Ibn Touq: 77.5% shareholding "Non-oil" And 36 billion dirhams in hotel revenues… exceptional achievements that crown the 54th Union Day
ABU DHABI, 1st December / WAM / His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, confirmed that the 54th Union Day this year will be crowned with exceptional economic and tourism achievements that translate the vision of the wise leadership and reflect the strength of the Union and the solidity of its pillars, as the UAE topped the economic growth rates at the level of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, achieving a growth in the real gross domestic product of 4.2% during the first half of 2025, while the gross domestic product recorded Non-oil growth increased significantly by 5.7%, bringing the contribution of non-oil activities to 77.5% of the real gross product, which demonstrates the success of the economic diversification policy and the solid foundations on which the country’s economy is based, which continues to attract investments and projects from all over the world.
His Excellency revealed in the language of numbers that the UAE markets received more than 220,186 new companies from the beginning of January until the end of November 2025, and this coincided with the registration of more than 36 thousand national and international brands that entered the country’s markets with a growth rate of 48.2% compared to the same period last year.
He explained that this boom was accompanied by a tireless legislative movement, as the Ministry issued 11 legislation and economic policies during the first 11 months of the current year, covering vital sectors such as consumer protection, eco-tourism, food security, air transport, and sustainability, in addition to 8 policies and regulatory decisions that included areas of origin, combating harmful practices, and regulating competition to enhance an integrated legislative environment that supports economic competitiveness.
On the tourism front, His Excellency explained that the sector has achieved qualitative achievements that have won the world’s appreciation, most notably the assumption of the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations Tourism Organization by the daughter of the Emirates, Sheikha Nasser Al Nowais, and Masfoot Village being named the best tourist village in the world for the year 2025, in addition to the UAE’s ranking among the top 7 global destinations in international tourist spending. Hotel performance indicators also continued their strong upward trajectory during the first nine months of this year, as hotel establishments received 23.27 million guests. With a growth of 4.9%, more than 79.3 million hotel nights were recorded, and hotel revenues increased by 7.2% to exceed 35.9 billion dirhams. The hotel occupancy rate also increased to 79.2% and the number of occupied rooms increased by 3.5% to reach 46.17 million rooms, with an increase in the average daily price of rooms by 4.2% to reach 557 dirhams, with a capacity of 4.9%. 216,248 rooms distributed among 1,246 facilities.
His Excellency said that on this day we remember the pivotal historical moment in which the seven emirates came together under one banner, the foundations of which were laid by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his brothers, the founding fathers, may God rest their souls, so that the Emirates became a pioneering model of growth and prosperity.
He added: Today we celebrate this precious national occasion under the slogan “United”, to renew the meanings of unity and pride in the Emirati national identity, and to consolidate the spirit of belonging and loyalty to our wise leadership, as this anniversary represents a milestone that reflects the cohesion and solidarity of the people of the nation, and confirms the continuation of sincere work to support the comprehensive development process in our beloved country, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, “may God protect him”, and the directives of his brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, “may God protect him,” and under the supervision of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Presidential Court, and their brothers, Their Highnesses the Sheikhs, Members of the Supreme Council of the Federation and Rulers of the Emirates.
His Excellency concluded by emphasizing that Union Day brings together the meanings of work, sincerity, and renewal of the pledge to continue the journey with unwavering determination to achieve national goals, especially the “We Are the Emirates 2031” vision, which aims to double the national economy to reach 3 trillion dirhams and transform the country into a global center for the new economy by the next decade.
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