Today's Edition
Rasha Tubeileh (Abu Dhabi)
The total spending of the UAE population on travel abroad this year has risen to Dh119.9 billion, compared to Dh115.7 billion spent on travel on the same period last year, marking a growth of 3.6%, according to estimates by the World Travel and Tourism Council.
Economic data from the World Travel and Tourism Council on the impact of the travel and tourism sector indicated that the total spending of the country’s population on travel abroad is expected to rise to Dh140.7 billion by 2034.
The most popular destinations for UAE residents in 2023, according to the Council’s data, are as follows: Saudi Arabia is the most popular destination with a share of 27%, followed by Oman with 13%, the United Kingdom with 11%, France with 6%, and Italy with 4%.
Total spending on travel abroad in 2018 amounted to approximately Dh100.8 billion, rising to Dh105.4 billion in 2019, before declining to Dh32.4 billion in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It then rose to Dh103 billion in 2021, growing to Dh109.2 billion in 2022, and further increasing to Dh115.7 billion in 2023. According to the data, the sector’s contribution to the UAE’s gross domestic product (GDP) for the current year amounts to about Dh236.4 billion, a growth of 7.6% compared to Dh219.7 billion last year, and a growth of 23% compared to 2019. The travel and tourism sector contributes 12% to the UAE’s GDP this year, up from 11.7% last year.
Regarding the total spending of international tourists in the UAE, it is expected to reach Dh191.8 billion this year, reflecting a growth of 9.5% compared to Dh175.2 billion last year, and a growth of 22.8% compared to 2019, with an expected rise to Dh231.8 billion in 2034.
