Latest news with #AbdullaAlMarri
Trade Arabia
15-05-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
UAE prioritises tourism as key pillar of economy: Al Marri
Abdulla Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, highlighted how the UAE has prioritised the tourism sector as a key strategic pillar of the national economy at the World Tourism Forum 2025. The country continues to strengthen its position as a leading global destination by investing in innovation, adopting the latest digital solutions, and forging strategic partnerships with various countries and leading global institutions. The event was held on May 12 and 13 in Prague, organised by UN Tourism in collaboration with the Government of the Czech Republic under the theme "Shaping the Future of Tourism through Innovation and Technology." The event brought together global leaders, policymakers, and experts to explore the latest trends and best practices in tourism and hospitality, focusing on AI and advanced technologies as well as their role in the sustainable development of the sector. He added: 'The UAE has successfully established its position on the global tourism landscape, strengthening its role in the growth and prosperity of the sector as a global hub for sustainable tourism. This was achieved through developing advanced infrastructure, enhancing innovation and integrating technology into tourism policies, and actively contributing to shaping the future of global tourism through greater international collaboration.' The Minister of Economy highlighted that participation in the Global Tourism Forum offers a significant opportunity to enhance international collaboration and exchange expertise with industry leaders and key decision-makers from around the world. He added that the Forum is an ideal platform for showcasing the UAE's success in developing smart and sustainable tourism offerings and leveraging cutting-edge technology including AI and other digital tools to drive innovation and sustainable growth of the sector. He added: 'We believe that forging global partnerships and developing national talent are key to ensuring a prosperous future for tourism. We look forward to enhancing collaboration with our international partners to achieve shared goals in this vital sector.' He also affirmed that the UAE's efforts to transform tourism into one of the most sustainable drivers of economic growth is driven by the National Tourism Strategy 2031. It aims to position the UAE as the world's best tourism destination, raise the sector's GDP contribution to AED 450 billion ($ 122 billion), attract AED 100 billion in tourism investments within the UAE's markets, and welcome 40 million hotel guests. The World Tourism Forum 2025 explored the potential of AI and cutting-edge technologies in shaping the future of tourism. It featured discussions and workshops on innovation, societal responsibility, education, and talent attraction, in addition to highlighting leading projects in smart tourism fields and sustainability. The Forum also included sessions on big data utilisation and the environmental aspects of tourism, with the participation of experts and officials from across sectors. -TradeArabia News Service
Trade Arabia
07-04-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
UAE tourism generates $12bn in hotel revenues in 2024
The hotel revenues in the UAE reached approximately AED45 billion ($12 billion) in 2024, reflecting a 3 per cent year-over-year growth, stated Abdulla Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, reported WAM. Hotel occupancy rates also climbed to 78 per cent last year, ranking among the highest both regionally and globally. This growth was supported by the opening of 16 new hotels across the seven emirates in 2024, taking the total number of hotels in the country to 1,251 by the end of the year. In addition, the number of hotel rooms also grew, reaching 216,966 by the end of 2024, up 3 per cent. Tourism remains a key pillar in strengthening the competitiveness and resilience of the national economy, supporting the country's transition toward an economy driven by knowledge and innovation, he noted. He attributed this growth to the wise leadership's directives and forward-looking vision, which led to the development of sustainable policies, strategies, and initiatives that drive the sector's progress. Al Marri added, "The UAE continues to advance its national efforts to develop innovative tourism initiatives and projects, while strengthening collaboration with all relevant local and international tourism bodies. These efforts aim to elevate the UAE's status as the best tourism identity globally by the next decade, offering world-class experiences that further enhance the country's appeal to visitors from around the world. We are also focused on diversifying special interest tourism offerings, building the sector's capacities, fostering the participation of Emirati talent, and driving greater investment across all areas of the tourism ecosystem." He noted that the number of hotel guests across the UAE reached approximately 30.8 million in 2024, reflecting a 9.5 per cent growth. This milestone represents 77 per cent of the hotel guest target set by the 'National Tourism Strategy 2031' - achieved seven years ahead of schedule. "With the current growth trajectory, we are well on track to achieving the strategy's ambitious goal of attracting 40 million hotel guests," Al Marri said.
