Al Ain named ‘Capital of Arab Tourism for 2026’ at Arab Ministerial Council Meeting in Baghdad

Al Ain has been officially named the Capital of Arab Tourism for 2026 by the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism during its 28th session in Baghdad. The announcement took place in the presence of a high-level UAE delegation led by His Excellency Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, representing His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism.

The recognition underscores Al Ain’s growing stature as a leading heritage, cultural and eco-tourism destination, reflecting the strength and competitiveness of the UAE’s tourism ecosystem.

H.E. Bin Touq described the designation as a major milestone. “Being named the Capital of Arab Tourism for 2026 reflects the qualitative progress achieved through our leadership’s strategic vision. It recognizes the importance of tourism as a driver of future economic growth and further enhances the UAE’s global tourism standing,” he said.

He added that the achievement supports the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031, which aims to strengthen the national tourism identity, attract 40 million hotel guests annually, and increase the sector’s GDP contribution to AED 450 billion by 2031.

H.E. Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General of Tourism at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said the selection highlights Al Ain’s rich cultural assets, natural beauty and advanced tourism infrastructure. He noted that the recognition will further strengthen efforts to build an integrated tourism ecosystem for the region, support youth empowerment and enhance sustainable development under the Abu Dhabi Tourism Strategy 2030.

The designation follows a recommendation from the Executive Office of the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism and builds on Al Ain’s recent title as the Capital of Gulf Tourism for 2025.

UAE tourism sector continues strong growth

The UAE’s tourism sector has recorded major achievements over the past year, including the election of H.E. Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais as Secretary-General of UN Tourism for the 2026–2029 term and the recognition of Masfout village in Ajman as the Best Tourism Village in the World for 2025.

Tourism contributed AED 257.3 billion to the UAE’s GDP in 2024, representing 13% of the national economy. The sector also saw growth in hotel guest numbers, tourism revenues and investment inflows.

During the Council meeting, H.E. Al Saleh reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to enhancing cooperation across the Arab region. He emphasized the importance of unified efforts to build an integrated tourism ecosystem capable of navigating global shifts and future trends, noting tourism’s role as a pillar of sustainable development and cultural dialogue.

Regional collaboration and future priorities

Council members congratulated the UAE on the election of H.E. Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais to UN Tourism, highlighting the nation’s strong global position and leadership in tourism development.

The meeting discussed key priorities including:

• advancing sustainable and smart tourism

• boosting intra-Arab tourism

• strengthening digital transformation and innovation

• enhancing tourism accessibility for people of determination

• safeguarding cultural heritage

• developing unified tourism statistics to support decision-making

The Council also reviewed plans to enhance cooperation in medical tourism, develop joint tourism products and expand professional training and capacity-building programs across the region.

The session concluded with a review of initiatives to promote Arab destinations globally, highlighting the region’s rich heritage, cultural diversity and natural attractions.