New UAE Grand Tour tourism project launched, uniting all seven emirates of the UAE

The Minister of Tourism of the United Arab Emirates announced that the country's tourism sector is preparing for a significant upturn over the next few months.

The Minister of Economy and Tourism, Abdullah bin Tuk Al Marri, noted that despite difficulties, it was possible to successfully navigate the complex situation, and now the sector is ready for the next month.

He emphasized that hotel operators played a significant role in maintaining the health of the sector, as they managed to preserve employment levels and refrained from increasing booking prices.

Furthermore, Al Marri mentioned that over the past two months, the Gulf countries jointly accelerated the process of digital transformation. He added that the collective results achieved in the Gulf region are being studied by global businesses.

These statements were made by the minister during a panel session at the Arabian Travel Market—a global travel and tourism event held at the Dubai World Trade Centre over four days.

Earlier, the head of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassem Al Budaiwi, reported that in 2025, the Gulf countries welcomed 75 million tourists, representing a 4.3 percent increase compared to the previous year, while domestic tourism in the Gulf countries reached 20 million.

The UAE Cabinet approved the National Ecotourism Policy on Wednesday. The goal of this policy is to achieve a balance between tourism growth and environmental preservation, as the country seeks to strengthen its status as a global destination for sustainable travel.

This policy was adopted at the last Cabinet meeting and is part of broader efforts to conserve ecosystems, protect natural resources, and create tourist experiences linked to the UAE's natural and cultural heritage.

Officials emphasized that this strategy is designed so that economic development and tourism expansion do not come at the expense of ecological sustainability. According to the statement, the policy focuses on protecting environmentally sensitive areas, developing sustainable tourism products and experiences, encouraging local community participation, and preserving local cultural identity.

Furthermore, the policy aims to strengthen cooperation between government bodies, private sector operators, and public organizations involved in tourism and nature conservation. Key measures stipulated by the policy include establishing a national intellectual platform for ecotourism, forming partnerships to promote sustainable tourism, and introducing additional regulations for managing ecotourism sites.

The Cabinet approved this policy concurrently with a review of progress under the National Strategy for Combating Desertification 2030. This strategy has demonstrated successes in ecosystem restoration and conservation efforts across the country.

According to the Cabinet, the number of national protected areas has increased to 55, and approximately 4,900 hectares of land have been reclaimed. Over 3.2 million square meters of green cover have been added, 341,000 native trees have been marked and protected, and more than 120 genetic resources of local plants have been studied and identified.

Following the Cabinet meeting, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, stated: 'Protecting our environment is a national obligation, and investing in our natural resources is investing in the quality of life.'

The policy also builds upon projects implemented by the Emirates Council for Balanced Development. This Council works to create tourist destinations that reflect the geographical, cultural, and ecological diversity of the UAE. Recent initiatives have included the creation of ecotrails, ecological routes, and tourism development projects along promenades in several emirates.

The government stated that the new system is intended to ensure long-term opportunities for local communities while guaranteeing the preservation of the country's natural assets for future generations.