Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday 23 December 2025 — The UAE's tourism sector continues to deliver record-breaking performance, reinforcing its role as a major driver of economic growth and diversification. Tourism now accounts for roughly 14% of the UAE's GDP, contributing an estimated USD $70 billion in 2025.
Visitor demand remains robust. Hotel guest volumes rose by nearly 5% year-on-year to around 23 million in the first nine months of 2025, a new record, while occupancy rates held steady at approximately 80%, highlighting sustained demand despite global economic uncertainty.
According to Farhan Badami, Market Analyst at eToro, the strength of tourism has important implications for both regional and global markets.
“Tourism is not just a growth story for the UAE economy — it's a key pillar supporting a wide range of sectors and listed companies. Airlines, hotel groups and travel platforms all stand to benefit as visitor numbers continue to rise.”
Globally, travel and leisure stocks have already reflected this momentum, with companies such as Expedia (NASDAQ: EXPE), Booking.com (NASDAQ: BKNG), Trip.com (HKG: 9961) and Hilton (NYSE: HLT) enjoying strong performance as international travel demand remains resilient.
Tourism also acts as a powerful multiplier for the UAE economy. Beyond airlines and hotels, rising visitor numbers support retail, transport and real estate, improving earnings visibility and sentiment across multiple sectors.
“What's particularly important is how tourism reinforces the UAE's long-term diversification narrative,” Badami added. “Strong visitor inflows help reduce reliance on hydrocarbons while supporting consumer activity and property markets, backed by world-class infrastructure and the UAE's position as a global aviation hub.”
While tighter global economic conditions could weigh on discretionary travel, the UAE's ability to attract record visitor numbers even amid uncertainty underscores its competitive edge as a premium leisure and business destination, supporting confidence in regional growth heading into 2026.
Locally, companies such as Emaar and Aldar benefit from increased footfall across malls, hotels and lifestyle developments, while Air Arabia is a direct beneficiary of expanding regional travel and connectivity.
“As we look ahead to 2026, tourism is likely to remain a key engine of growth for the UAE, creating investment opportunities both locally and globally,” Badami said.
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