UAE economy will see 'counter-attack year' in 2027, says minister

The UAE economy will see a "counter-attack year" in 2027 after slow growth caused by the war, Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri said, Khaleej Times reported. He spoke at the Future Hospitality Summit World at Madinat Jumeirah.

What is the UAE's "counter-attack year" in 2027?

Al Marri says the UAE economy is growing slowly now, but next year is the real test. He expects the country to come back very strongly, with a "huge rebound." In his words, the UAE is not recovering but "actually coming peacefully back."

What does the IMF expect for the UAE economy?

Al Marri spoke on the second day of the summit. He received the FHS Leadership Award at the event.

The International Monetary Fund forecasts that the UAE's real gross domestic product will grow 3.1 percent. It projects a stronger growth path in 2027 as tourism, trade, property and transport volumes normalize.

Does the UAE need more hotel keys?

The UAE aims to attract 40 million hotel guests by 2031 under its Tourism Strategy. Al Marri said the plan faced a slight shortfall because of regional tensions. He expects more tourists to arrive.

He said the country has 216,000 hotel keys in total. About 10,000 are not in operation because of refurbishment plans at some hotels.

"They're going to come back in the next probably six months. But that's not enough. UAE needs more than 216,000 keys," he said.

What is the UAE Grand Tour?

The UAE Grand Tour is the country's latest nationwide tourism scheme. Al Marri said it is an important way to increase the length of stay for tourists. He said visitors today tend to see only a few emirates and do not enjoy all seven, adding that each emirate has much to offer.

The tour launched earlier this month. It offers an 11-day, 10-night journey with curated experiences. Its website lets visitors book and receive a voucher without using different platforms.

Al Marri urged tour operators and the hospitality industry to connect with the ministry. He asked them to add their offerings to the UAE Grand Tour.