Sharjah 24: Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, visited a number of tourist attractions in the city of Khorfakkan, in the Emirate of Sharjah, with the aim of highlighting the tourist destinations in the country, and in conjunction with the launch of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the third edition of the "The Most Beautiful Winter in the World" campaign, which represents a major part of the UAE's domestic tourism strategy.

The minister said: "The tourism sector in the country has witnessed a quantum leap, in terms of infrastructure, legislation and initiatives that have strengthened the UAE's position on the global tourism map, the latest of which was the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031, which aims to consolidate the country's position as one of the best tourist destinations in the world, and to enhance its competitiveness by attracting AED 100 billion in additional tourism investments, and doubling the number of tourists to 40 million with an expected total contribution of AED 450 billion to GDP by 2031.”

Al Marri pointed out that Khorfakkan enjoys picturesque nature, clean air, mountains and historical archaeological sites that reflect the privacy and distinction of the tourist sites that the Emirates abound in, in addition to innovative and pioneering tourism projects that were launched under the directives and support of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, strengthening the status of this charming coastal city as a sustainable tourist and leisure destination, both locally and globally.

The minister visited the old Khorfakkan market, which is one of the most important heritage and tourist destinations in the city of Khorfakkan, and includes many ancient heritage components, in addition to its distinctive architectural design, as it has become one of the most important tourist attractions in the city after its recent restoration and rehabilitation.

The minister also visited the "Khorfakkan Amphitheatre", which embodies a prominent artistic painting and a dazzling cultural landmark in the Emirate of Sharjah. The amphitheatre, which is the largest development project in the city, was built on a total area of 190,000 square feet at the foot of Jabal Al-Sayyidah and overlooks the beach of Khorfakkan. This allows visitors to enjoy the picturesque nature of the city. It is also a prominent tourist and cultural destination that hosts many events and artistic performances.

The Minister of Economy also visited the "Salem Al-Mutawa" Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in the city of Khorfakkan, whose image adorns the five-dirham banknote of the UAE, and is characterised by ancient architectural designs, including its wooden ceiling, and its gate of the original Arab style with inscriptions testifying to the region's antiquity, its small niche, and its minaret.

It is noteworthy that the tourism sector in the UAE contributes more than 177 billion dirhams to the country's gross domestic product, and the hotel occupancy rate in the country is among the highest in the world at a rate of 72.8%, and the number of hotel guests reached 12 million, with a growth rate of 42% during the first half of 2022.