GCC hotel sector grows 4.8% as Gulf tourism revenue tops $131 Billion
- Travel between GCC countries climbed 3.6 percent to 20.1 million tourists, while the number of hotel establishments increased 4.8 percent to 12,400, according to the GCC Statistical Center
Tourism across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) generated $131.9 billion in revenue in 2025, as the region welcomed 75.7 million tourists, highlighting the sector’s growing contribution to economic activity and diversification across the Gulf, according to the GCC Statistical Center.
Data released by the Emirates News Agency (WAM), citing the center’s weekly bulletin, “Gulf Tourism in the Era of Smart Transformation,” showed that travel between GCC countries reached 20.1 million tourists, an increase of 3.6 percent compared with 2024.
The region’s hotel sector also expanded, with the number of hotel establishments rising to 12,400, up 4.8 percent. The increase reflects growing accommodation capacity and a wider range of options for visitors across GCC destinations.
Tourism remains an important driver of economic diversification in the Gulf, supporting interconnected industries such as transportation, aviation, hospitality, retail and entertainment. The sector also helps stimulate investment, generate employment and increase the contribution of non-oil activities to gross domestic product.
The latest figures highlight tourism’s expanding role in the regional economy as GCC countries continue to develop their destinations, strengthen connections between member states and broaden their economic bases beyond oil.
