CNN Academy Abu Dhabi celebrates five years of shaping future journalists
Applications for the 2025–26 cohort are now open on the CNN Academy website and will remain available until June 30, 2025.
CNN Academy Abu Dhabi, established in 2021 in collaboration with Abu Dhabi's Creative Media Authority (CMA), has completed five successful years of operations, playing a key role in training the next generation of storytellers. Since its inception, the academy has equipped 165 local students, including 93 Emiratis, with advanced journalism skills and by the end of 2025, that number is expected to be reached.
The initiative offers intensive training in multiplatform journalism and brings together local talent with international students from countries such as the United States, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Spain, Ireland, Iraq and the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. With more than 270 international students expected to complete the program by the end of the fifth cycle in 2025, the academy has become a hub of global collaboration and cultural exchange.
Overseen by more than 25 CNN anchors, correspondents and technical experts annually, the programme provides a comprehensive 725 hours of training, including 100 masterclasses and studio-based sessions. Graduates retain lifelong access to CNN Academy's online hub, which features on-demand courses and live-streamed expert-led sessions.
Mohamed Dobay, Acting Director General of Creative Media Authority, said: 'This is a milestone for CNN Academy Abu Dhabi and our partnership with the CNN media brand, and we are extremely proud to have collaborated successfully for five years. After our fifth cycle concludes in November 2025, we will have shaped the careers of 436 young, talented students, including 271 visiting international students alongside 165 local participants.
'Securing the future talent of journalism in the nation continues to be a measure of success for the wider creative industries, and we look forward to not only continuing but building on the momentum and success established in this first half-decade.'
In 2025, CNN Academy Abu Dhabi will adopt 'Community Storytelling' as its central theme, aligning with the UAE's official Year of Community. The upcoming cohort, set to begin in mid-September, will aim to follow in the footsteps of 33 alumni who have already secured roles or internships in Abu Dhabi's creative sectors.
Becky Anderson, Managing Editor of CNN Abu Dhabi and anchor of Connect the World with Becky Anderson, added: 'It feels entirely appropriate that we should be marking the fifth year of CNN Academy by celebrating the importance of Community Storytelling. In so many ways, the story of CNN Academy itself has been about community – whether that is uplifting the community of young storytellers here in the region or bringing others here to Abu Dhabi from all over the world to create a new and enduring international community of journalists and content creators. We're incredibly proud of all our graduates and grateful for the unstinting support of our partners. We cannot wait to welcome the new cohort to CNN Academy later this year.'
In a move, the academy has partnered with the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) to offer academic assessments and credits, bridging the gap between academic education and media careers. Plans are also underway to establish more educational partnerships and to host a careers fair tailored to media students.
Since 2023, the academy has expanded its reach through specialised training sessions for local organisations, serving 139 individuals across 30 entities by the end of 2025.
Participants undergo hands-on training in a wide range of essential journalism skills, from visual storytelling and fact-checking to mobile reporting and deadline management. The programme culminates in Simulation Week, a real-time newsroom experience conducted under the guidance of CNN professionals and alongside international peers.
Aysha Al Jneibi, Director of Talent Management at Creative Media Authority, commented: 'This year, we are aligning CNN Academy Abu Dhabi's annual changing theme with the Year of Community to ensure we deliver impactful training around stories which really affect our local and global community. I am looking forward to witnessing a fresh group of fervent students upskill and springboard their forthcoming journalism and storytelling careers through one of our many established talent management initiatives.'
Applications for the 2025–26 cohort are currently open and will close on June 30, 2025, via the CNN Academy website.
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UAE achieved a historic milestone in the tourism sector Al Marri also noted, 'Just days ago, the UAE achieved a historic milestone in the tourism sector with the election of Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). Today's WTTC results reaffirm the wisdom of our leadership's vision in enhancing the competitiveness of our tourism sector, creating employment opportunities for Emiratis, and further cementing our position as a global tourism powerhouse.' 'These achievements underscore that the UAE tourism sector is confidently progressing toward the goals set out in the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031. The strategy aims to increase the sector's contribution to the national GDP to AED450 billion and raise the number of hotel guests to 40 million annually by the next decade.' He noted that national efforts are ongoing to develop a fully integrated tourism ecosystem, guided by international best practices. 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This broad geographical distribution reflects the UAE's growing global appeal and the effectiveness of its flexible and inclusive tourism policies in attracting a wide array of visitors. UAE reached AED217.3 billion (US$59.2 billion) in 2024 The report further revealed that international visitor spending in the UAE reached AED217.3 billion (US$59.2 billion) in 2024, marking a 5.8% increase from 2023 and a 30.4% rise compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Meanwhile, domestic tourism spending also witnessed strong growth, reaching AED57.6 billion (US$15.7 billion) in 2024, an increase of 2.4% over 2023 and a remarkable 41% rise compared to 2019. These figures underscore both the resilience and upward momentum of the UAE's tourism sector across international and domestic fronts, further solidifying its position as a premier global destination. The WTTC report projects that international visitor spending in the UAE will rise by 5.2% in 2025, reaching approximately AED228.5 billion. 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Aligns with the UAE's broader vision to promote sustainable practices across all sectors This performance aligns with the UAE's broader vision to promote sustainable practices across all sectors — ensuring that tourism growth goes hand-in-hand with environmental responsibility and long-term ecological balance. On the social front, the report highlighted that women accounted for 16.3% of the direct workforce in the UAE's travel and tourism sector in 2023. Additionally, youth aged 15–24 years made up 9.7% of the total employment in the sector, reflecting its growing role in empowering both women and younger generations within the national labour market. From a fiscal perspective, the tourism and travel sector generated US$8.6 billion in tax revenues in 2023, representing 5.4% of total government revenues. This underscores the sector's increasing financial significance and its vital contribution to the country's public treasury. On the global level, the report stated that the travel and tourism sector contributed US$10.9 trillion to the global GDP in 2024, representing 10% of the world economy. This reflects an 8.5% increase compared to 2023 and a 6% rise compared 2019. Looking ahead, the sector's contribution is projected to reach US$11.7 trillion in 2025, which would mark a 6.7% increase over 2024 and a 13% growth over 2019, underscoring the sustained recovery and expansion of global tourism. The report also highlighted the sector's robust role in job creation, with 356.6 million jobs generated worldwide in 2024, accounting for 10.6% of total global employment. This represents a 6.2% increase from 2023 and a 5.6% increase from 2019.
Gulf Today
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Global visitors to UAE spent Dhs217 billion in 2024, says Sheikh Mohammed
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Significant improvements in airport and travel infrastructure have also contributed to the country's elevated standing in global travel and tourism. Al Marri also noted, "Just days ago, the UAE achieved a historic milestone in the tourism sector with the election of Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). Today's WTTC results reaffirm the wisdom of our leadership's vision in enhancing the competitiveness of our tourism sector, creating employment opportunities for Emiratis, and further cementing our position as a global tourism powerhouse." "These achievements underscore that the UAE tourism sector is confidently progressing toward the goals set out in the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031. The strategy aims to increase the sector's contribution to the national GDP to DHS450 billion and raise the number of hotel guests to 40 million annually by the next decade." 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This performance aligns with the UAE's broader vision to promote sustainable practices across all sectors - ensuring that tourism growth goes hand-in-hand with environmental responsibility and long-term ecological balance. On the social front, the report highlighted that women accounted for 16.3% of the direct workforce in the UAE's travel and tourism sector in 2023. Additionally, youth aged 15-24 years made up 9.7% of the total employment in the sector, reflecting its growing role in empowering both women and younger generations within the national labour market. From a fiscal perspective, the tourism and travel sector generated $8.6 billion in tax revenues in 2023, representing 5.4% of total government revenues. This underscores the sector's increasing financial significance and its vital contribution to the country's public treasury. On the global level, the report stated that the travel and tourism sector contributed $10.9 trillion to the global GDP in 2024, representing 10% of the world economy. This reflects an 8.5% increase compared to 2023 and a 6% rise compared 2019. Looking ahead, the sector's contribution is projected to reach US$11.7 trillion in 2025, which would mark a 6.7% increase over 2024 and a 13% growth over 2019, underscoring the sustained recovery and expansion of global tourism. The report also highlighted the sector's robust role in job creation, with 356.6 million jobs generated worldwide in 2024, accounting for 10.6% of total global employment. This represents a 6.2% increase from 2023 and a 5.6% increase from 2019. WAM
Al Etihad
a day ago
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Mohammed bin Rashid: UAE among top 7 global destinations for international tourist spending
26 June 2025 18:36 DUBAI (WAM) A recent report by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) revealed that the UAE's travel and tourism sector delivered an exceptional performance in sector contributed Dh257.3 billion ($70.1 billion) to the national GDP, accounting for 13% of the economy. This marks a 3.2% increase from 2023 and a remarkable 26% growth compared to 2019, one of the highest growth rates globally and regionally in terms of tourism's contribution to economic Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, praised the sector's achievements, stating, 'In a new indicator of the strength and diversity of our national economy, the WTTC report highlights the exceptional achievements of the UAE tourism sector. International visitor spending exceeded Dh217 billion last year, with domestic tourism expenditure reaching Dh57 billion. The UAE ranks among the world's top seven destinations for international tourist spending, surpassing countries that have been in this industry for centuries.'He added, 'We welcome tourists, delight in attracting investors, embrace talent, and build the best environment for living, tourism, and visitation. Welcome to the world.'Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, emphasised that the UAE has placed tourism at the heart of its strategy to drive economic diversification and sustainable growth. He credited the nation's success to proactive initiatives and strategic tourism plans that have positioned the UAE as a unique and attractive global efforts include strengthening infrastructure across the seven emirates, enhancing the appeal of tourism-related investments, and showcasing the country's rich cultural and experiential diversity. Significant improvements in airport and travel infrastructure have also contributed to the country's elevated standing in global travel and Marri also noted, 'Just days ago, the UAE achieved a historic milestone in the tourism sector with the election of Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). Today's WTTC results reaffirm the wisdom of our leadership's vision in enhancing the competitiveness of our tourism sector, creating employment opportunities for Emiratis, and further cementing our position as a global tourism powerhouse.''These achievements underscore that the UAE tourism sector is confidently progressing toward the goals set out in the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031. The strategy aims to increase the sector's contribution to the national GDP to Dh450 billion and raise the number of hotel guests to 40 million annually by the next decade.'He noted that national efforts are ongoing to develop a fully integrated tourism ecosystem, guided by international best practices. These efforts include strengthening engagement with key regional and international tourism markets, expanding the range of tourism offerings, and enhancing service quality to provide comprehensive and enriching experiences for visitors from around the world.'These initiatives are in line with the UAE vision We the UAE 2031, and they aim to elevate the country's status as one of the world's leading tourism destinations in the coming decade,' he international tourism, the WTTC report highlighted that the UAE continues to assert its position as one of the world's leading travel destinations. In 2024, the country welcomed international visitors from a diverse range of key markets, including India: 14%, United Kingdom: 8%, Russia: 8%, China: 5%, Saudi Arabia: 5%, and rest of the world: 60%.This broad geographical distribution reflects the UAE's growing global appeal and the effectiveness of its flexible and inclusive tourism policies in attracting a wide array of report further revealed that international visitor spending in the UAE reached Dh217.3 billion ($59.2 billion) in 2024, marking a 5.8% increase from 2023 and a 30.4% rise compared to pre-pandemic levels in domestic tourism spending also witnessed strong growth, reaching Dh57.6 billion ($15.7 billion) in 2024, an increase of 2.4% over 2023 and a remarkable 41% rise compared to figures underscore both the resilience and upward momentum of the UAE's tourism sector across international and domestic fronts, further solidifying its position as a premier global WTTC report projects that international visitor spending in the UAE will rise by 5.2% in 2025, reaching approximately Dh228.5 billion. Meanwhile, domestic tourism spending is expected to grow by 4.3%, hitting Dh60 billion by the end of the report also highlighted that leisure tourism accounted for 84.7% of total tourism expenditure in the UAE in 2024, while business tourism represented 15.3%. This demonstrates the sector's adaptability and its ability to balance both recreational and commercial tourism the breakdown of spending showed that 79% of total tourism expenditure came from international visitors, while 21% was attributed to domestic report further emphasised that despite the UAE's rapid tourism sector growth, the country has remained firmly committed to environmental standards and sustainability goals. In 2023, carbon emissions linked to tourism activities accounted for only 13.3% of the nation's total emissions, reflecting the UAE's strategic focus on integrating sustainability across its tourism performance aligns with the UAE's broader vision to promote sustainable practices across all sectors — ensuring that tourism growth goes hand-in-hand with environmental responsibility and long-term ecological the social front, the report highlighted that women accounted for 16.3% of the direct workforce in the UAE's travel and tourism sector in 2023. Additionally, youth aged 15–24 years made up 9.7% of the total employment in the sector, reflecting its growing role in empowering both women and younger generations within the national labour a fiscal perspective, the tourism and travel sector generated $8.6 billion in tax revenues in 2023, representing 5.4% of total government revenues. This underscores the sector's increasing financial significance and its vital contribution to the country's public the global level, the report stated that the travel and tourism sector contributed $10.9 trillion to the global GDP in 2024, representing 10% of the world economy. This reflects an 8.5% increase compared to 2023 and a 6% rise compared ahead, the sector's contribution is projected to reach $11.7 trillion in 2025, which would mark a 6.7% increase over 2024 and a 13% growth over 2019, underscoring the sustained recovery and expansion of global tourism. The report also highlighted the sector's robust role in job creation, with 356.6 million jobs generated worldwide in 2024, accounting for 10.6% of total global employment. This represents a 6.2% increase from 2023 and a 5.6% increase from 2019.
