Hospitality Advisory Council discusses new national initiatives to boost growth and employment opportunities in the sector
The Hospitality Advisory Council convened its second meeting of 2025 under the chairmanship of H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council. The session brought together 16 Council members, including CEOs and senior executives from leading national and international hotel groups. Discussions focused on a range of new national initiatives developed in partnership with the private sector to accelerate the growth of the UAE's hospitality sector. The initiatives also aim to generate employment opportunities across all sectors of this vital industry.
H.E. Bin Touq said: 'Thanks to the vision and guidance of our wise leadership, the UAE's tourism and hospitality sectors continue to thrive. In the first quarter of 2025, hotel revenues reached AED 13.5 billion, with over 8.4 million guests recorded, a two per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024. Total hotel nights reached 29.3 million, and the national hotel occupancy rate stood at 81.3 per cent during the same period.'
H.E. added: 'These impressive figures reflect the UAE's strong commitment to advancing its hospitality industry in line with global best practices. We have invested heavily in developing hotel and entertainment infrastructure across all seven emirates, organizing major international events, and delivering exceptional hospitality experiences that reflect authentic Emirati heritage and culture. As a result, the UAE has become one of the world's leading hospitality destinations today.'
The Minister of Economy continued: 'The year 2025 marks a major milestone for UAE tourism, marked by the election of Shaikha Al Nowais as the first woman globally to serve as Secretary-General of the UN World Tourism Organization for the term 2026-2029. This achievement reinforces the UAE's prominent role in supporting international efforts to advance the global tourism industry.'
The meeting's discussions covered a comprehensive array of key files and initiatives that support the UAE's efforts to enhance the growth and competitiveness of its hospitality sector. Participants emphasized the importance of promoting collaboration between the public and private sectors to meet the objectives of the National Tourism Strategy 2031, which aims to establish the UAE as the top global tourism brand by the next decade.
The Council also reviewed the newly launched 'Summer Hospitality Camp' program by the Ministry of Economy. It is designed to support Emiratization across hospitality-related sectors by offering hands-on training to school and university students in real-world environments such as hotels and tourism facilities, in addition to its structured learning tracks.
Established by the Emirates Tourism Council, the Hospitality Advisory Council serves as a strategic advisory body to the Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council on matters specific to the hospitality sector. It provides insights and data on industry developments, recommends private-sector initiatives to drive sector growth and reinforce the UAE's position as a leading global tourism destination, and offers feedback on government tourism policies and initiatives.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TECHx
3 hours ago
- TECHx
Dubai Government Approves Strategic Policies and Projects
Home » Smart Sectors » Education » Dubai Government Approves Strategic Policies and Projects The Dubai government has announced the approval of a series of strategic policies and projects during a meeting of The Executive Council. The session was chaired by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai. The meeting, held at Emirates Towers, was also attended by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai. The newly approved initiatives span multiple sectors including higher education, air quality, governance, and legal services. These efforts aim to position Dubai as a global hub for academia, business, and sustainable development. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan stated that youth are central to shaping the future and highlighted Dubai's commitment to equipping them with world-class academic and research opportunities. He emphasized Dubai's ambition to become one of the top 10 global cities for students. The Executive Council revealed that Dubai is currently home to 37 international university branches and aims to increase this number to over 70 by 2033. The higher education sector is projected to contribute AED5.6 billion to Dubai's GDP. Key initiatives announced: The Academic and Career Guidance Policy will provide career support services, strengthen education-to-employment transitions, and boost employment rates among Emirati graduates. The Air Quality Strategy 2030 sets goals to meet clean air standards on 90% of days and reduce PM2.5 to 35 micrograms per cubic metre. The Dubai International Mediation Centre was approved to provide cost-effective dispute resolution services and enhance legal infrastructure. A new Governance Policy for Government Construction Projects was introduced to streamline approval processes and improve transparency in public sector infrastructure. The Air Quality Strategy will be led by the Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority in collaboration with entities including Dubai Municipality, DEWA, RTA, and others. The mediation centre, co-developed with the ADR Centre in Europe, will support Dubai's international competitiveness in legal and business services. The construction governance policy will classify projects based on cost and is expected to support the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to raise government spending from AED512 billion to AED700 billion in the next decade. The Dubai government reaffirmed its commitment to empowering youth, enhancing education, ensuring environmental sustainability, and driving long-term economic development through strategic planning and cross-sector partnerships. Source: Dubai Media Office
Al Etihad
4 hours ago
- Al Etihad
UAE Balloon ascends in Russian skies
28 June 2025 13:58 MOSCOW (WAM)The UAE Balloon Team is participating in the third edition of the International Ballooning Festival "Air Brotherhood", which kicked off in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod and continues until July festival sees broad international participation, including teams from Bulgaria, Slovakia, Belarus, and Armenia, alongside several Russian Pilot Abdulaziz Nasser Al Mansoori, head of the UAE Balloon Team, told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) that the team's participation goes beyond the sporting aspect: 'It represents a mission to introduce Emirati culture and highlight the deep-rooted relations between the two friendly countries.'He noted that the team presented free aerial shows in the presence of Russian officials and Mansoori praised the attention given to their participation by the Russian leadership, commending the wide public interaction from the Russian people with the events and nightly shows presented by the team throughout the festival. He explained that this participation in Russia is part of the team's second international tour, which began in Bristol, UK, with the aim of spreading ancient Arab and Islamic culture in various countries worldwide.
Sharjah 24
4 hours ago
- Sharjah 24
Al Nuaimi: vision 2031 charts UAE's sustainable future
Vision 2031: a living framework of national ambition Dr Al Nuaimi emphasised that UAE Vision 2031 is no longer a mere aspiration but a living framework fuelled by national determination across all state institutions. He described it as a national pathway built on innovation, diversity, sustainability, and institutional integration. Redefining prosperity through economic diversification The first pillar of the vision, Al Nuaimi explained, focuses on redefining prosperity by transitioning from hydrocarbon dependence to a knowledge economy. This includes green tech, AI, and advanced industries, targeting a GDP of AED 3 trillion and AED 800 billion in non-oil exports by 2031. He underscored the importance of investing in innovation hubs and activating cross-sector partnerships for a post-oil economy. Sustainable urban development as a strategic pillar In the second pillar, Al Nuaimi addressed sustainable urban development through smart, resilient cities that rely on clean energy, mobility innovations, and environmental harmony—aligned with the 2050 Net Zero strategy. He also highlighted the need to incorporate ESG and digital readiness standards in real estate, infrastructure, and logistics. Empowering human capital The third pillar centred on empowering human capital. Al Nuaimi described skilled talent as the nation's true wealth. He stressed lifelong learning and global openness to ensure the UAE ranks among the top 10 globally in human development and digital talent retention. He called for comprehensive upskilling, national talent support, and future leadership development. Fostering innovation and global competitiveness The fourth pillar focused on innovation and global competitiveness. Al Nuaimi noted the UAE's rapid strides towards becoming a global platform for regulatory and technological innovation, particularly in AI and biotechnology. He advocated for stronger partnerships between universities and the public-private sectors to co-create intellectual capital that drives regional knowledge transformation. Environmental sustainability and food security The fifth pillar concerned environmental sustainability and food security. Al Nuaimi stated that the UAE views sustainability as a competitive advantage, not a developmental burden. He reaffirmed national goals to rank among the top 10 globally in food security, water efficiency, and climate adaptation. He urged the adoption of circular economy models, climate-smart agriculture, and resource reuse. Closing remarks: a unified national endeavour Concluding his speech, Dr Al Nuaimi described Vision 2031 as a comprehensive national project that requires collective institutional and individual effort. He said the bridge to this future begins today—with investment in people, unified vision, and a resilient, sustainable, and innovative economy worthy of the UAE's regional and global standing.
