WTTC Growth of Tourism in the UAE Accelerates, Reaching $85 Billion in Revenue by 2036
The tourism sector in the UAE is expected to experience significant growth, with revenue projected to reach $85 billion by 2036. This growth is driven by increasing visitor numbers, tourism expenditure, and investments, as well as the sector's contribution to the country'…
Intelligence analysis by Llama

The UAE's tourism sector is expected to experience significant growth, driven by increasing visitor numbers, tourism expenditure, and investments. The sector's contribution to the country's economy and job creation is also expected to increase.
The tourism sector in the UAE is growing fast, with more people visiting and spending money. This will create jobs and make the UAE a more popular destination for tourists.
Analysis
WTTC Growth of Tourism in the UAE Accelerates, Reaching $85 Billion in Revenue by 2036
The tourism sector in the UAE is expected to experience significant growth, with revenue projected to reach $85 billion by 2036. This growth is driven by increasing visitor numbers, tourism expenditure, and investments, as well as the sector's contribution to the country's economy and job creation.
According to a report by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the tourism sector in the UAE accounted for 11.9% of the country's GDP in 2025, with a growth rate of 3% per annum. The sector's contribution to the country's economy is expected to increase, with the WTTC projecting that the sector will account for 14.5% of the country's GDP by 2036.
The growth of the tourism sector in the UAE is driven by a number of factors, including the country's strategic location, its well-developed infrastructure, and its attractive tourist destinations. The sector's growth is also expected to be driven by increasing investment in the sector, with the WTTC projecting that the sector will attract $51 billion in investments by 2036.
In addition to its contribution to the country's economy, the tourism sector in the UAE is also expected to create a significant number of jobs. According to the WTTC, the sector will create 1.17 million jobs by 2036, with 601,000 of these jobs being directly related to the tourism sector.
The growth of the tourism sector in the UAE is expected to have a number of positive impacts on the country's economy and society. It will contribute to the country's GDP, create jobs, and make the UAE a more attractive destination for tourists. It will also drive investment in the sector, which will help to develop the country's infrastructure and tourist destinations.
However, the growth of the tourism sector in the UAE also poses a number of challenges. One of the main challenges is the need to manage the sector's growth in a sustainable way, to ensure that it does not put pressure on the country's resources and infrastructure. Another challenge is the need to develop the sector's human resources, to ensure that it has the skills and expertise needed to support its growth.
Overall, the growth of the tourism sector in the UAE is a significant development that will have a number of positive impacts on the country's economy and society. It will contribute to the country's GDP, create jobs, and make the UAE a more attractive destination for tourists. It will also drive investment in the sector, which will help to develop the country's infrastructure and tourist destinations.
Key points
- The tourism sector in the UAE is expected to experience significant growth, with revenue projected to reach $85 billion by 2036.
- The growth of the tourism sector in the UAE is driven by increasing visitor numbers, tourism expenditure, and investments.
- The sector's contribution to the country's economy and job creation is expected to increase.
- The WTTC projects that the tourism sector will account for 14.5% of the country's GDP by 2036.
- The sector is expected to create 1.17 million jobs by 2036, with 601,000 of these jobs being directly related to the tourism sector.
The growth of the tourism sector in the UAE is expected to have a number of positive impacts on the country's economy and society. It will contribute to the country's GDP, create jobs, and make the UAE a more attractive destination for tourists. It will also drive investment in the sector, which will help to develop the country's infrastructure and tourist destinations.
The growth of the tourism sector in the UAE also poses a number of challenges, including the need to manage the sector's growth in a sustainable way, to ensure that it does not put pressure on the country's resources and infrastructure. Another challenge is the need to develop the sector's human resources, to ensure that it has the skills and expertise needed to support its growth.



