UAE: Al Ain crowned ‘Capital of Arab Tourism 2026’

Ministerial Council for Tourism chose Al Ain during its 28th session in Iraq,

Last updated: December 12, 2025 | 14:18

2 MIN READ

Pictured above is a spectacular air display at the celebration for 181 grooms from the Al Ain region at Al Jahili Fort.

WAM

Abu Dhabi: The garden city of Al Ain has been crowned the Capital of Arab Tourism for 2026, marking another proud milestone for the UAE.

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The announcement was made during the 28th session of the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism in Baghdad, attended by a high-level UAE delegation led by Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism.

A national achievement

Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, hailed the win as “a significant milestone for the UAE.”

“Being named the Capital of Arab Tourism for 2026 reflects the qualitative progress achieved through our leadership’s strategic vision,” he said. “It strengthens our position on the global tourism map and supports the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031.”

The strategy aims to attract 40 million hotel guests annually and grow tourism’s GDP contribution to Dh450 billion by 2031.

Also Read: UAE ranks among top 7 global destinations for international tourist spending

Al Ain’s rich heritage

Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General of Tourism at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said the honour reflects Al Ain’s unique blend of authenticity and innovation.

“The selection of Al Ain celebrates its heritage, inspiring cultural sites, and exceptional natural landmarks,” Al Geziry said. “It fuels our mission to build an integrated tourism ecosystem in Al Ain by deepening partnerships and investing in experiences that enrich both residents and visitors.”

Also Read: Ajman's Masfout named best tourist village in the world for 2025

Al Ain’s success

The recognition builds on Al Ain’s designation as the ‘Capital of Gulf Tourism for 2025’. Known for attractions like Jebel Hafeet, Al Ain Oasis, and Qasr Al Muwaiji, the city continues to attract tourists from all over the world.

The UAE’s tourism sector maintains strong momentum across global fronts. In 2024, the industry contributed Dh257.3 billion to GDP — accounting for 13 per cent of the national economy.

Recent milestones include the election of Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais as Secretary-General of UN Tourism (2026–2029) and Masfout village in Ajman being recognised as the ‘Best Tourism Village in the World’ for 2025.

The meeting also explored cooperation in medical tourism, joint product development, and capacity building to raise industry standards.

Dhanusha GokulanChief Reporter

Dhanusha is a Chief Reporter at Gulf News in Dubai, with her finger firmly on the pulse of UAE, regional, and global aviation. She dives deep into how airlines and airports operate, expand, and embrace the latest tech. Known for her sharp eye for detail, Dhanusha makes complex topics like new aircraft, evolving travel trends, and aviation regulations easy to grasp. Lately, she's especially fascinated by the world of eVTOLs and flying cars. With nearly two decades in journalism, Dhanusha's covered a wide range, from health and education to the pandemic, local transport, and technology. When she's not tracking what's happening in the skies, she enjoys exploring social media trends, tech innovations, and anything that sparks reader curiosity. Outside of work, you'll find her immersed in electronic dance music, pop culture, movies, and video games.