Record UAE Tourism Delivers $70bn to Economy in 2025

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday 23 December 2025 — The UAE’s tourism sector continues to deliver record-breaking performance, reinforcing its role as a major driver of economic growth and diversification. Tourism now accounts for roughly 14% of the UAE’s GDP, contributing an estimated USD $70 billion in 2025.

Visitor demand remains robust. Hotel guest volumes rose by nearly 5% year-on-year to around 23 million in the first nine months of 2025, a new record, while occupancy rates held steady at approximately 80%, highlighting sustained demand despite global economic uncertainty.

Globally, travel and leisure stocks have already reflected this momentum, with companies such as Expedia (NASDAQ: EXPE), Booking.com (NASDAQ: BKNG), Trip.com (HKG: 9961) and Hilton (NYSE: HLT) enjoying strong performance as international travel demand remains resilient.

Tourism also acts as a powerful multiplier for the UAE economy. Beyond airlines and hotels, rising visitor numbers support retail, transport and real estate, improving earnings visibility and sentiment across multiple sectors.

While tighter global economic conditions could weigh on discretionary travel, the UAE’s ability to attract record visitor numbers even amid uncertainty underscores its competitive edge as a premium leisure and business destination, supporting confidence in regional growth heading into 2026.

Locally, companies such as Emaar and Aldar benefit from increased footfall across malls, hotels and lifestyle developments, while Air Arabia is a direct beneficiary of expanding regional travel and connectivity.

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This article was originally published as Record UAE Tourism Delivers $70bn to Economy in 2025 on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.