Ras al khaimah: Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, announced that the UAE has reinforced its status as a leading global model in tourism management, offering an exceptional experience characterized by proactiveness, readiness, and crisis response. He emphasized the UAE's ability to safeguard tourism gains, ensure sustainability, and enhance competitiveness in the sector.
According to Emirates News Agency, these remarks were made during the second meeting of the Emirates Tourism Council 2026, chaired by Bin Touq in Ras Al Khaimah. The meeting, attended by heads and directors-general of local tourism authorities, focused on new plans to accelerate tourism recovery and growth amid current regional conditions affecting travel and tourism.
Bin Touq highlighted the UAE tourism sector's robust performance in 2025, with hotel establishments recording approximately 32.34 million guests, a 5.2% increase from 2024. Total hotel nights reached 110.62 million, a growth of 5.9% from the previous year.
He stated that hotel revenues rose by 9.7% to approximately AED49.21 billion in 2025, with hotel occupancy at 79.3%. The number of hotel rooms reached 217,000 by the end of the year. These indicators underscore the tourism sector's vital role in supporting the national economy and enhancing its competitive position regionally and globally.
The council reviewed efforts by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism and local tourism development departments to enhance visitor safety and ensure a seamless experience. These measures included offering diverse accommodation options and integrated logistical support services, along with strengthening institutional coordination for swift responses to emerging developments in the tourism sector.