Abu Dhabi to create 178,000 new tourism jobs

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• 40m visitors a year wanted
• Target of $24bn contribution
• Part of Tourism Sector Strategy 2030

Abu Dhabi wants to attract 40 million visitors and generate 178,000 new jobs in its tourism sector by 2030 to help diversify its economy away from oil.

The emirate wants to increase tourism’s contribution to its non-oil GDP to AED90 billion ($24 billion) a year by the end of the decade, Abu Dhabi Media Office said. 

The drive is part of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Sector Strategy 2030, Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said during an executive council meeting on March 28.

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The strategy seeks to develop talent in the tourism sector and strengthen the industry’s role in supporting the emirate’s economic growth.

It will continue to encourage private sector investment in tourism development through initiatives including simplifying regulations.

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Last year, the number of visitors to the emirate rose to 24 million, a year-on-year increase of 30 percent.

Tourism contributed AED49 billion to the capital’s GDP, a 22 percent increase from the previous year. The hotel sector alone contributed AED6.4 billion.

The emirate lowered government hotel fees in 2023 in support of the continued growth of the hospitality and tourism sector.

The tourism charge issued to guests was cut from 6 percent to 4 percent, a municipality fee of AED15 per room per night was removed, and a 6 percent tourism fee and a 4 percent municipality fee applied to hotel restaurants were also scrapped.