Lifestyle
UAE, Saudi Arabia to lead regional tourism growth
A new WTTC report projects the UAE and Saudi tourism sectors will see significant expansion, creating more diverse and potentially more affordable travel options for residents.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia are set to dominate Middle East tourism growth, according to a new World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) report. For UAE residents, this expansion translates into more local and regional travel choices, impacting holiday planning and staycation costs.
## What changed? The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in partnership with the Sustainable Global Tourism Centre in Riyadh, released a report projecting significant growth in the UAE and Saudi Arabian travel and tourism sectors. The report forecasts the industry's contribution to the UAE's GDP will reach AED 238.2 billion by 2034, a 22.4% increase from 2024. For Saudi Arabia, the sector is expected to contribute $138.8 billion to its economy. This growth is driven by massive government investment in new destinations, airlines, and infrastructure. In the UAE, this includes projects like the expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) and new hospitality brands. In Saudi Arabia, giga-projects such as NEOM, AlUla, and the Red Sea Global are creating entirely new tourism hubs from scratch. ## What this means for UAE residents For people living in the UAE, this coordinated regional boom directly impacts holiday planning. The increased supply of hotel rooms and flight routes, particularly to new destinations in Saudi Arabia, is expected to create more competitive pricing for short-haul travel. Key impacts include: - **More staycation options:** New hotels and attractions…