The Minister of Economy and Tourism meets with ministers and tourism officials in Brazil, Portugal, Azerbaijan and Argentina

Madrid, January 26 / WAM / His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, held a number of bilateral meetings with ministers and tourism officials in Brazil, Portugal, Azerbaijan and Argentina, with the aim of enhancing the prospects for tourism cooperation during the coming period, pushing it to more advanced and prosperous levels, and exchanging the latest experiences and practices in the field of sustainable tourism development.

During these meetings, which were held on the sidelines of his participation in the International Tourism Exhibition “FITUR Madrid 2026” (FITUR), His Excellency stressed that the UAE, thanks to the directives of its wise leadership and its forward-looking vision based on openness and international cooperation, places strengthening strategic partnerships with prominent global tourism markets among its priorities for the growth of the tourism sector and supporting its competitiveness, as such partnerships contribute to expanding the horizons of cooperation with friendly countries, and enhancing integration in the areas of tourism promotion in keeping with global transformations. In the tourism industry.

In this context, His Excellency indicated that international visitor spending in the UAE in 2024 amounted to about 217.3 billion dirhams, recording a growth of 5.8% compared to 2023 and an increase of 30.4% compared to 2019. This spending is expected to grow by 5.2% during the year 2025 to reach 228.5 billion dirhams, according to a report issued by the World Travel Council. And tourism.

His Excellency said: “The hospitality sector witnessed remarkable growth during the period from January to November 2025, as the hotel occupancy rate in the country increased to 79.5%, and the average length of stay increased to 3.42 nights, in parallel with the expansion of capacity, bringing the number of hotels to 1,260 hotels and the number of rooms to about 216.9 thousand rooms, which reflects the strength of this vital sector and its ability to keep pace with growing demand and enhance its contribution to the national economy.”

His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri met with His Excellency Pedro Machado, Minister of State for Tourism, Trade and Services of Portugal, where the two sides discussed mechanisms for enhancing cooperation in developing joint tourism products, especially in the fields of cultural, environmental and marine tourism, in addition to strengthening the aviation sector between the two sides, and supporting the exchange of experiences in developing tourism and hospitality experiences and vocational training in the tourism field.

The number of Portuguese tourists to the UAE reached approximately 89,000 during the year 2025, an increase of 4% compared to 2024, and the total number of direct flights between the cities of the two countries reached 21 flights per week.

His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq held another meeting with His Excellency Daniel Scioli, Minister of Tourism, Sports and Environment of Argentina, to enhance opportunities for cooperation in sports and cultural tourism during the coming period, and to exchange initiatives and programs that enhance visitors’ interaction with events and activities, as well as studying the possibilities of organizing joint events that contribute to stimulating tourism movement between the two countries, especially since the number of Argentine tourists to the UAE reached 34.9 thousand during the year 2025, with an increase of 9% compared to 2024.

During the bilateral meeting with His Excellency Gustavo Feliciano, Minister of Tourism of Brazil, His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq discussed the possibilities of expanding the tourism partnership between the two countries, with a focus on joint promotion of tourist destinations, exchanging best practices, and attracting investments in tourism infrastructure, including hotels, resorts and entertainment facilities.

The meeting also discussed the increase in flights between the two countries, as well as the importance of the role of the private sector and sovereign wealth funds in supporting tourism projects, as well as agreeing to establish a joint working group to follow up on projects and determine future priorities in the tourism fields of the two countries.

The number of guests of Brazilian nationalities in hotel establishments in the UAE witnessed a significant increase to reach 165,000 during the past year, recording a growth of 4% compared to 2024, while the number of direct flights between the two countries reached 14 flights per week, which reflects the growing mutual interest in the two tourist destinations and enhances the opportunities for tourism cooperation between them.

His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq concluded his meetings by meeting with His Excellency Fuad Naqiyev, Head of the State Tourism Agency in Azerbaijan, where opportunities for cooperation were discussed in the areas of tourism investment, organizing events, developing specialized tourism products, exchanging experiences in managing tourist destinations and promoting investments in the hospitality sector, in a way that supports increasing the flow of tourists between the two countries.

The number of Azerbaijani tourists to the UAE increased to 38.6 thousand during the past year, achieving a growth of 7% compared to 2024, which highlights the growing role of the tourism partnership between the UAE and Azerbaijan, while the movement of direct flights between the two countries recorded 20 flights per week.

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