In response to the World Journey and Tourism Council, the UAE’s tourism and journey sector contributed AED257.3bn ($70bn) to the nationwide economic system in 2024, accounting for 13 per cent of GDP.
Worldwide vacationer spending is forecast to develop 5.2 per cent this yr to AED228.5bn ($62.2bn), whereas home spending is predicted to rise 4.3 per cent to AED60bn ($16.3bn).
UAE tourism sector turns to AI
Trade specialists say the UAE’s adoption of good applied sciences—starting from cellular check-in and AI-driven personalisation to cloud platforms and real-time information insights—is remodeling how guests expertise the nation.
These advances additionally assist environmental objectives by lowering vitality consumption, decreasing emissions, and enabling exact carbon footprint measurement.
Qutaiba Al Ali, founder and CEO of The Digital Hotelier, famous that the UAE was among the many first nations to ascertain superior frameworks for vacation properties and mandate good entry techniques, guaranteeing visitor security and enhancing sustainability.
He mentioned, adopting expertise will not be merely a step to maintain tempo with international improvement, however a sensible means to boost the visitor expertise and assist the nation’s path towards inexperienced tourism.
The shift is already seen on the bottom, with greater than 150 accommodations receiving the “Sustainable Tourism” label due to their use of digital techniques in vitality effectivity and emissions discount.
Stacey Samuel, Company Director of Expertise at Ishraq Hospitality, added that AI, contactless companies, and cloud platforms at the moment are central to hospitality.
“Profitable accommodations are those who unify information, operations, and employees round a transparent digital imaginative and prescient,” he mentioned, praising Dubai’s funding in 5G networks and paperless authorities companies as enablers of safe, seamless information alternate.
International organisations echo this view. The UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) mentioned evolving journey patterns and client expectations are driving demand for modern, tech-enabled options, with AI seen as a catalyst for change in how locations are managed.
In the meantime, tutorial analysis from Spain’s College of Málaga highlights AI as a strategic software for good locations—boosting service high quality, enhancing useful resource use, stimulating funding, and personalising vacationer choices in actual time.
