Speaking on the Global Stage at Arabian Travel Market, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri declared that the "tourism downturn is over" and the sector is "ready to take off" following months of conflict-related uncertainty in the Middle East. Al Marri credited the industry’s resilience to long-term policy choices: diversified source markets, robust health-and-safety protocols, and workforce retention strategies that avoided mass lay-offs. Instead of deep discounting, many hotels and airlines maintained pricing discipline, preserving service quality and brand equity. He argued that the crisis has strengthened inter-GCC collaboration, with travellers viewing the region as a "networked" destination. A forthcoming unified GCC tourist visa, currently in technical preparation, will further reinforce that perception and facilitate multi-country itineraries. From a mobility perspective, renewed confidence means corporate relocation projects put on hold earlier this summer are now moving ahead. Hospitality HR managers at ATM confirmed an uptick in hiring of expatriate talent across operations, revenue management and sustainability roles. Global employers looking to assign staff to the Emirates can therefore expect tighter competition for skilled visas and higher housing demand in 2027 lease cycles. The minister’s upbeat outlook aligns with Dubai’s goal to welcome 25 million international visitors in 2026 and 40 million by 2031, targets that hinge on continued visa liberalisation and frictionless border technology.
Source: Gulf News
