Another massive win for Abu Dhabi. Al Ain was recently named the ‘Capital of Arab Tourism 2026’ by the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism during its 28th session in Baghdad, Iraq.
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.
Why Al Ain being the Capital of Arab Tourism is significant
As part of the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031, the win is far more significant and aimed at strengthening the national tourism identity. The goal remains to attract 40 million hotel guests annually, and increase the sector’s contribution to GDP to AED 450 billion by 2031.
The UAE’s tourism sector continues to lead on regional and global fronts. Recent achievements include the election of Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais as Secretary-General of UN Tourism for the 2026-2029 term, and the recognition of Masfout village in Ajman as the ‘Best Tourism Village in the World’ for 2025.
The sector also recorded a rise in the number of hotel guests, tourism revenues, and investment inflows. In 2024, tourism contributed AED 257.3 billion to GDP, representing 13 per cent of the national economy.
The Council further explored enhancing cooperation in medical tourism, developing joint tourism products, and exchanging expertise to elevate industry standards and unify training and capacity-building efforts.
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