Maldives and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to establish a Joint Tourism Working Group, signaling a significant step toward deeper bilateral cooperation in the vital tourism sector.
The landmark agreement was reached during a meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between the Minister of Tourism and Environment Thoriq Ibrahim and UAE’s Minister of Tourism and Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri. Their discussion took place on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations (UN) Tourism General Assembly, being held from the 7 to 11 November.
The newly formed working group is designed to foster sustainable tourism development, explore renewable energy solutions within the industry, and enhance human resource capabilities across the tourism sector.
According to the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, this initiative is expected to considerably strengthen the relationship between the two countries, promoting mutual growth and innovation.
Minister Thoriq’s presence at the UN Tourism General Assembly, where he also served as Vice-President, underscored the Maldives' commitment to global tourism leadership.
This year's assembly, themed ‘AI Powered Tourism: Redefining the Future,’ highlights the industry's focus on harnessing advanced technologies for future growth.