The UAE has affirmed its commitment to supporting global travel and tourism at a time when the coronavirus is causing havoc. Speaking at the G20 Tourism Ministers Meeting in Saudi Arabia, Dr. Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME), said the pandemic has brought about an opportunity for tourism to come back triumphant.

Al Falasi explained that the virus has transformed not only travel and tourism but the entire globe, changing daily lives and behaviours of billions.

He added: "We, in the UAE, believe that there is an opportunity generated along with every challenge and that the exposure to shocks makes us stronger and resilient in the face of future crises. Therefore, we are confident that the tourism sector, although it is the most affected by the pandemic, will emerge stronger, faster and more resilient."

While the oil-rich UAE capital continuously works to diversify its economy, the emirate of Dubai has long been a tourism hub in the Middle East. The modern metropolis saw an all-time high of 16.73 million overnight visitors in 2019 according to The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism). Tourism spending last year amassed to US$27.9 billion.