COMPARISON OF THE ROLE OF TOURISM IN THE ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION AGENDA OF SAUDI ARABIA AND THE UAE
Abstract
This study analyzes the role of the tourism sector in supporting the economic diversification agenda of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the post-oil era. Both Gulf countries face the challenge of dependence on oil and seek to develop tourism as a sustainable alternative. The research method used is qualitative with a comparative approach, based on literature review which includes official reports, academic articles, and policy documents. The results show that Saudi Arabia emphasizes tourism based on culture, history, and religiosity through projects such as NEOM, Al-Ula, Qiddiya, and The Red Sea Project, which contribute about 11.5 percent to GDP in 2023. Meanwhile, the UAE is focusing on lifestyle tourism, global entertainment, and digital technology integration through Dubai and Abu Dhabi, contributing around 11.7 percent to GDP in 2023. These findings show that although the strategies of the two differ in orientation and approach, tourism serves as a motor of economic diversification, an instrument of nation branding, as well as a means of cultural diplomacy. This research contributes to the literature by providing a direct comparison of Saudi and UAE strategies in tourism-based economic transformation.
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CMES Journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. | CMES (Center of Middle Eastern Studies) Print ISSN: 2085-563X Online ISSN: 2502-1044 Website: https://jurnal.uns.ac.id/cmes/index Email: cmes@mail.uns.ac.id Published by: Universitas Sebelas Maret Office: Department of Arabic Literature, Faculty of Cultural Science, Universitas Sebelas Maret Ir. Sutami Street, No. 36A, Surakarta, Jawa Tengah 57126 Phone: +62 822-4000-2313 |
