Increase in UAE Tourists to Spain by 17% in 2024
In a significant boost to Spain's tourism industry, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as one of the country's top sources of high-spending tourists. According to the Spanish Tourist Office for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), over 200,000 visitors from the UAE visited Spain in 2024, marking a 17% increase compared to the previous year.
The rise in UAE tourists can be attributed to several key factors. Firstly, the UAE's robust economic growth and the increased affluence of its residents have contributed to a surge in outbound travel, including to Spain. In 2024, the UAE's tourism sector showed a 5.8% rise, with international visitors spending US$59.2 billion and the sector contributing 13% to the UAE’s GDP.
Secondly, Spain itself has seen record-breaking tourist arrivals and spending in 2024-2025. For instance, the Canary Islands reported a 15.2% increase in tourist spending in April 2025 compared to the previous year, alongside record visitor numbers.
Improved connectivity and travel facilitation between the UAE and Spain, although not directly stated in the search results, typically support such increases.
UAE tourists tend to spend significantly more compared to most European tourists visiting Spain. Known for high discretionary spending, luxury shopping, fine dining, and premium accommodation, UAE tourists align with the UAE’s position as one of the top global markets for international tourist spending. In contrast, European tourists are more price-sensitive and may opt for shorter stays or budget options.
The 17% rise in UAE tourists thus reflects Dubai’s and the UAE’s growing outbound tourism power, combined with Spain’s appeal as a luxury and cultural destination. UAE tourists' higher spending power makes them especially valuable to Spain’s tourism economy, surpassing average European tourist expenditure.
Carlos Ruiz Gonzalez, Director of the Spanish Tourist Office for the GCC, announced these figures at the Discover Europe Travel Summit meets Marhaba 2025 in Dubai. The growth in Spanish interest in the UAE may indicate a shift in Spanish tourism patterns, with the GCC market, especially the UAE, becoming more popular for Spanish vacationers.
Europe remains the dominant source of Spain's visitors, but the spending habits of GCC tourists far outstrip those of their European counterparts. The average expenditure per visit by tourists from the UAE is €3,000, nearly double that of European tourists. Gonzalez expects further growth in tourism from the region, but did not provide specific figures for the projected growth in tourism from the UAE.
The rise in Spanish interest in the UAE is not limited to high-spending tourists. The growth in tourism between Spain and the UAE is indicative of a steady recovery following the pandemic. The appeal of the UAE is growing as a destination for Spanish tourists, and the UAE is one of the top sources of high-spending tourists for Spain, but its potential for growth in tourism is not limited to this demographic.
Tourism from the UAE to Spain is not solely driven by the increased affluence of its residents and the surge in outbound travel, but also by Spain's appeal as a luxury and cultural destination, which attracts high-spending tourists. The UAE's tourism sector's growth and the subsequent 17% increase in tourism to Spain have contributed to 13% of the UAE's GDP, while Spanish tourists expenditure per visit in the UAE is €3,000, nearly double that of European tourists, suggesting a shift in Spanish tourism patterns with the GCC market, particularly the UAE, becoming more popular tourist destinations.
