UAE Highlights Tourism Growth at ATM 2025 Dubai

The Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, concluded today as a major milestone for the UAE’s tourism and travel industries. The event was an essential gathering for professionals from across the globe, reinforcing the UAE’s prominent role in global tourism. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, toured the exhibition, highlighting the nation’s ongoing infrastructure investments, tourism sector growth, and its wider contributions to global economic progress.

With His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visionary leadership, the UAE continues to strengthen its position as a global tourism and business hub. Sheikh Mohammed’s statements at ATM 2025 reflected the country’s commitment to fostering global partnerships, expanding economic opportunities, and creating a prosperous future that benefits nations worldwide. This vision is firmly rooted in the UAE’s founding principles of open dialogue, meaningful partnerships, and collaborative engagement.

UAE’s Growing Influence on the Global Tourism Map

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s visit to ATM 2025 underscored the UAE’s rising influence in the global tourism sector. The participation of 166 countries and 55,000 tourism professionals at the event highlighted the UAE’s growing presence on the world stage. The UAE has become a leading destination for international travelers, a feat that was made possible through ongoing investments in infrastructure and a commitment to enhancing services for global visitors.

In 2024, the UAE recorded an impressive 30.7 million international visitors, a figure that reflects the success of its tourism initiatives. The total spending reached approximately AED 250 billion, a further testament to the UAE’s strength as a global tourism hub. Sheikh Mohammed emphasized that these figures not only reflect the growth of the sector but also demonstrate the confidence international travelers have in the UAE as a world-class destination.

A Strong Focus on Economic Growth and Tourism Development

At ATM 2025, Sheikh Mohammed highlighted the UAE’s unwavering commitment to economic growth, with a particular emphasis on the tourism sector. Under the guidance of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the country has focused on strengthening its economy and tourism industry through extensive investments in world-class infrastructure. These investments aim to cater to the needs of an expanding base of international travelers.

Sheikh Mohammed noted that the UAE’s airports are projected to welcome around 150 million passengers in 2025, underscoring the nation’s determination to enhance its position as a global aviation hub. The country’s infrastructure, including state-of-the-art terminals, airside facilities, and advanced logistics, is being continually upgraded to accommodate this growing demand and ensure a seamless experience for travelers.

Strategic Investments and Strong Performance

The UAE’s tourism success is not only evident in visitor numbers but also in the country’s ongoing efforts to diversify its tourism offerings. Sheikh Mohammed emphasized that exhibitions like ATM 2025 play a vital role in accelerating this growth. These events serve as platforms to forge new international partnerships, encourage business collaborations, and stimulate the exchange of knowledge across sectors.

The UAE’s success in 2024 is also attributed to its proactive investment in tourism infrastructure, which has significantly enhanced its appeal to a wide range of travelers. From luxury hotels and cultural attractions to leisure facilities, the UAE offers an extensive range of experiences, ensuring that it remains a year-round destination for both business and leisure visitors. This diversification in the tourism product is a key factor behind the UAE’s increasing competitiveness in the global market.

The Role of Exhibitions in Driving Global Growth

Exhibitions like ATM 2025 are pivotal in promoting the UAE’s tourism and travel sector to the world. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid emphasized that such events are more than temporary showcases—they are long-term drivers of growth. They facilitate the creation of meaningful partnerships and serve as platforms for collaboration that benefit the global economy. The Dubai World Trade Centre, the venue for ATM 2025, remains one of the most influential locations for hosting major global trade events, and its role in facilitating the growth of tourism and business cannot be overstated.

For Sheikh Mohammed, exhibitions and trade shows like ATM are crucial for promoting sustainable growth in the tourism sector. They help countries like the UAE to display their achievements and capabilities while simultaneously providing the opportunity to establish partnerships that shape the future of the tourism industry. Such gatherings underscore the UAE’s commitment to building a global tourism infrastructure that fosters innovation and contributes to quality-of-life improvements for people worldwide.

Expanding Aviation and Tourism with Visionary Leadership

During his visit to the Emirates and flydubai pavilions, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid was briefed on the airlines’ expansion plans and strategies, which align with Dubai’s ambition to become the world’s leading aviation hub. Both airlines have played significant roles in Dubai’s aviation success, with Emirates leading the way in long-haul travel and flydubai carving out a successful niche in budget aviation.

At the flydubai pavilion, CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith presented the airline’s achievements, highlighting the record performance in 2024. This marked the airline’s best year since its inception 15 years ago. Sheikh Mohammed praised flydubai’s contribution to budget aviation and recognized the airline’s significant role in strengthening Dubai’s position as a global aviation center.

The Emirates Tourism Council’s Strategic Efforts

Another key stop for Sheikh Mohammed during his visit was the Emirates Tourism Council pavilion, where he met with Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Council. The Council plays a crucial role in enhancing tourism competitiveness across the seven emirates, ensuring that each emirate has a unique and attractive tourism offering. This is part of the broader ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision, which aims to strengthen the UAE’s position in the global tourism market.

The Council’s initiatives help diversify the tourism experience by promoting regional attractions and encouraging sustainable development across the country. These efforts are integral to the UAE’s tourism strategy, ensuring that the country remains a top destination for global travelers. Through coordinated efforts, the UAE continues to build a tourism industry that appeals to a wide range of international visitors, from those seeking luxury to those seeking cultural and recreational experiences.

Bringing Together Global Leaders and Professionals

ATM 2025 brought together leaders, professionals, and innovators from across the global travel industry, making it one of the most significant events of its kind. The exhibition served as a hub for key sectors within tourism, including leisure, business events, luxury travel, and corporate travel. The event highlighted the UAE’s role as a host country for such a prestigious international gathering, further solidifying its position as a key player in the global tourism landscape.

The record attendance of 2,800 exhibitors from 166 countries and 55,000 expected attendees underscores the growing importance of ATM in the global tourism industry. The exhibition attracted international brands, tourism authorities, and industry professionals, all eager to explore new opportunities for growth and collaboration. Sheikh Mohammed’s visit to ATM 2025 reflects the UAE’s dedication to maintaining its status as a leading destination for business, leisure, and global tourism.