The UAE ranks first in the MENA region in the WEF's Travel and Tourism Development Index.

The UAE has ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and 18th globally in the World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI).

According to the report released today, the UAE raised its score by 4.4 percent in the 2024 index, climbing seven places from its 25th global ranking in the previous report issued in 2021.

The report ranks 119 economies based on a set of factors. The index consists of five sub-indices, including the enabling environment, travel and tourism policy and infrastructure, infrastructure and services, travel and tourism resources such as nature and culture, and the sustainability of the travel and tourism sector.

The Travel and Tourism Index serves as a valuable benchmarking tool for companies, governments, international organizations, and others to enhance the travel and tourism sector. The United States ranked first in the index, followed by Spain and Japan, with the top three countries maintaining their previous positions from the last report.

Among high-income economies, only the UAE and Saudi Arabia made it to the top ten, showing the most improvement in their performance between 2019 and 2024. The Middle East experienced the highest recovery rates in the number of international tourist arrivals, exceeding 2019 levels by 20 percent. Meanwhile, Europe, Africa, and the Americas demonstrated a strong rebound, regaining 90 percent of the 2023 movement compared to pre-COVID-19 levels.

Francisco Betti, Head of the Global Industries Team and Member of the Executive Committee at the World Economic Forum, stated, "This year marks a turning point for the travel and tourism sector." The report predicts that the global tourism industry will recover from its COVID-19 lows and surpass pre-crisis levels. This recovery will be driven by a surge in demand worldwide, coinciding with increased air travel availability, improved international openness, and heightened interest and investment in natural and cultural attractions.