By mid-September 2025, the UAE saw the number of commercial licenses in tourism, hospitality, aviation, air transport, aviation technologies, and digital tourism solutions soar to 39,546, a 275% rise compared with mid-September 2020, a senior minister said.

Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on World Tourism Day 2025, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, attributed the surge to ongoing reforms in business and investment regulations, which have enhanced the UAE’s attractiveness to international firms and investors while expanding opportunities in tourism-related industries.

Al Marri underscored that tourism continues to be a key pillar of the UAE’s economic agenda, driving sustainable growth.

New initiatives under the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031, including the sixth “World’s Coolest Winter” campaign set for December, are part of this effort, Trade Arabia reports.

The government is also working to train Emirati talent for the tourism workforce with support from local and international partners, promote investment in hospitality, travel, and aviation, and assist start-ups through new programs.

As part of its engagement with Africa, the UAE will host the “UAE–Africa Tourism Investment Summit” in October, alongside the Future Hospitality Summit, to strengthen bilateral ties in tourism, hospitality, and aviation, Al Marri said.

Regarding Gulf tourism, he noted that the UAE welcomed 3.3 million visitors from GCC countries in 2024, representing 11% of total hotel guests.

Saudi Arabia led the influx with 1.9 million visitors, making up 58% of GCC arrivals, followed by Oman with 777,000 (24%), Kuwait with 381,000 (12%), Bahrain with 123,000 (4%), and Qatar with 93,000 (3%).

Al Marri added that the forthcoming unified GCC tourist visa marks a strategic move toward greater regional integration.

The minister said the initiative will boost the Gulf’s appeal as a unified tourism destination.

A pilot phase is planned for the fourth quarter of 2025, with full implementation to follow at a later stage.