Everything about the tourism industry and tourists in the UAE

The UAE is one of the leading countries in the tourism industry. The whole world knows the UAE for the Burj Khalifa, the old markets, the desert, and its golden sands. This country is also known as one of the most luxurious countries in the world in the tourism industry, which can be attractive to many tourists. This article talks about the statistics of the tourism industry. Also, for people who want to travel to the UAE, there are materials about the visa policy and the best time to travel.

Emirates Tourism Council

In January 2021, the UAE Cabinet approved the establishment of the UAE Tourism Council to strengthen the tourism portfolio. To achieve this goal, a draft national strategy was written to integrate the efforts of all relevant agencies.

The council is responsible for the following:

• Proposing and revising policies and laws that support the tourism sector and national tourism development programs
• Supporting the growth of the tourism industry
• Attraction of tourism investment
• Attractive offers for tourism industry operators to attract them
• Creating a comprehensive national database of tourism information
• Supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) involved in the tourism sector

Statistics and figures of the tourist industry in the UAE

How profitable has the UAE tourist industry been?

In 2016, the direct contribution of the travel and tourism sector to the UAE's GDP was 68.5 billion dirhams ($18.7 billion), equivalent to 5.2% of the total GDP.  The total contribution of the travel and tourism sector to the UAE's GDP in 2023 is 159.1 billion dirhams ($43.3 billion), which is 12.1 percent of the GDP. It is projected to increase by 4.9 percent annually to reach 264.5 billion dirhams ($72 billion), which will be 12.4 percent of GDP in 2027.

Investment in the travel and tourism sector was 26.2 billion dirhams ($7.1 billion), which is 7% of the total investments made. It is expected to increase by 11% annually over the next 10 years and reach 74.5 billion dirhams ($20.3 billion) in 2027, which will be 11.2% of all investments.

Tourists who have visited the UAE in 2022 have benefited the country by about 167 billion dirhams, which is apart from the amount of accommodation and hotel expenses. These same tourists in 2022 have caused a profit of about 38 billion dirhams for hotels and accommodation centers.

How many people are employed in the tourism industry in the UAE?

The travel and tourism sector directly supports 317,500 jobs in the UAE, accounting for 5.4% of all employed people. This is expected to increase by 2.4% per year to 410,000 jobs, which will be 5.9% of total employment in 2027.

The total share of the travel and tourism sector in employment, including the jobs indirectly supported by this industry, was 10.4% of the total employment, which is 617,500 jobs. This is projected to increase by 2 percent per year to 770,000 jobs in 2027, accounting for 11.1 percent of all jobs.

What is the status of UAE hotels?

Hotels have provided about 203,000 rooms in 2022, of which about 71% of them were full on average during 2022.

The United Arab Emirates will have about 1200 hotels in 2022, which have welcomed about 25 million guests. The UAE is reported to be the 25th country in terms of the growth of the tourist industry in the whole world. This ranking is reported by the tourist growth index.

In 2019, 74% of rooms were full but in 2020, 55% of rooms had guests. The reason for the decrease of about 20 percent in the number of guests in the UAE this year can be related to the coronavirus epidemic and the government's strictness in limiting travel and dealing with the circulation of the Coronavirus in the countries of origin and destination. In 2021, 67% of the rooms were filled. This year, the tourism industry has started to grow again, but it has not yet reached the size it was before the Corona pandemic. In 2022, 71% of the rooms were filled, indicating a return of the UAE tourist industry to pre-Corona.

The rooms of these hotels were rented by travelers and tourists for about 91 million nights (the total number of nights that each room was full in all hotels), which represents a profit of 38 billion dirhams for the UAE tourism industry. The UAE has launched several tourism initiatives to boost the tourism industry. Some of the initiatives are mentioned below:

• Sustainable and green tourism development program in Abu Dhabi
• Preparation of periodical reports
• Launching and implementing green and environmental tourism projects.
• Holding exhibitions and conferences related to the environment
• Dubai 2020 Tourism Strategic Plan.
• Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021
• Ajman's strategic plan for tourism 2015-2021
• Improving customer experience and providing quality services with added value
• Increased stability and continuous growth
• Use of capable workforce in a creative work environment
• Rational spending and optimal investment in the tourism industry

United Arab Emirates visa policy

The UAE visa policy consists of regulations, terms  and conditions imposed by the UAE government on all foreign travelers who wish to enter the country.

The visa policy sets out the visa requirements for different countries to travel to the UAE, which can vary depending on the nationality of the traveller, the purpose of the visit and the expected length of time spent inside the UAE.

Citizens of several foreign countries also do not need a visa to travel to the United Arab Emirates, and their length of stay varies according to their nationality. Citizens of countries not listed as visa-exempt are required to obtain an approved visa before entering the UAE. This may vary between eVisa, visa on arrival or embassy visa depending on nationality and purpose of stay.

Electronic visa (eVisa) for tourism can be easily obtained by completing the online application form with personal information and passport.

About 20 nationalities require a visa on arrival to enter the UAE. Although you may have to wait in long queues at the airport, you can apply for a visa from any airport in the UAE. Other 40 nationalities are required to go to the embassy to get a visa, regardless of the length of stay or the reason for the trip. To get this form of visa, you must go to the nearest UAE Embassy office.

Israeli nationals are currently barred from entering the UAE and cannot obtain visas for the UAE.

The best time of the year to travel to the UAE

November to February is considered the best time to travel to Dubai because the temperature is very pleasant and also during this time there are festivals and various cultural events and shopping festivals.

The temperature in November is around 25°C, reaching 30°C in the hottest part. And at night, it reaches 19 degrees in the coolest time. This means that November is a great choice for those looking for some sun.

In February, the weather becomes colder, which makes the destination of the UAE more pleasant. The maximum temperature in February is 24 degrees and the minimum is 15 degrees.

The best time to travel to the UAE, for…

Enjoying the Beach (April)

With an average temperature of 26°C and a sea temperature of 25°C, April is an ideal month for those who love the sea and the beach.

Amusement parks (July - August)

These months may be the hottest time of the year, but amusement and water parks offer great fun with cool weather, swimming opportunities, and plenty of shade to keep you from feeling the scorching heat. Plus, since you're going to the UAE in the off-season, you can enjoy shorter queues, which is always a plus!

Sightseeing in Dubai (November)

From the Burj Khalifa to the Ain Dubai Ferris wheel, there are many sights to see in Dubai. November is the best time to visit Dubai. In this month, the weather is hot, but not unbearable. In this month, you can experience the best conditions for sightseeing by walking and visiting markets.

Shopping in Dubai (January)

In January, a month-long shopping festival begins in the UAE, especially Dubai, which causes many sellers and buyers to gather in this month. In January, you can buy various products at the lowest price and highest possible quality.

Tips for visiting times

Pay attention to the month of Ramadan. In this month, due to the fact that the country is Muslim, the society is preparing for Ramadan and the conditions are different. You should know that every country has its own culture and customs during Ramadan, which you as a traveler should respect. In this month, it is better to avoid eating, drinking and smoking in public places. Also, many shops may be closed during the day and open again after the call to prayer at night. In addition, some restaurants and cafes may be closed or follow different policies during these days of the year.

Also, if you travel to the UAE during busy times of the year, you may wait in long queues for tickets or even get the same services more expensive than at other times of the year, which is normal everywhere in the world.

In the end

The UAE is one of Iran's neighbors that has invested a lot in its tourism industry. This country is considered one of the best countries in the region in terms of tourism. UAE according to the announced government programs,

It has medium and long-term plans to grow its tourism industry as much as possible. About 20 countries, including the member countries of the Persian Gulf Cooperation and European countries, do not require a visa to enter the UAE, but many other countries, such as Iran, require an electronic visa to enter the UAE for various purposes. In the UAE, there are many shopping festivals, equipped beaches and entertainment centers that make the cities of the UAE attract tourists all year round.