Dubai aims to attract 25 million tourists by 2025
People have their pictures taken near an Emaar sign outside the Dubai Mall March 15, 2014. PHOTO: REUTERS
Dubai plans to merge the departments of economy and tourism and hopes to attract 25 million tourists in 2025, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s Crown Prince said on Twitter on Saturday.
Sheikh Hamdan added that Helal al-Marri will be appointed as a general director of the new department.
Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said the new department’s main objectives include increasing the added value of the industrial sector by 150 per cent over the next five years, expanding foreign export markets for local products by 50 per cent, and increasing the number of tourists by 40 per cent, his media office said.
He added that the Emirate also wants to attract 100,000 companies in 3 years, 400 global economic events annually by 2025, and encourage private sector companies and family businesses to list on the financial markets and stock exchanges in Dubai.