Staff Report
Dubai, UAE
The UAE which saw international visitors spending hit Dh108 billion (US$29.42 billion) in tourism sector, was the world’s top destination in 2022 for international traveler expenditure, according to a statement by Fever, a leading global live-entertainment outfit.
“The UAE is seeing its efforts bear fruit in recent years as it was named the world’s top destination in 2022 for international traveller expenditure. The country raked in approximately Dh108 billion ($29.42 billion), nearly doubling Doha’s Dh62 billion ($16.79 billion). The UAE’s momentum holds steady as it welcomed 4.7 million tourists in the first quarter of 2023,” Fever said in a statement.
Dubai received 14.36 million international overnight visitors in 2022, growing 97 percent Y-o-Y from the 7.28 million tourist arrivals in 2021, according to the data published by Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).
The UAE plans to attract 40 million tourist visits by 2030, that could add Dh450 billion (US$123 billion) to the country’s national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“The Leisure and Entertainment (L&E) sector in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) currently generates approximately Dh30 billion (US$8.2 billion) in revenue. Countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia (KSA), among others in the Middle East, have invested heavily in tourism infrastructure and marketing campaigns to attract tourists from all over the world and this has elevated the region’s stature to become a globally renowned touristic destination,” the company said in a statement.
After being ranked 13th globally as one of the most visited countries by international tourists in 2022, KSA has already seen 7.8 million tourists in the first three months of this year alone. The kingdom is well poised to surpass its 2019 visitor count of 17.5 million people and this has helped garner its recognition as the world’s fastest-growing tourism destination.
Rachid Laurent Elameri, General Manager of Fever Middle East explained: “Tourism brings in significant revenue and contributes to the overall economic growth of a country, and this is being seen first-hand in countries like the UAE where tourist spending increased by 70 percent last year.”
“The money spent by tourists on accommodation, dining, transportation, shopping, and entertainment activities directly stimulates the local economy. This financial infusion creates opportunities for businesses to invest in the development and expansion of leisure and entertainment offerings. Companies in Dubai who participate in pushing this agenda forward will accordingly help the emirate maintain its world-leading position across all industries, and especially in the space of L&E.”
Established in 2014, Fever has been on a mission to democratise access to culture and entertainment in real life. Its platform is used by more than 125 million people worldwide and raised US$200 million in funding from Goldman Sachs in 2022 before the company soon after expanded to the GCC. As Fever continues to solidify its presence in the GCC and the UAE, the company is committed to enabling more potential for experiences and artists to be highlighted in the region.
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