In 2022 the Middle East witnessed the sharpest relative increase in international arrivals of any region in the world, solidifying its rebound from the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic and further raising its profile as an increasingly attractive destination for inbound tourism. According to the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), in 2022 international arrivals in the Middle East recovered to 83% of the levels seen prior to the beginning of the pandemic, outperforming all other regions.
Road to Recovery
Amid a wider recovery of tourism figures in the UAE, Sharjah saw a robust increase in international visitors in 2022, with Sharjah International Airport recording 13m international arrivals in 2022, up approximately 85% from the previous year and close to pre-pandemic levels. Hotel occupancy also witnessed an increase of 16% in 2022, reaching 1.3m by the end of the year. Visitor numbers to the emirate are likely to grow further in the future as a result of increased international attention, with US magazine TIME listing the emirate as one of the world’s greatest places to visit in 2023.
Tourism in GCC countries has gained significant momentum on the international stage as the region transforms itself into a competitive leisure and entertainment destination. This trend is catalysed by international events like the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which drew 2.5m visitors to the region, particularly benefitting Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Gulf countries are working together to boost cross-border cooperation in the travel, tourism and hospitality segments, to create unique but complementary offerings that suit emerging consumer preferences and market trends. All six GCC member countries coordinate their investment and marketing strategies according to a mutually agreed tourism development agenda. These plans include existing and upcoming luxury hotels and resorts, heritage sites, and retail and entertainment offerings.
Regional Agreements
As the result of collaboration between federal and local authorities, national airlines and private institutions, a tourism strategy has been devised to market regional offerings, develop new platforms and raise the quality of service. The Gulf Tourism Strategy was adopted at the end of the sixth meeting of GCC ministers of tourism in November 2022 in Al Ula governorate in Saudi Arabia. It is a joint initiative among members of the bloc that outlines a roadmap for developing the tourism sector in the region. The strategy, which was endorsed at the 43rd session of the Supreme Council of the GCC in December 2022 in Riyadh, highlights key objectives, including the diversification of existing offerings, the promotion of sustainable tourism practices and improvements in the quality of services. By working together, GCC countries hope to leverage collective strengths and package a more compelling value proposition to tourists, while exchanging best practices, sharing resources and developing joint initiatives.
Several factors position Gulf countries as competitive providers of integrated tourism services. According to the 2023 Numbeo Safety Index, which measures the level of crime in a country, Qatar was the safest country in the world, followed by the UAE, while Oman and Bahrain ranked fifth and 10th, respectively. This high level of security has helped the GCC develop a reputation as a haven for tourists concerned about their personal safety in the post-pandemic environment, as well as a secure place for tourism investment. Similarly, the Gulf’s geographic proximity not only makes the region easily accessible for key source markets in Europe, Asia and Africa, but also reduces the travel time and expense that are associated with long-haul flights.
Robust air connectivity, led by two of the world’s busiest airports in Dubai and Doha, is further strengthened by growing national flag carrier networks. According to a January 2023 report published by the Gulf Centre for Studies and Research, known by its English acronym CSRG ulf, the UAE and Qatar have the most extensive national air fleets in the GCC region, with 257 and 200 aircraft, respectively, while Saudi Arabia has 144.
The Gulf Tourism Strategy recognises the importance of collaboration among GCC countries to capitalise on their competitive advantages, create a cohesive regional tourism vision and ensure the benefits are spread evenly across member countries. In tandem with national tourism strategies, the GCC seeks to secure collective commitment among its members to develop and support a common vision that defines and delivers clear outcomes, including job creation and higher levels of contribution to GDP, to facilitate diversification.
Going Digital
GCC governments have become increasingly aware of the crucial role that digital experiences play in every stage of a traveller’s journey. In line with the Gulf Tourism Strategy, the Gulf Tourism Platform was proposed in November 2022 as a digital gateway that provides tourists with a onestop shop for planning and booking their regional trips. This platform will use digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data analytics to offer a range of services, including booking accommodations, flights and tours, as well as providing practical tips and information on tourist attractions and activities, all of which aim to facilitate and enhance visitors’ travel experiences. In October 2023 the tourism ministers of the GCC approved a unified tourist visa for the region, with the scheme expected to come into effect in 2024.
In a similar vein, the Gulf Tourism Capital programme was introduced in November 2020, during the fifth annual meeting of the GCC ministers of tourism, to highlight, promote and attract investment in new projects and emerging tourism sites. The inaugural Gulf Tourism Capital title went to Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE in 2021, in recognition of its popularity as an adventure destination and its effective response to the pandemic. The Gulf Tourism Capital programme and nomination guide was reaffirmed at the sixth meeting of GCC ministers of tourism in November 2022. Doha in Qatar received the title for 2023, while Manama in Bahrain and Al Ain in the UAE were selected for 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Individual Strengths
According to the UNWTO, more than 960m tourists travelled internationally in 2022, indicating that the tourism sector is on track to reach 66% of the pre-pandemic total. The Middle East region saw the strongest growth in the first half of 2023, with international arrivals 20% above 2019 levels. In 2022 the UAE emerged as the top tourist destination in the region, receiving 22.7m visitors. Saudi Arabia welcomed 16.6m people, while other top tourist recipients in the Gulf that year included Bahrain (3.7m visitors), Qatar (2.6m) and Oman (2.9m).
In recent years the sector has been playing an increasingly larger role in Gulf countries, due to investment in key areas. In 2021 Qatar ranked highest in the region in terms of tourism revenue, with the sector contributing 10.3% of GDP. Bahrain came in second, with an 8.2% share, followed by Saudi Arabia (6.5%) and the UAE (6.4%). The smallest tourism-related GDP contributions in 2021 were in Kuwait and Oman, at 4.3% and 3.5%, respectively.
Travel and tourism revenue in the GCC amounted to $171.4bn in 2022, or around 8.3% of regional GDP. According to the WTTC’s “2019 Economic Impact Report”, out of total tourism revenue, 83% of spending was for leisure travel while business travel comprised 17%. Some 63% came from international tourism expenditure versus 37% from domestic tourism. Over the years the region’s tourism performance has improved at a steady rate, with an estimated 4.1% compound annual growth rate during the 2015-19 period.
Building Awareness
To unlock their full potential, each GCC country has rolled out a national tourism strategy aiming to attract investment and boost arrival figures. The UAE has sought to future-proof its tourism sector with the launch of the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031. The strategy is part of Projects of the 50, a 50-year programme to secure the country’s competitiveness in the high-value industries of the future. With Dubai targeting 25m visitors annually by the year 2025 and Abu Dhabi 30m by 2030, the strategy seeks to raise the tourism sector’s contribution to GDP to $122.6bn, generating an average annual increase of $7.4bn; attracting up to $27.2bn in tourism investment; and welcoming 40m hotel guests across the country by 2031. The UAE also launched 25 projects that look to strengthen its national tourism ecosystem by developing specialised tourism projects, building tourism capabilities and increasing investment in all related sectors, activities that will create employment opportunities in the tourism sector and boost the country’s economy.
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