Dubai drives GCC’s $247B tourism boom

Dubai drives GCC’s $2478 tourism boom

- Issac John [e-mail]

Crowds at Global Village in Dubai. The emirate welcomed 18.72 million international visitors in 2024, up from 17.15 million the previous year -- a 9.1 per cent increase.

(FILE PHOTO)

‘The UAE has emerged as the powerhouse of the GCC’s travel and tourism resurgence, with Dubai at the forefront of a record-breaking post-pandemic rebound that has redefined the region’s global tourism landscape.

Backed by visionary leadership, massive infrastructure investments, and sustained inflows of international visitors, the UAE continues to drive the sector’s transformation into a major pillar of Gulf economies, travel industry experts said.

According to the Gulf Statistical Centre’s World Tourism Day report, the GCC’s travel and tourism industry contributed $247.1 billion to the region’s GDP in 2024—a 31.9 per cent jump over 2019. The sector's share is projected to surge further to $371.2 billion or 13.3 per cent of total GDP by 2034. Much of this remarkable growth is attributed to the UAE’s performance, particularly Dubai’s stellar momentum as one of the world’s most visited destinations.