UAE hosts 1.9 million visitors from Saudi Arabia in 2024
UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the UAE Tourism Council Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri said that the number of Gulf visitors to the country during 2024 reached around 3.3 million, accounting for 11% of total hotel guests. 
Saudi Arabia ranked first with 1.9 million visitors, representing 58% of the total Gulf visitors to the UAE, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported, citing Al Marri, on World Tourism Day 2025.
GCC Visitors to UAE in 2024
Country
Number of Visitors (,000)
% of Total
Saudi Arabia
1900
58%
Oman
777
24%
Kuwait
381
12%
Bahrain
123
4%
Qatar
93
3%
The minister also indicated that, in light of these developments, the number of commercial licenses operating in tourism, hospitality, aviation, air transport, aviation technologies, and digital tourism solutions in the UAE reached 39,500 by mid-September 2025, marking a 275% growth compared to mid-September 2020.
He stressed that the UAE places the tourism sector at the forefront of its economic priorities, considering it a central pillar and a key driver of sustainable development, as well as an active contributor to economic growth and income diversification, given the sector’s increasing share in the country’s GDP.
UAE hosts 1.9 million visitors from Saudi Arabia in 2024
UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the UAE Tourism Council Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri said that the number of Gulf visitors to the country during 2024 reached around 3.3 million, accounting for 11% of total hotel guests.
Saudi Arabia ranked first with 1.9 million visitors, representing 58% of the total Gulf visitors to the UAE, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported, citing Al Marri, on World Tourism Day 2025.
GCC Visitors to UAE in 2024
Country
Number of Visitors (,000)
% of Total
Saudi Arabia
1900
58%
Oman
777
24%
Kuwait
381
12%
Bahrain
123
4%
Qatar
93
3%
The minister also indicated that, in light of these developments, the number of commercial licenses operating in tourism, hospitality, aviation, air transport, aviation technologies, and digital tourism solutions in the UAE reached 39,500 by mid-September 2025, marking a 275% growth compared to mid-September 2020.
He stressed that the UAE places the tourism sector at the forefront of its economic priorities, considering it a central pillar and a key driver of sustainable development, as well as an active contributor to economic growth and income diversification, given the sector’s increasing share in the country’s GDP.
