How does the UAE maintain its lead in the tourism race in the Gulf?

- CEO of IHG Hotels and Resorts, Elie Maalouf, speaks to Ofoq News about the escalation of tourism competition in the region, and the reasons that give the UAE a competitive advantage. As Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman race to develop their tourism sectors, the UAE's position as the Middle East's leading hospitality hub faces a real test, as regional conflict intensifies competition.

Hospitality giant IHG entered the UAE market for the first time with the opening of the InterContinental Abu Dhabi in 1980. Today, the group's portfolio includes more than 30 hotel properties across the country.

Maalouf said the Middle East has always been important to IHG, and its presence in the region spans more than 60 years. The second InterContinental hotel in the world was opened in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, while the third was in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

He added that the company continues to expand in the region, and the UAE was at the heart of this growth. As for the region's growth potential, Maalouf said the Middle East "places a very promising position" in their plans.

He added: “It is true that the region represents only 5% of our total rooms, but it represents 10% of our future projects, which means that we have a greater expansion coming in the Middle East, far beyond what it is today.”