Sheikh Mohammed unveils the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031

His Highness Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, today unveiled the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031, one of the 50 Projects of the Future’s largest initiatives. The plan intends to enhance the UAE’s status as one of the top tourist destinations on the planet.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said, “Today, we approved UAE’s Tourism Strategy 2031. UAE ranks among the top 10 global tourist destinations. Our goal is to boost our competitiveness by attracting AED100 billion as additional tourism investments and welcome 40 million hotel guests in 2031.”
His Highness added, “Tourism is key to diversifying our economy and boosting UAE’s global competitiveness. In the first quarter of 2022, our airports received 22 million passengers. Our goal is for the tourism sector’s contribution to be AED450 billion of GDP in 2031.”
The strategy, which comes in partnership with various federal and local tourism authorities, national airlines, and international institutions and companies, aims to enhance the unified tourism identity and support the UAE’s integrated and well-established tourism ecosystem in order to provide an outstanding experience for tourists from all over the world.
The strategy aims to raise the tourism sector’s contribution to the GDP to AED450 billion, with an annual increase of AED27 billion, attract new investments of AED100 billion to the tourism sector in the country, and attract 40 million hotel guests.
The strategy includes 25 initiatives and policies to support the development of the tourism sector in the country. It is based on 4 key directions: strengthening the unified national tourism identity; developing and diversifying specialized tourism products; building tourism capabilities; encouraging the contribution of national cadres in the tourism sector, and increasing investments in all tourism sectors.
The strategy’s initiatives and directions will enhance the country’s efforts in providing an attractive and safe national tourism environment, pioneering and integrated tourism services, diverse and unique destinations, and developed infrastructure for the tourism sector.
The strategy is expected to contribute to encouraging tourism investment in various related sectors, including travel, aviation, and hospitality, as well as creating new investment opportunities, attracting more international companies to the local market, and developing tourism data and statistics.
The National Tourism Strategy 2031 was developed in partnership between the Ministry of Economy and several local and federal organizations and institutions that are involved, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, the UAE Central Bank, the General Civil Aviation Authority, the UAE airlines, the World Tourism Organization, several international businesses, and the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre.