UAE hotel occupancy among highest globally, says economy and tourism minister

Hotel occupancy rates in the UAE ranked among the highest in the region and worldwide during the first ten months of 2025, according to Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism.

Speaking to the Emirates News Agency on the sidelines of the launch of the sixth edition of the World’s Coolest Winter campaign in Dubai, Al Marri said hotel occupancy reached 79.3 percent during the period, compared with 78 percent over the same timeframe last year.

He said hotel revenues totalled AED 89 billion between January and October, supported by a nationwide hospitality sector comprising 1,243 hotel establishments and more than 216,000 rooms.

Al Marri said tourism continues to play a significant role in the national economy. The sector contributed 13 percent to the UAE’s gross domestic product last year, equivalent to AED 257.3 billion, and currently supports more than 920,000 jobs.

UAE hotel occupancy

He added that the government aims to increase tourism’s contribution to GDP to 17 percent within the next five years, supported by rising investment and continued growth in the aviation sector.

The minister also highlighted the role of the World’s Coolest Winter campaign in promoting domestic tourism. This year’s edition is held under the slogan “Our Winter is Entrepreneurial” and is intended to encourage travel within the UAE while supporting entrepreneurship and reinforcing the country’s position as a destination for both tourism and business.

Tourism investment has continued to rise, Al Marri said. Investment in the sector reached AED 32.2 billion in 2024, up from AED 28.8 billion in 2023, and is expected to increase further to AED 35.2 billion in 2025.

He said the figures reflect sustained growth across the tourism sector and underline the UAE’s efforts to strengthen its global competitiveness as a leading travel and hospitality destination.