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UAE strengthens global lead in AI-driven tourism and hospitality

Prime Highlights

  • UAE is emerging as a global leader in AI-powered tourism and hospitality.
  • Hotels are adopting contactless check-ins, smart entry, personalization, and real-time analytics to enhance guest experience.
  • Over 150 hotels in the UAE now carry the “Sustainable Tourism” label, showcasing eco-friendly practices.

Key Facts

  • Tourism contributed AED 257.3 billion in 2024, equal to 13% of UAE’s GDP.
  • International tourist spending is projected to rise 5.2% to AED 228.5 billion in 2025.
  • Domestic tourism spending is expected to grow 4.3% to AED 60 billion this year.

Background

The United Arab Emirates is developing its place as one of the world’s innovators in the use of artificial intelligence and its applications in tourism and hospitality. New investments in smart solutions and intelligent digital systems allow the country to offer its visitors safe, fast, and ecologically clean services.

According to experts, the hotels in the UAE are currently heavily using mobile check-in, touchless entrance, guest personalization with the help of artificial intelligence, and real-time analytics. These are tools to increase convenience for travelers and also to conserve energy and thus achieve sustainable tourism.

Qutaiba Al Ali, founder and CEO of The Digital Hotelier, said the UAE was among the first nations to introduce strong rules for holiday homes and to make smart entry systems a must for guest safety. He explained that technology in tourism is not just about keeping up with the world but also about making stays safer, greener, and more enjoyable. Today, more than 150 hotels in the UAE have received the “Sustainable Tourism” label thanks to efforts in energy saving, carbon tracking, and other eco-friendly measures.

Stacey Samuel, Corporate Director of Technology at Ishraq Hospitality, said digital platforms now lie at the core of the hotel industry. He pointed out that hotels that bring together their staff, services, and data under a single digital plan are the ones succeeding. According to him, Dubai has established a solid foundation through the use of its paperless process, 5G networks, and other high-quality digital systems.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has noted that AI is changing how people travel and interact with destinations. A study from the University of Málaga also found that AI helps improve service quality, cut errors, manage resources better, and adjust quickly to visitor needs.

A large component of the UAE economy is tourism. The World Travel & Tourism Council estimated that travel and tourism contributed AED 257.3 billion to the economy in 2024, or approximately 13 percent of GDP. International tourist expenditure is likely to improve by 5.2 percent to AED 228.5 billion this year, compared to a 4.3 percent increase in domestic spending to AED 60 billion.

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