The United Arab Emirates is directing more than Dh33 billion in national funding to stimulate its tourism sector, with a strong focus on job creation, entrepreneurship and business growth. Through a network of government-backed funds and programmes, including long-standing initiatives such as the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development and the Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development, the support package provides financing, training, advisory services and incubation opportunities to start-ups and small businesses aiming to expand in tourism and related industries. The “Our Winter is Entrepreneurial” campaign highlights the UAE’s strategy of combining financial backing with innovation to help entrepreneurs thrive and sustain growth across hospitality, retail, leisure and cultural attractions.
These funding efforts form part of a broader plan to ensure the tourism sector continues contributing strongly to the country’s economic diversification and labour market. By nurturing a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem and improving access to finance and mentorship, the UAE hopes to generate thousands of jobs, attract further investment and expand the range of tourism offerings across its seven emirates. These initiatives support a tourism industry that has already proven resilient and growing, helping position the UAE as a global destination and creating long-term economic opportunities.
