Al Ain emerges as a premier heritage, cultural destination

Al Ain has been named the "Capital of Arab Tourism for 2026" by the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism during its 28th session in Baghdad, Iraq.

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The announcement was made during the participation of a high-level UAE delegation led by Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, representing Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism.

The selection highlights the growing international appeal and competitiveness of the UAE's tourism ecosystem, reaffirming Al Ain's position as a premier heritage and cultural destination.

Commenting on the announcement, Bin Touq said, "Being named the Capital of Arab Tourism for 2026 is a significant milestone for the UAE. It reflects the qualitative progress achieved through our leadership's strategic vision, which recognised early the importance of investing in tourism as a driver of future economic growth. This recognition further strengthens the UAE's standing on the global tourism map."

He added that this achievement supports the goals of the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031, aimed at strengthening the national tourism identity, attracting 40 million hotel guests annually, and increasing the sector's contribution to GDP to Dhs450 billion by 2031.