Hospitality Advisory Council explores ways to support national initiatives and boost investment in the sector

Hotel establishments in the country hosted over 16 million guests during the first six months of this year, reflecting a 5.5 per cent growth

The Hospitality Advisory Council, chaired by H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, held its third meeting of 2025. It was attended by representatives from both the public and private sectors, including directors and heads of major local and international hotel establishments in the UAE. The meeting discussed key performance indicators (KPIs) of the hospitality sector during H1 2025, as well as the national initiatives and programs designed to advance the industry and expand investment opportunities, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a leading global tourism destination.

H.E. Bin Touq emphasised that the UAE’s hospitality sector, driven by the directives of the wise leadership, continues to achieve robust growth that reflects its attractiveness and competitiveness at regional and global levels. The collaboration between the public and private sectors continues to be a cornerstone of the sector’s sustainability.

H.E. further explained that the Hospitality Advisory Council represents a vital platform for launching innovative initiatives that realise the objectives of the National Tourism Strategy 2031 and strengthening the UAE’s position as a leading global tourism destination.

During the meeting, H.E. announced the performance results of the hospitality sector for H1 2025. Hotel establishments in the country hosted over 16.1 million guests during the first six months of this year, reflecting a 5.5 per cent growth compared to the same period in 2024. This highlights the sector’s resilience and continued growth, further reinforcing the competitiveness of the UAE’s tourism environment. The number of hotel nights rose to 56 million, up 7.3 per cent, while the average length of stay reached 3.5 nights across 1,243 hotel establishments in the UAE that offer more than 216,000 rooms.

The Council also reviewed the outcomes of the Hospitality Summer Camp 2025, organised by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism with the participation of 470 male and female students, in collaboration with more than 35 hospitality stakeholders in the UAE. The initiative contributed to enhancing the skills of national talents and preparing them for diverse roles in hospitality sector, supporting Emiratization efforts in the sector.