UAE Travel & Tourism Market Report and Forecast 2032

UAE Travel & Tourism Market Insights & Analysis

The UAE Travel & Tourism Market reached a value of nearly USD 651.76 Billion in 2025. The market is assessed to grow at a CAGR of around 7.59%, during the forecast period of 2025-2032 to attain a value of around USD 1087.78 Billion in 2032. The Emirates tourism industry has strongly established itself as a primary global destination, leveraging strategic spending in tourism infrastructure, world-class attractions, and state-of-the-art marketing campaigns. Dubai visitor numbers & Abu Dhabi tourism progression continue to lead the sector's growth, with significant visitor statistics surpassing pre-pandemic levels by nearly 15% in 2024, establishing remarkable recovery & UAE travel market potential.

Moreover, the UAE Travel & Tourism Market size has progressed substantially from government initiatives, such as the Dubai Tourism Strategy 2025 & Abu Dhabi Tourism Development Strategy within Economic Vision 2030, allocating substantial resources toward improving visitor experiences in Dubai. The introduction of UAE tourist visa guidelines, such as multiple-entry tourist visas, retirement visas, and remote work visas has expanded the tourist demographic, lengthening average stays from 4.7 nights in 2023 to 5.9 nights in 2024.

UAE Travel & Tourism Market FY32

• Study Period: 2020- 2032


• Base Year: 2024


• CAGR(2025-2032): 7.59%


• Market Value 2032: USD 1087.78 Billion


• Major Players: McDonald's Corp, Burger King Corp, Marriott International Inc, Rotana Hotel Management Corp PJSC, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc, Emirates Airline, Qatar Airways Group QCSC, Dubai Aviation Corp, Etihad Aviation Group PJSC 

Furthermore, the UAE luxury tourism trends remain the foundation of the sector, with the ultra-luxury segment increasing at nearly 12.3% annually, outperforming the wider market. In the meantime, the UAE MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) Tourism Industry has rebounded radically, with the Dubai International Airport visitor hub & Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre accommodating around 27% more events in 2024 in comparison to 2023, fascinating over 2.8 million business travel statistics displaying considerable growth in the UAE Travel & Tourism Market.

Additionally, the digital transformation of the UAE Tourist & Travel Market has altered the ecosystem, with online platforms & mobile applications now accounting for roughly 73% of bookings. Also, local travel agencies have responded by creating substantial investments in AI-powered recommendation engines & virtual reality previews, as per the UAE hospitality sector performance indicators, which has elevated pre-booking engagement by around 41% annually.

Besides, transit travelers are predicted to contribute to the UAE tourism retributions in 2024, establishing the nation's exceptional geographic location between East & West. Further, the UAE Tourist & Travel Market is projected to flourish, owing to the UAE’s ecotourism places that go beyond conventional luxury & shopping experiences, sustained infrastructural advancement, and sustainable tourism initiatives.

UAE Travel & Tourism Market Upgrades & Recent Developments

2024:

• Emirates Airlines introduced "Emirates Connect", an innovative integrated travel platform that combines flight bookings with custom-made destination experiences in the UAE. The platform influences AI to curate customized UAE travel packages based on traveler preferences & historical data.
• Marriott International Inc., revealed its "Boundless Arabia" initiative, introducing experiential luxury accommodations across five new properties in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Ras Al Khaimah.

2025:

• Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., attained "Desert Adventures Tourism," a leading UAE-based destination management company. This strategic acquisition allows Hilton to vertically integrate its operations in the country, offering seamless end-to-end best holiday packages that combine accommodation with comprehensive destination services.
• Etihad Aviation Group PJSC launched "Etihad Ventures", a dedicated innovation unit engrossed in developing next-generation travel technologies & sustainable tourism initiatives in the UAE.

UAE Travel & Tourism Market Dynamics

• Government Initiatives & Infrastructure Development to Drive Market Growth

The Emirates travel & tourism sector has positioned tourism as a fundamental pillar of its economic divergence strategy, employing comprehensive UAE tourism advancement strategy policies & allotting significant resources to industry expansion. Also, key projects, such as Abu Dhabi cultural tourism hub Saadiyat Cultural District and Expo City Dubai tourism impact have altered the landscape, creating exclusive attraction groups that extend visitor stays.

Additionally, the employment of flexible UAE tourist visa regulations, such as the five-year multiple-entry tourist visa & remote work visa programs, has considerably expanded the potential visitor pool, mainly from developing markets. These coordinated government efforts have generated a favorable environment for the UAE Travel & Tourism Market growth, with public-private partnerships augmenting the expansion of distinctive experiences that showcase the country's natural & cultural assets.

• Increasing Competition from Emerging Destinations to Hinder UAE Tourism Market

The UAE Tourism & Travel Market faces rising competition from developing travel destinations in the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. Nations, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman are greatly investing in tourism infrastructure, proposing new cultural & entertainment attractions that challenge the UAE's contributions. Also, Asian destinations like Thailand & Malaysia appeal to budget-conscious travelers with competitive costs & varied experiences. Further, the upsurge of sustainable & adventure tourism in lesser-known regions also averts global tourists from traditional UAE hotspots. Further, to preserve its competitive edge, the UAE must constantly innovate, diversify its offerings, and improve visitor experiences.

UAE Travel & Tourism Market Segment-wise Analysis

By Service Offering:

• Ticket Reservation
• Hotel Booking
• Holiday/Tour Packages
• Others

The Holiday/Tour Packages segment in the UAE Travel & Tourism Market is predicted to capture the potential market share.

With operators in the UAE tourism & travel sector spending comprehensively on direct booking platforms that deploy AI-powered recommendation engines, the segment's dominance is further supported by progressive digital transformation channels. Also, considerably extending their global reach, primary enterprises have formed strategic alliances with foreign travel agencies & internet travel aggregators.

By Type:

• Domestic
• Inbound
• Outbound

Inbound tourism is projected to maintain an impressive dominance across the UAE Travel & Tourism Market, capturing the largest market share.

This ascendency stems from the UAE's remarkable accomplishment in placing itself as a leading global destination through strategic marketing investments & infrastructure development. Also, the number of visitors in Dubai reached around 27.8 million in 2024, with visitors from Western Europe, GCC countries, China, India, and Russia encompassing the biggest source markets. Also, the average investment per international visitor has elevated constantly in 2024, considerably outpacing tourism spending averages worldwide.

What Does Our UAE Travel & Tourism Market Research Study Entail?

• The UAE Travel & Tourism Market Research Report highlights the forecast growth rate or CAGR by anticipating the market size & share.
• The market analysis puts light upon the primary industry trends, driving aspects, potential opportunities, growth challenges, and other major factors.
• UAE Travel & Tourism Market Research Report entails details about the most critical shifts in market share in the prominent regions.
• Considering the statistics & the developments by the primary market competitors, our report also strives to demonstrate the most sought-after strategies of the key players.