’ data with local tourist destinations. The Ministry also seeks in 2026 to develop new projects based on the development and diversification of tourism products in the country, and to promote digital transformation in the tourism sector by adopting innovative solutions and modern technologies, in addition to localizing sustainability in all tourism activities and services.

Bin Touq explained that the UAE was keen to integrate artificial intelligence as a fundamental pillar to enhance the competitiveness of the tourism sector, and to increase its contribution to the national gross domestic product to 450 billion dirhams by 2031, thus consolidating the UAE’s position among the best global destinations in tourism leadership and innovation.

In this context, Bin Touq said that the UAE has established clear national governance frameworks for artificial intelligence to ensure the adoption of a responsible and integrated governance approach, guided by the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, and with the support of federal and local tourism authorities, so that these frameworks enhance the ethical use of data, and preserve consumer privacy and confidence.

He pointed out that the UAE’s approach in this aspect is based on partnerships and developing the artificial intelligence environment in a comprehensive manner, as we work closely with the private sector, global technology partners, academic institutions, and tourism operators to develop artificial intelligence solutions related to personal travel planning, smart management of destinations, predictive demand analytics, sustainability monitoring, and seamless visitor services in the transportation, hospitality, and cultural attractions sectors.

The Minister of Economy and Tourism explained that the state has provided financial incentives and regulatory incubators that support startups and technology companies in testing and expanding the scope of innovation and artificial intelligence applications related to tourism, as well as enhancing its investments in capacity building, providing specialists in the tourism sector with new digital competencies, and developing programs that empower youth and entrepreneurs in the fields of data science, machine learning, and hospitality technology.

Abdullah bin Touq stressed that the priority of the UAE government in this aspect is to ensure comprehensiveness and responsibility in the transformation based on artificial intelligence in the country’s markets so that tourists, visitors, the local community, small and medium companies, and workers in the tourism sector benefit from it, while preserving cultural identity and heritage, focusing on humans, and heading towards the future.

Bin Touq concluded by affirming the UAE’s commitment, based on the directives of its wise leadership, to work with member states of the United Nations Tourism Organization to enhance common knowledge, exchange best experiences and practices, enhance ethical and responsible artificial intelligence governance, and contribute to the collective formulation of a more flexible, innovative and inclusive global tourism sector.