In a bid to deepen bilateral economic ties, Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy, met with Ante Šušnjar, Croatia’s Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, during an official European tour aimed at expanding cooperation across various strategic sectors including tourism, the new economy, and advanced technologies.
During the meeting, Bin Touq emphasized the UAE’s commitment to enhancing its global economic openness and diversifying its partnerships, particularly with emerging European economies such as Croatia. He highlighted the strong potential for collaboration between the two countries in renewable energy, logistics, and the creative industries.
“The UAE and Croatia share a common vision for partnership in strategic sectors,” Bin Touq stated. “We look forward to exchanging best practices with the Croatian side in development policies, which will contribute to the sustainable development efforts of both countries, particularly in light of the recent growth in our economic and investment exchanges.”
Tourism as a Key Pillar of Cooperation
Tourism emerged as a central theme in the discussions, with both ministers underscoring its growing importance to their respective economies. Bin Touq noted that the sector offers valuable opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration, positioning both nations as unique players in the global tourism and travel landscape.
He further urged private sector stakeholders to seize emerging opportunities and enhance cross-market dialogue, aligning with the shared aspirations of the UAE and Croatia for sustainable economic development.
Broader European Engagement
Bin Touq’s European mission also included meetings with Tonči Glavina, Croatia’s Minister of Tourism and Sports, and Rosario Sánchez Grau, Spain’s Secretary of State for Tourism. These discussions revolved around strengthening sustainable tourism practices, promoting investment, and fostering long-term partnerships.
“The UAE continues to support initiatives and projects aimed at sustaining global tourism growth, fostering collaboration with the UN Tourism and its member states, and expanding cooperation in various tourism sub-sectors,” Bin Touq said.
He highlighted the UAE’s Tourism Strategy 2031, which aims to elevate the country’s global tourism standing. The strategy sets ambitious targets including increasing the tourism sector’s GDP contribution to AED 450 billion, attracting AED 100 billion in tourism investments and welcoming 40 million guests annually by 2031.
UAE’s Tourism Growth in Focus
During his meetings, Bin Touq also shared recent UAE tourism performance data, noting hotel revenues of AED 45 billion in 2024, reflecting a 3% year-over-year growth. The national hotel occupancy rate reached 78%, one of the highest globally. In addition, 16 new hotels were opened, bringing the total to 1,251 by the end of last year.
In discussions with Sánchez Grau, Bin Touq and the Spanish side examined the latest global tourism trends and explored potential joint initiatives to drive mutual growth in the sector.
The UAE’s tour across European economic and tourism institutions underscores its strategic commitment to building diversified international partnerships and accelerating sustainable development through innovation, investment, and global collaboration.
