UAE Travel and Tourism Market Overview
Market Size in 2024: USD 61.3 Billion
Market Size in 2033: USD 163.4 Billion
Market Growth Rate 2025-2033: 11.0%
According to IMARC Group's latest research publication, "UAE Travel and Tourism Market: Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2025-2033", The UAE travel and tourism market size reached USD 61.3 Billion in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 163.4 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate of 11.0% during 2025-2033.
How AI is Reshaping the Future of UAE Travel and Tourism Market
- Revolutionizing Trip Planning and Booking: A striking 68% of UAE travelers now use AI when booking holidays, representing a 57% increase from last year, with Marriott Bonvoy research revealing that 67% of consumers in the UAE have used AI to help plan or research vacations, far exceeding the 48% global average.
- Transforming Guest Services with Virtual Assistants: Hotels across Dubai and Abu Dhabi have deployed AI systems like Majd Al for routine guest inquiries, while 39% of hospitality businesses already use AI chatbots or virtual assistants to provide 24/7 support, make recommendations, and handle administrative tasks, allowing human staff to focus on complex interactions.
- Enabling Flying Taxis and Smart Mobility: Dubai is building four vertiports at Dubai International Airport, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, and Palm Jumeirah for Joby Aviation's all-electric air taxis launching in 2026, capable of carrying four passengers at 200 mph and cutting popular routes from one hour to 10 minutes.
- Powering Fraud Prevention and Payment Security: AI-driven fraud detection tools like Adyen's Protect platform have slashed false-positive rates by 86%, responding to the fact that 42% of UAE hospitality businesses saw significant rises in payment fraud attempts and 17% of travelers experienced booking fraud in the past 12 months.
- Creating Smart Tourism Infrastructure: Abu Dhabi's plan to become the world's first fully AI-native government by 2027, coupled with Zayed International Airport's biometric Smart Travel initiative and Dubai's AI Park unveiled at Gitex 2025, is positioning the UAE as the global leader in intelligent tourism experiences.
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UAE Travel and Tourism Market Trends & Drivers:
There are a number of key drivers contributing to the growth of the travel and tourism sector in the UAE, such as the government's holistic vision and support through initiatives such as the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031 and National Tourism Charter, increasing sustainable tourism, developing infrastructure and improving international competitiveness. The policies also help the Emirates align their efforts, create high-value jobs, improve the overall mix of tourism experiences on offer and attract higher-spending visitors, contributing nearly 13% of GDP in the UAE and creating over 925,000 jobs across the country.
Second, the UAE is one of the main international tourism hubs in the world driven by its modern infrastructure, unique geographical position and hospitality offering. In the first half of the year alone, Dubai has received almost 10 million international overnight guests and that number continues to grow due to Dubai's hub airport, luxury hotels and tourism attractions and entertainment offerings. And international visitors are expected to spend more than AED 228 billion as their vote of confidence in the destination and its hospitality.
Third, the changing circumstances of the travel market have affected the tourism landscape of the UAE, with increasing numbers of tourists looking for customized experiences, wellness and recuperation, experiential and "sleep tourism", and sustainable tourism experiences. Research shows that 81% of customers want a pampering experience and that 84% want an eco-friendly experience. An increased demand for online travel intermediaries, and more personalized services, are helping to diversify the tourism product in the UAE, ranging from cultural heritage sites in Abu Dhabi to experiential tourism in Dubai.
UAE Travel and Tourism Industry Segmentation:
The report has segmented the market into the following categories:
Type Insights:
- Domestic
- Inbound
- Outbound
Service Offering Insights:
- Ticket Reservation
- Hotel Booking
- Holiday/Tour Packages
- Others
Purpose of Visit Insights:
- Business
- Leisure and Recreation
- Education
- Medical
- Social Activity
- Others
Booking Type Insights:
- Travel Companies
- Travel Agencies
- Online
- Others
Regional Insights:
- Dubai
- Abu Dhabi
- Sharjah
- Others
Competitive Landscape:
The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players.
Recent News and Developments in UAE Travel and Tourism Market
- September 2025: Abu Dhabi is set to host the Abu Dhabi Smart City Summit in September 2025, reinforcing its commitment to become the world's first fully AI-native government by 2027, with smart city infrastructure unlocking immersive AR and Extended Reality experiences for tourists visiting cultural sites and attractions.
- February 2025: Dubai Road and Transport Authority signed a deal with Joby Aviation to launch all-electric air taxis by 2026, with four vertiports under construction at Dubai International Airport, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, and Palm Jumeirah, capable of cutting travel times from one hour to 10 minutes at speeds of 200 mph.
- 2025 Initiative: Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism partnered with Amadeus to advance biometric technology and airport experience optimization, while Zayed International Airport's Smart Travel initiative aims to integrate biometric authentication at all security checkpoints by 2025 for touchless passenger journeys.
- Gitex 2025: Du unveiled the AI Park at Gitex Technology Week 2025, a dedicated space designed to integrate artificial intelligence into Dubai's tourism industry through personalized recommendations, AI-powered concierge services, and smart infrastructure that attracts international tech companies and start-ups.
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