Recognising the important role of tourism in achieving the wider goals of development in Saudi Arabia, including job creation and increased economic diversity, considerable efforts are being made to expand the industry. A new Umrah Plus visa allowing for longer stays after religious pilgrimages has been introduced and, in combination with a focus on expanding and rehabilitating heritage and...
The Middle East Tourism
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Home to an estimated 15.9% of the world’s proven oil reserves, Saudi Arabia is the single largest economy in the Middle East and North Africa. According to the Ministry of Finance, real GDP grew by 3.8% to $746bn in 2013. While oil income is expected to continue to account for the majority of government revenues for the foreseeable future, the non-oil sector has expanded significantly in recent decades growing 9.3% in 2013.
Chapter | Tourism & Culture from The Report: Abu Dhabi 2014
Figures from Abu Dhabi Tourism...
2013 saw the transition of power from the former Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, to Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, his fourth son and second son with Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, a move unprecedented elsewhere in the Gulf but not unexpected in Qatar.
Building on the success of the 2006 Asian Games, Qatar has made the development of sports a priority, a move that it has supported with significant investments, which bore fruits in 2010 when the country was awarded the status of host for the FIFA World Cup in 2022. On a wider scale, sport has become a driver of growth in many other areas of Qatar’s economy, as upgrades of infrastructure and...
Chapter | Tourism & Culture from The Report: Qatar 2014
As a strategic priority for national development, the tourism sector is showing promise, and visitor numbers, particularly from the GCC, are on the rise. Business travellers are the mainstay of the sector, though Qatar’s growing status as a sports and shopping destination is also enhancing long-term potential, while a growing regional cruise market and a new port in Doha are raising interest and...