Abu dhabi: The number of commercial licences in tourism, hospitality, aviation, air transport, aviation technologies, and digital tourism solutions in the UAE reached 39,546 by mid-September 2025, marking a 275 percent increase compared to mid-September 2020, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, revealed.
According to Emirates News Agency, Al Marri attributed this surge to the UAE’s ongoing reforms in business and investment regulations. These reforms have enhanced the nation’s attractiveness to international companies and investors, boosting opportunities in tourism-related sectors. He emphasized that tourism remains a core component of the UAE’s economic priorities, serving as a key driver of sustainable growth. New initiatives under the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031, including the upcoming sixth ‘World’s Coolest Winter’ campaign set to launch in December, further underscore this commitment.
Al Marri highlighted ongoing collaborations with both local and international partners to develop Emirati talent for the tourism workforce. Efforts are also being made to encourage investment in the hospitality, travel, and aviation sectors, and to support start-ups through new programmes. As part of its outreach to Africa, the UAE plans to host the ‘UAE-Africa Tourism Investment Summit’ in October during the Future Hospitality Summit, with the aim of strengthening bilateral partnerships across tourism, hospitality, and aviation.
Discussing Gulf tourism, Al Marri noted that the UAE welcomed 3.3 million visitors from GCC countries in 2024, accounting for 11 percent of total hotel guests. Saudi Arabia led the influx with 1.9 million visitors, followed by Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar. He also mentioned the forthcoming unified GCC tourist visa as a strategic initiative to further regional integration and enhance the Gulf’s appeal as a unified tourism destination. A pilot launch is anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2025, with full implementation to follow.