Category Archives: Govt

The Council reviewed a set of new initiatives aimed at developing tourism products tailored for seniors. These include long-term winter residency programs in the UAE, enhancing standards for senior-friendly destinations, and wellness-focused tourism packages. Attracting this segment contributes to increasing the average length of stay, raising tourism spending, and achieving greater performance stability during intermediate and low seasons. The Council also discussed the Silver Economy, which focuses on enhancing seniors’ contribution to economic activities and sustainable growth, noting the importance of these initiatives in supporting the tourism industry amidst global demographic shifts. The Hospitality Advisory Council held its first meeting of 2026, chaired by H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, and attended by representatives from the public and private sectors, including executives and heads of major national and international hotel establishments in the UAE.  The Council reviewed a range of new tourism initiatives and their pivotal role in driving the growth and sustainability of the UAE’s hotel sector in 2026.

Saudi Arabia recorded a landmark year for tourism in 2025, welcoming more than 122 million domestic and inbound visitors, according to preliminary figures. Sharing the update on X, His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism, Saudi Arabia extended his gratitude to the Kingdom’s leadership for their continued support of the sector — support that has driven another year of record performance and sustained growth. The figures, unveiled at #WEF26, also revealed over SAR 300 billion in total tourism spending during the year. “Saudi tourism is no longer an emerging story,” Al Khateeb said. “It is a growth engine, building investor confidence, shaping global demand, and unlocking long-term opportunity at scale.” The Saudi Tourism Authority echoed this positive momentum, describing the growth as unprecedented and noting that the 122 million visitor milestone brings the Kingdom significantly closer to its Vision 2030 target of 150 million visitors annually. The results further reinforce Saudi Arabia’s position as one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism markets, supported by major destination developments, enhanced connectivity, and strong investor confidence.  

Qatar Tourism and Visit Qatar delivered a strong performance and sustained strategic momentum in 2025, reinforcing Qatar’s position as a year-round tourism destination. Total visitor arrivals grew 3.7 percent to 5.1 million, with the country welcoming 674,000 visitors in December, a near 16 percent increase on the same month a year earlier, driven by major international events, including the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025. The hospitality sector delivered solid growth across all key indicators. 10.8 million room nights were sold, up 8.6 percent compared to 2024, while total accommodation revenue reached QAR 8.3 billion, representing a 12 percent year-on-year increase. 2025 was defined by strong integrated delivery across marketing, partnerships and events. More than 35 global strategic partnerships were activated, supported by over 95 integrated marketing campaigns across 19 international markets. Qatar Calendar delivered more than 600 events, while the MICE sector welcomed over one million international business visitors and secured 14 international bids for events scheduled across 2026 and 2027. The designation of Doha as the GCC Tourism Capital for 2026 further affirmed Qatar’s regional leadership. Service excellence remained a central priority, marked by the launch of Taste of Qatar, with up to 800 restaurants inspected nationwide and approximately 150 awarded 3-Star certification, alongside continued growth of the MICHELIN Guide Doha. Workforce development advanced at scale, with more than 55,600 Qatar Host and 13,000 Qatar Specialist programme completions delivered since 2022. Digital enablement and operational readiness were also strengthened – through Hayya, which processed nearly one million e-visa applications and supported major events with over 1.1 million ticket scans during the FIFA Arab Cup, with zero critical disruptions. Cruise tourism also advanced, with 72 cruise calls scheduled for the …

In a special media briefing HE Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism shared that tourism contributed 15% to the country’s GDP last year. AED 291 billion is the total value of the tourism sector’s contribution in 2025 and 216% growth in the tourism sector’s contribution in 2025 compared to 2021. HE further reiterated that the contribution of non-oil sectors to the national economy GDP reached 77.5% by the end of the first half of 2025.

The committee responsible for the GCC Tourism Capital has officially announced Doha as the GCC Tourism Capital for 2026, within the framework of strengthening joint tourism cooperation among GCC member states. This decision has been approved by Their Excellencies the Ministers responsible for tourism across the Gulf Cooperation Council. The selection follows a comprehensive strategic bid submitted by Qatar Tourism, which outlined the State of Qatar’s long-term vision for tourism and showcased Doha’s strengths as a destination that balances cultural authenticity, urban innovation, sustainability and quality of life. The bid aligns closely with national priorities focused on economic diversification and positions tourism as a key driver of sustainable growth. Commenting on the announcement, His Excellency Mr. Saad bin Ali Al-Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Chair of the Board of Directors of Visit Qatar, said: “The selection of Doha as the GCC Tourism Capital for 2026 marks an important milestone that underscores the success of our leadership’s strategic vision in establishing tourism as a central pillar of the National Development Strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030. This recognition reflects the qualitative progress achieved in building an integrated and sustainable tourism ecosystem that is competitive at both regional and global levels, supported by world-class infrastructure, strong connectivity, and an exceptional visitor experience.” He added: “Looking ahead to 2026, this title provides a strategic platform to further strengthen Gulf tourism cooperation, stimulate investment, create new economic opportunities and deliver a lasting legacy that reinforces Doha’s position as a leading regional tourism hub; particularly in business events, major festivals, large-scale activations and family-friendly destination.” Doha’s selection was underpinned by a set of strategic pillars, including its advanced transport and mobility infrastructure. This encompasses …

His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Nayaf bin Abdulaziz, Emir of the Eastern Region, officially inaugurated Global City Dammam, and will open its doors to everyone soon to explore the exclusive experience. Brought to life by Vega International Co. (KSA), the official developer of Global City Dammam, this landmark destination draws on over 20 years of experience in creating memorable cultural, commercial, and tourism projects across the Kingdom. Located between the Arabian Gulf and Saihat Lake, Global City Dammam offers a world of culture, shopping, dining, and entertainment where families and friends can gather, discover, and enjoy new experiences together. According to SPA, Prince Saud emphasized that the Global City project reflects a modern investment approach and highlights Eastern Region’s strong economic and tourism potential. He noted that such initiatives diversify economic activity, enhance cities’ appeal, create new investment and employment opportunities, and improve the quality of life for residents and visitors. He further highlighted the region’s strategic location, advanced infrastructure, and extensive investment opportunities, making it an attractive destination for major projects and capable of drawing local, regional, and international investors. The project aligns with urban development initiatives to strengthen private-sector participation in high-quality projects and attract domestic, Gulf, and international investment. These efforts are expected to enhance the region’s competitiveness and improve the efficiency of tourism and entertainment services, leveraging its strategic geographic position and the significant progress in quality-of-life indicators. The Global City project features a distinctive cultural and entertainment concept, bringing together civilizations from around the world in a single destination. International pavilions showcase participating countries’ identities through architecture, cuisine, and heritage products, offering visitors a comprehensive cultural experience for all ages. The project spans more …

The champions of the “Grand Prix of Sharjah” have been crowned marking the conclusion of the 2025 UIM World Championship Racing season. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and Chairman of the Sharjah Executive Council, the 24th edition of the event came to an end on Sunday 21st December 2025 at Khalid Lagoon. Organized by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), the race brought together 20 elite drivers from 10 international teams to compete for the season’s final title. Sheikh Mohammed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Chairman of the UAE Marine Sports Federation, alongside H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, and Nicolo di San Germano, founder of H2O Racing, awarded the winners of the season’s final round, Road to Sharjah – Grand Prix of Sharjah. Stefan Arand, driving boat #18 for Team Sharjah, part of the Sharjah International Marine Sports Club, claimed first place. Grant Trask, driving boat #2 for Team Sweden, finished in second place, while Rusty Wyatt, driver of boat #17 for Team Sharjah, secured third place. Additionally, Sheikh Mohammed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, joined by H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa and Nicolo di San Germano, presented the Drivers’ World Championship trophies to the top three drivers of the season. Shaun Torrente, driving boat #4 for Team Victory of the Dubai International Marine Club, was crowned the 2025 World Champion. Jonas Andersson, driving boat #1 for Team Sweden, followed in second place, while Rusty Wyatt, driving boat #17 for Team Sharjah, came in third. Stefan Arand showcased an outstanding performance, dominating the second half of the …

Al Ain has been named the ‘Capital of Arab Tourism for 2026’ by the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism during its 28th session in Baghdad, Iraq. The announcement was made during the participation of a high-level UAE delegation led by His Excellency Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, representing His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism. The selection highlights the growing international appeal and competitiveness of the UAE’s tourism ecosystem, reaffirming Al Ain’s position as a premier heritage and cultural destination. Commenting on the announcement, H.E. Bin Touq said: “Being named the Capital of Arab Tourism for 2026 is a significant milestone for the UAE. It reflects the qualitative progress achieved through our leadership’s strategic vision, which recognized early the importance of investing in tourism as a driver of future economic growth. This recognition further strengthens the UAE’s standing on the global tourism map.” He added: “This achievement supports the goals of the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031, aimed at strengthening the national tourism identity, attracting 40 million hotel guests annually, and increasing the sector’s contribution to GDP to AED 450 billion by 2031. We remain committed to building a more diversified and sustainable tourism ecosystem – driven by innovation, service excellence, and strong public-private partnerships.” H.E. Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General of Tourism at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said: “The selection of Al Ain as the Arab Tourism Capital for 2026 reflects its rich heritage, inspiring cultural sites, and exceptional natural landmarks, which solidify its position as a unique regional and global destination. This achievement gives us an additional boost to move forward in achieving …

Qatar Tourism, in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and the Permanent Committee for Managing Visitor Entry, has announced updates to the “Hayya” platform for GCC Residents Visa (A2). The new features are designed to make travel to Qatar smoother and more convenient during a season rich in international sporting, cultural, and entertainment events. The updates, which will take effect on 30 November 2025, allows visitors from GCC countries to stay in Qatar for up to two months and offers multiple-entry access. These enhancements are designed to make it easier for visitors to attend a variety of events throughout the season and enjoy a seamless entry experience across all points of arrival. These updates come at a key moment as Qatar prepares to welcome regional visitors for the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup alongside a packed events calendar. The new visa features allow GCC residents to move in and out of the country with ease, enabling fans to attend matches and enjoy Qatar’s broader cultural and entertainment offerings. Through the Hayya Platform, Qatar continues to ensure a smooth arrival experience and strong operational readiness for the tournament and other major events during peak periods. Commenting on the new updates, Saeed Al Kuwari, Director of Hayya, said: “These measures go beyond simple procedural changes. They reflect Qatar Tourism’s broader vision to strengthen the country’s openness to the region, facilitate visitor movement during major sports and cultural events, increase arrivals, and enhance tourism’s contribution to the national economy. They also reinforce Qatar’s position as a leading regional destination for tourism and international events.” Hayya offers five distinct visa categories: the Tourist Visa (A1), GCC Resident Visa (A2), Visa with ETA (A3), Companion of …

The Events Investment Fund (EIF) launched by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, under the National Development Fund (NDF)  announced the development of the Riyadh Shooting Range & Entertainment Complex, its first landmark project at an investment exceeding SAR 491 million (over US$ 131 million). The announcement was made at the inaugural TOURISE Summit in Riyadh, the world’s premier platform for shaping the future of global tourism. Situated just 40 minutes from Riyadh, the state-of-the-art Riyadh Shooting Range & Entertainment Complex is located within Qiddiya City, the new global destination built entirely around the Power of Play. Located on a 457,000 sqm site, it will feature a world-class Shooting Sport venue that complies with International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) standards. It will host international and national events and provide both professional and amateur shooting training facilities, with professional and commercial ranges for pistol, rifle, and shotgun disciplines. The venue is designed with the capability to host national and international shooting events, including Asian Games, World Cups, Grand Prix and Olympic events, and is fully supported by the Saudi Shooting Federation (SSF). The Entertainment Complex will also comprise a wide range of experiences for corporate events and families, including paintball, airsoft, laser tag, and virtual shooting. The facility is anticipated to create more than 2,300 jobs and attract over 400,000 visitors annually. EIF’s Chief Executive Officer, Wahdan Suliman Alkadi said: “The Riyadh Shooting Range marks a major milestone in the journey of the Events Investment Fund and is our first landmark project, built to Qiddiya City’s international standards. This development reflects our commitment to creating world-class venues that enhance …