LVIn short
The World Travel & Tourism Council forecasts the UAE tourism sector will create more than 250,000 new jobs by 2036, pushing total sector employment well past one million. For real estate, that means more resident workers and stronger demand for both long-term and short-term rentals in tourism-linked districts.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the leading global body for tourism economics, forecasts the UAE's tourism sector will create more than 250,000 new jobs by 2036. Arabian Business reported the figure, citing WTTC's latest Global Trends Report. It builds on an already strong base: a sector that today employs close to a million people in the country and is set to pass the one million mark by 2035.
The numbers behind UAE tourism
- Tourism supported more than 925,000 jobs in the UAE by the end of 2025 (WTTC)
- Sector employment is forecast to exceed 1 million by 2035, contributing close to AED 287.8 billion to GDP (WTTC)
- Tourism accounted for 11.9% of national GDP and 13.6% of total employment in 2025 (WTTC)
- 27.6 million international visitors are expected in the UAE in 2025, with record spending of AED 228 billion (WTTC)
- Combined tourism GDP across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar is set to rise from $272 billion to $435 billion by 2036, with the Middle East growing at 6.3% a year, the fastest of any region (WTTC Global Trends Report)
What it means for housing demand in Dubai
Every new tourism job tends to bring a new resident or household into the country: hotel staff, airline crews, hospitality and events teams, plus the consulting, marketing and services layer that grows around the sector. It is the same mechanism that has pushed Dubai's population past 4 million in 2025 (The National), a milestone driven largely by new residents arriving for work and opportunity.
For property, the link runs on two tracks. The first is traditional residential rental: more stable tourism employment means more demand for housing near the sector's hubs, from airports to hospitality districts. The second is short-term rental: steady growth in international visitors, with tourism spending already at record levels, supports occupancy for short-let units in tourism-heavy areas, from Dubai Marina to Downtown, Palm Jumeirah and newer coastal developments.
| Indicator | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New UAE tourism jobs by 2036 | over 250,000 | WTTC / Arabian Business |
| UAE tourism jobs, end of 2025 | over 925,000 | WTTC |
| UAE tourism jobs forecast, 2035 | over 1 million | WTTC |
| Tourism contribution to UAE GDP, 2025 | 11.9% | WTTC |
| Combined tourism GDP, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar (2025 to 2036) | $272bn to $435bn | WTTC Global Trends Report |
| Dubai population, 2025 | over 4 million | The National |
Original source
Article based on UAE tourism sector set to create over 250,000 new jobs by 2036 — WTTC / Arabian Business · 14 Aug 2026. Reading, analysis and commentary are original.
Frequently asked
How many new jobs will UAE tourism create by 2036?
According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, cited by Arabian Business, the UAE tourism sector will create more than 250,000 new jobs by 2036.
How large is tourism's share of the UAE economy today?
In 2025, tourism accounts for 11.9% of national GDP and 13.6% of total employment, with over 925,000 jobs supported by the sector, according to the WTTC.
What is the link between tourism growth and the property market?
More tourism employment means more stable residents, which drives housing rental demand, while more international visitors support occupancy for short-term rentals in tourism districts like Dubai Marina and Downtown.
What is Dubai's population today?
Dubai passed 4 million residents in 2025, a milestone driven largely by new residents arriving for work and opportunity, according to The National.
Luca Vallelonga
Italian real estate consultant in Dubai since 2021 · Senior Real Estate Advisor, Gabetti Middle East · BRN 85642
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