Latest news with #AbdullahBinTouq
Skift
04-07-2025
- Business
- Skift
Unified GCC Tourist Visa Nears Launch, Aims to Boost Regional Stays
It's been two years since the unified GCC visa was first mentioned, a new travel permit which ministers hope will promote cross-country travel as seen in Europe. The long-anticipated unified GCC visa is finally nearing rollout, two years after it was first approved. The new visa will allow travelers to move freely among any Gulf Cooperation Council country — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates — under a single permit. GCC Secretary General Jassem Al-Budaiwi said the visa would be launched 'soon' following a meeting with the bloc's interior ministries this week. The initiative was first floated in May 2023 during a conference in Dubai, where ministers from across the Gulf signaled their intent to replicate the European tourism model and encourage seamless, cross-country travel. Official approval came in October 2024. Tourism Benefits Since its announcement, tourism leaders across the region have repeatedly pointed to the visa's potential to transform visitor flows. At a Dubai tradeshow in May 2024, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE's Minister of Economy, said the visa would unlock 'grand packages' lasting up to a month. 'The unified tourist visa will allow travelers to visit all six countries,' he said. 'Through the GCC grand tours we are aiming to finish, tourists will spend more than 30 days in the region.' Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority Chairman Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, speaking at the same event, added: 'One of the main aims is to extend the length of stay. In leisure, people can travel up to four weeks. We want them to combine their holidays across the GCC.' Raki Phillips, CEO of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, also welcomed the plans at the Skift Global Forum East 2023. 'This new Schengen-style visa is huge for [GCC] tourism and Ras Al Khaimah will see a huge benefit,' he said. Phillips stressed the need for a unified mindset: 'There is nothing more important than a collaborative approach. We should compete collaboratively. In this part of the world, we want to be collaborative. That could mean visa processing, hotels, and airlines.' At its core, the new visa aims to reduce barriers and make travel across the Gulf simpler and more appealing. 'We have to take away the burden of travel,' Phillips said. 'We want to find those friction points and eliminate them. Travel must be more accessible.' A Unified Gulf In October 2023, Al Marri told UAE state news that the visa is part of a wider strategy between now and the end of the decade. "This initiative is an integral part of the GCC 2030 tourism strategy, designed to elevate the tourism sector's contribution to the GDP through increased inter-GCC travel and elevated hotel occupancy rates, transforming the GCC into a pre-eminent global destination for both regional and international tourists." He stated that the GCC joint tourism strategy "2023-2030" targets an annual increase of 7% in inbound trips to GCC countries, with a target of reaching 128.7 million visitors by 2030.
Gulf Business
21-06-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
Significant reforms: Changes announced in the UAE government
Image credit: Dubai Media Office/Website Following consultations and the approval of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, announced today several changes to the UAE government. Read- Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid stated: 'Following consultations with my brother, the President, and with his approval, we announce today the following changes to the UAE government: the establishment of a Ministry of Foreign Trade and the appointment of Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi as Minister of Foreign Trade, as well as the renaming of the Ministry of Economy to the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, led by Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri.' He added: 'We also announce that the National Artificial Intelligence System will be adopted as an advisory member of the Council of Ministers, the Ministerial Development Council, and all boards of federal entities and government companies starting in January 2026. It will support decision-making, conduct real-time analyses, offer technical advice, and enhance the efficiency of government policies across all sectors.' Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid concluded: 'The world is undergoing a comprehensive transformation—scientifically, economically, and socially. Our goal is to prepare today for the coming decades. Our aim is to ensure continued prosperity and a dignified life for future generations.'
The National
15-06-2025
- Business
- The National
UAE economy grew 4% in 2024 to Dh1.78 trillion on non-oil boost
The UAE's economy grew by 4 per cent last year, driven by a strong expansion in its non-oil sector as the country continues to diversify its economy. The country's real gross domestic product reached Dh1.776 trillion ($484.7 billion), the UAE's Ministry of Economy said in a statement on Sunday, citing data from the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre. The non-oil economy grew by 5 per cent annually to Dh1.34 trillion, accounting for more than 75 per cent of the country's economic activity, while oil-related activities contributed Dh434 billion to the overall economy. 'With each milestone, we are moving closer to achieving the UAE's target of raising GDP to Dh3 trillion by the next decade, while reinforcing its position as a global hub for the new economy,' Abdullah bin Touq, Minister of Economy, said. The UAE, the Arab world's second-largest economy, has been focusing heavily on diversifying its economy away from oil by developing sectors such as technology, manufacturing, tourism, trade and innovation. The country has introduced several reforms including longer-stay residence visas as well as new visa categories to attract more talent. The UAE's economy grew by 3.9 per cent in 2024, the Central Bank reported in April, with the non-oil growth up 4.6 per cent. The banking regulator expects the country's GDP to expand at 4.7 per cent this year, with non-oil growth at 5.1 per cent. Last week, the World Bank also upgraded its growth forecast for the UAE to 4.6 per cent this year, up from its 4 per cent projection in January, on expanding non-oil activity and phase-out of the Opec+ oil production cuts. Meanwhile, the UAE's non-oil foreign trade hit a record Dh3 trillion last year − up 14.6 per cent year-on-year, boosted by its Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement programme. Deals that the UAE has already signed with nations from Colombia to Australia have contributed Dh135 billion to the country's non-oil trade, an increase of 42 per cent compared with the previous year, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said previously. The country aims to boost its GDP to $800 billion by 2030, with a target of more than $1.1 trillion in total non-oil trade by 2031. With each milestone, we are moving closer to achieving the UAE's target of raising GDP to Dh3 trillion by the next decade Abdullah bin Touq, Minister of Economy Last year, the UAE's transport and storage sector emerged as the fastest-growing contributor to GDP, recording a 9.6 per cent year-over-year growth, the economy ministry said. This was primarily driven by the 'exceptional' performance of airports in the UAE, which handled 147.8 million passengers, an increase of approximately 10 per cent. The building and construction sector followed with an 8.4 per cent growth rate, supported by 'substantial investments in urban infrastructure', the Ministry of Economy said. Financial and insurance activities expanded by 7 per cent, while the hospitality sector, encompassing hotels and restaurants, rose by 5.7 per cent. The real estate sector recorded a 4.8 per cent growth. The non-oil sectors that contributed the most to the UAE's GDP include trade (16.8 per cent), manufacturing (13.5 per cent), and financial and insurance activities (13.2 per cent). Construction and building contributed 11.7 per cent, while real estate activities accounted for 7.8 per cent of the non-oil GDP, the ministry said.
Khaleej Times
05-06-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE employees most skilled in Arab world, report says
Employees in the UAE are the most skilled in the Arab world especially in the new-age technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and big data. According to Global Skills Report 2025 released by Coursera on Wednesday, Gen AI enrollments surged 344 per cent in the UAE and 165 per cent in Saudi Arabia year-on-year, with learner behaviour aligning with significant region-wide investments in AI and other digital technologies. Ranked 38th globally, the UAE has been placed second in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, followed by Qatar (40th), Bahrain (51st), Saudi Arabia (54th), Kuwait (69th), Morocco (71st), Tunisia (73rd), Oman (75th) and Jordan (83rd). Notably, the UAE is even ranked higher on the AI Maturity Index, placed at 32nd place. 'The UAE is positioning itself for a technology-driven future, with 87 per cent of employers emphasising technological literacy, AI, and big data as their top priorities. Notably, 13 per cent of UAE's labour force actively trains on Coursera — the highest in the region among spotlight countries — showing widespread enthusiasm for digital upskilling,' it said. The nation aims to be a knowledge-based economy driven by skilled talent, attracting more professionals than blue-collar workers. As reported by Khaleej Times, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, said the UAE will become a leading global hub for the new economy in the next years on the back of legislative developments and economic policies adopted by the country over the past few years. 'We now have an ambitious vision, which is to build a national economy based on knowledge and innovation by the next decade, to become a strong driver in achieving comprehensive development for the UAE, and to contribute in achieving the sustainable development goals,' he said during the Sharjah Investment Forum last year. Mohamed Al Shorafa, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport, also said at a forum in February 2025 that the focus is on knowledge-based sectors that employ white-collar professionals, and reduce the blue-collar workforce. Coursera reported that professional certificate enrollments in the UAE grew 41 per cent, outpacing regional averages. While 72 per cent of organisations cite skill gaps as a major barrier — above the global average, the UAE's workforce development programmes like Nafis are exceeding private-sector employment targets, it added. In the UAE, enrollments for AI and machine learning, cybersecurity and customer service increased while top learner skills were corporate accounting, predictive analytics, emerging technologies, leadership development and competitive intelligence.
