UAE 'most tourist-friendly place in MENA region'
The UAE has reinforced its reputation as the region’s leading tourism destination, with the country ranking first in the MENA region and 18th worldwide in the World Economic Forum’s latest (2024) Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI), up from 25th in 2021. The index, which measures 119 economies on the enabling factors for sustainable travel and tourism growth, credited the UAE’s “world-leading infrastructure, robust business environment, and safety standards”.
The report highlighted the country’s air transport infrastructure, where the UAE ranked first globally, supported by Dubai International Airport’s status as the world’s busiest international hub. It also ranked highly for its business-friendly regulations, safety and security, and tourism policy and infrastructure, placing ahead of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Morocco in the regional standings.
Tourism growth gathers pace
The ranking follows a record year for tourism in the UAE. While national figures have not been released, Dubai – the country’s leading business and leisure destination – welcomed a record 18.72 million international overnight visitors in 2024, up 9% year-on-year.
The trend has continued in 2025, with international visitor arrivals surpassing 12.54 million in the year to August, marking a new record for this timeframe and cementing the city’s position among the world’s top three most visited destinations.
Nationally, international tourism spending is projected to reach AED 228.5 billion (USD 62 billion) in 2025, according to the UAE Ministry of Economy, reflecting a 37% increase over 2019 figures.
Strategic investments driving competitiveness
The UAE’s climb in the WEF rankings underscores the success of long-term investment in tourism and infrastructure, from major cultural projects such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi to the expansion of Expo City Dubai and new attractions in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.
Authorities say the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031, which aims to attract 40 million hotel guests annually and raise the sector’s contribution to GDP to AED 450 billion by 2031, is successfully attracting international investment while positioning tourism as one of the key pillars of national economic diversification.
Backed by strong visitor growth, sustained infrastructure investment and a rising global profile, the UAE has cemented its position as the Arab world’s most popular tourism destination – and one of the fastest-growing worldwide.
