Al Ain Named Capital of Arab Tourism for 2026

 Al Ain Named Capital of Arab Tourism

 

Al Ain Named Capital of Arab Tourism for 2026

A delegation from the United Arab Emirates participated in the 28th session of the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism, hosted by the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, yesterday. During the meeting, Al Ain was selected as the Capital of Arab Tourism for 2026, reflecting the growing prominence of Emirati tourist destinations at both the Arab and regional levels.

The delegation was headed by Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, representing Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism. The selection of Al Ain as the Capital of Arab Tourism for 2026 was based on a recommendation from the Executive Office of the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism.

This selection follows the city's achievement of being named the Gulf Tourism Capital for 2025, further solidifying its position as a distinguished tourist destination and highlighting its natural, heritage, and cultural assets, along with its advanced tourism infrastructure, which reinforces its appeal and competitiveness.

On this occasion, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri stated that the selection of Al Ain as the Arab Tourism Capital for 2026 represents a new achievement for the UAE, reflecting the qualitative development it has attained thanks to the forward-looking vision of its wise leadership, which recognized early on that developing and strengthening the tourism sector is an investment in the future. This has contributed to consolidating its growing presence on the international and regional tourism map.

He added that this selection aligns with the ongoing progress and positive achievements of the national tourism sector across the UAE's various emirates, and supports the objectives of the National Tourism Strategy 2031, which aims to strengthen the national tourism identity, attract 40 million hotel guests annually, and increase the sector's contribution to the GDP to AED 450 billion by 2031.

For his part, Saleh Mohamed Al-Jaziri, Director General of Tourism at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said that the selection of Al Ain as the Arab Tourism Capital for 2026 reflects its rich heritage, inspiring cultural sites, and exceptional natural landmarks, which solidify its position as a unique regional and global destination.

He added that this achievement gives the department further impetus to move forward in achieving its mission of building an integrated tourism ecosystem in the Al Ain region. This will be accomplished by deepening local and international partnerships, enhancing investments in developing diverse experiences that combine authenticity and innovation, enriching the lives of both residents and visitors, opening new horizons for youth empowerment, and supporting sustainable development, in line with the Abu Dhabi Tourism Strategy 2030.

The UAE's tourism sector has recently achieved positive indicators and results, reflecting national efforts and forward-looking visions for its development and sustainability. Among the most prominent of these achievements are Sheikha Nasser Al Nowais's election as Secretary-General of the United Nations Tourism Organization for the period 2026–2029, and the Masfout Village in the Emirate of Ajman winning the "Best Tourist Village in the World" award for 2025.

He pointed out that the global tourism sector is undergoing rapid transformations that require Arab countries to strengthen joint efforts and develop practical initiatives that contribute to enhancing the quality of the Arab tourism experience and building an integrated system capable of keeping pace with global trends in this vital sector.

During the meeting, the Council members congratulated the UAE on the election of Sheikha Nasser Al Nowais as Secretary-General of the United Nations Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for the period 2026-2029. They affirmed that this achievement reflects the UAE's prominent position on the global tourism map and its active role in supporting the sector's development at both the regional and international levels.

The meeting also addressed issues related to accessible tourism for people with disabilities, the protection of cultural heritage, strengthening efforts to preserve historical sites and cultural landmarks in the region, and developing Arab tourism statistics to provide accurate data that supports decision-making and the development of tourism policies.

The Council explored ways to enhance joint Arab cooperation in medical tourism, develop shared Arab tourism products, and exchange expertise among member states to raise tourism standards and unify efforts in training and capacity building.

The meeting also included discussions on several initiatives aimed at promoting Arab tourist destinations, highlighting the region's rich cultural and heritage assets, and showcasing them as leading destinations on the global tourism map.