UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri presented the country’s economic results ahead of the 54th National Day. Real GDP grew by 4.2% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, while the non-oil sector rose by 5.7%. The share of non-oil sectors in real GDP reached 77.5%, a figure the minister attributes to decades of diversification efforts pursued since the nation’s founding.
In his statement, bin Touq Al Marri recalled the vision of the founding leaders, led by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who united the seven emirates into one nation. This year’s celebrations are held under the theme “United,” reinforcing national identity under the leadership of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Over 220,000 new companies in eleven months reshaped the market
From January to November 2025, UAE markets attracted 220,186 new companies. In parallel, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism registered over 36,000 national and international trademarks — a 48.2% increase year-on-year. Business activity is growing faster than analysts predicted at the beginning of the year, when many doubted whether the emirate could maintain its pace after a record-breaking 2024. The influx of companies has driven additional demand for commercial real estate, and those who regularly monitor Dubai real estate news report steady price growth for office and logistics spaces. Developers have launched several central business districts in new areas, anticipating continued inflows of international headquarters. Legislative activity over the eleven months included the adoption of 11 economic laws and policies across diverse sectors:
- Consumer protection and competition regulation
- Ecotourism, food security and sustainable development
- Air transport and rules of origin
Additionally, eight regulatory decisions were issued covering rules of origin, anti-unfair-practice measures, corporate governance and market-competition oversight. The ministry emphasises that a comprehensive legal framework increases investor predictability and reduces administrative barriers to business launch.
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The hotel sector posted simultaneous growth across all key metrics
In the first nine months of 2025, hotels hosted 23.27 million guests — up 4.9% compared to the same period in 2024. More than 79.3 million room nights were booked. Hotel revenue grew by 7.2% and exceeded AED 35.9 billion. The number of available rooms reached 216,248 across 1,246 properties nationwide. Occupancy rose to 79.2%, up 1.8 percentage points. Average length of stay grew from 3.38 to 3.41 nights, which the ministry interprets as a sign that visitors are spending more time in the Emirates and engaging more deeply with local attractions. Occupied rooms increased by 3.5% to 46.17 million, while average daily rate (ADR) climbed by 4.2% — from AED 534 to AED 557. Breakdown of leading indicators:
- Occupancy up 1.8 p.p. to 79.2% due to international and domestic demand
- ADR increase of AED 23 reflects improved revenue management across segments
- A 0.03-night rise in average stay equals millions of additional room nights at scale
- A 3.5% rise in occupied rooms occurred alongside an expanding hotel supply, signalling balanced growth
The tourism sector received international recognition. Sheikha Nasser Al Nowais was appointed Secretary-General of UN Tourism, and Masfout village was named the world’s best tourist village of 2025. The UAE entered the global top seven destinations by international tourist spending, confirming its appeal to high-income travellers. The tourism boom correlates with housing-market activity. Banks are expanding lending programmes in response to foreign buyers’ growing interest, and UAE mortgage for non resident options have become more accessible due to competition among financial institutions. Many buyers first arrive as tourists, explore neighbourhoods and infrastructure, and later decide to invest in the residential segment.
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Ambitions for 2031 require doubling the economy
The minister stated that National Day inspires the UAE to continue developing with firm determination. The main goal is to achieve the “We Are the UAE 2031” vision, which aims to double the national economy to AED 3 trillion and position the country as a global hub for the new economy by the next decade. The achievements of 2025 lay the foundation for these ambitions, demonstrating the UAE’s ability to maintain high growth while preserving macroeconomic stability
