H.E. Bin Touq participates in the inaugural South African Tourism Investment Summit, calls for leveraging UAE’s promising tourism investment opportunities

UAE’s unique tourism development model highlighted alongside Africa’s vast potential

H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, participated in a panel discussion titled ‘G20 & WTTC Public and Private Investor Leaders’ Dialogue,’ held as part of the inaugural South African Tourism Investment Summit (SATIS 2025) in South Africa on 10 September 2025. The session brought together several tourism ministers from Arab and African nations, government officials, and global tourism industry leaders, alongside senior representatives from leading global travel and tourism companies.

The panel discussed opportunities to enhance public-private sector collaboration across various tourism fields, highlighting shared priorities for advancing and expanding the industry at both African and global levels. Discussions covered digital innovation, sustainability, stimulating local and foreign investments, and exchanged insights on mechanisms to deliver unique travel experiences across Africa’s diverse destinations.

H.E. Bin Touq emphasized that, thanks to the guidance of its wise leadership, the UAE has succeeded in establishing a unique model for the development of tourism policies and infrastructure in line with global best practices. He explained that the country has adopted several initiatives and strategies to drive the sector’s growth, strengthen its competitiveness regionally and globally, channel investments into various tourism fields, and establish world-class tourism projects across all emirates. These efforts include the launch of new airports, expansion of airline networks in collaboration with global strategic partners, enhancing domestic connectivity, and the delivery of high-quality tourism services - all of which have consolidated the UAE’s position as a leading global tourism destination.

Speaking at the session, His Excellency said: “The UAE continues to strengthen its presence in Africa as a key development partner by supporting sustainable tourism projects and forging strategic partnerships that create jobs, drive economic growth, and foster cultural, economic, and tourism cooperation across continents - reflecting its commitment to driving sustainable development at regional and global levels.”

His Excellency added: “Tourism is one of Africa’s most vital sectors, contributing significantly to the continent’s economic growth. Africa enjoys rich and diverse tourism resources, including coastal resorts, pristine beaches, and cultural and historical heritage sites. These assets present abundant opportunities for investors and business leaders from both public and private sectors to enter African markets and invest in its diverse tourism activities.”

H.E. added: "The impact of tourism investment extends well beyond its contribution to GDP. Its true value lies in empowering local communities through job creation, building national talents, and advancing sustainability initiatives." He stressed that international collaboration, particularly within the G20 framework, remains vital for fostering a more inclusive and resilient global tourism sector capable of adapting to economic and geopolitical shifts across regional and international landscapes. H.E. highlighted the UAE's most promising tourism investment opportunities, including the expansion of hospitality infrastructure, eco-tourism and sustainable tourism investments, particularly within the country’s natural reserves, family entertainment projects, theme parks, and cultural centers.

The UAE market, he added, has strong potential for investments in tourism’s digital transformation, through smart platforms and virtual experiences, in addition to strengthening the country’s status as a premier destination for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) tourism. Tourism investments have shown remarkable growth, rising from AED 28.8 billion in 2023 to AED 32.2 billion in 2024, with projections reaching AED 35.2 billion in 2025, a testament to the UAE's commitment to holistic and sustainable tourism development.

In this regard, H.E. urged investors to capitalize on the vast opportunities offered by the UAE’s tourism destinations and resorts, as well as its flexible investment environment and streamlined procedures that make it easy for investors to set up businesses and launch diverse economic activities.

Furthermore, H.E. highlighted the remarkable performance of the UAE’s tourism and travel sector in 2024, with its contribution to the GDP rising to AED 257.3 billion (USD 70.1 billion), accounting for 13 per cent of the national economy. This marks a 3.2 per cent increase compared to that of 2023, and an impressive 26 per cent surge from pre-pandemic levels in 2019 and one of the highest growth rates regionally and globally.

With regard to the UAE’s efforts to strengthen international relations in the tourism sector, H.E. Bin Touq noted that the Ministry of Economy and Tourism has signed 38 Memoranda of Understanding and three executive work programs to foster international cooperation with leading tourism markets around the world. These agreements are focused on boosting tourism exchange, attracting investments to the sector, and sharing expertise in key areas such as training, vocational education, and tourism marketing.