India Remains a Priority Market as Sharjah Accelerates Tourism Growth in 2025
India continues to be one of Sharjah’s most important tourism source markets in 2025, reaffirmed by strong growth trends and evolving traveller preferences. According to H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), India remains firmly positioned among Sharjah’s top five markets.
“India is not just a high-volume market for us—it is a high-value and high-engagement market, and its importance continues to grow,” says H.E. Al Midfa. Sharjah welcomed over 172,000 Indian visitors in 2024, marking consistent year-on-year growth. This momentum has strengthened in 2025, driven by rising interest in luxury, experiential, and culturally immersive travel from metros such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Chennai.
H.E. Al Midfa highlights that Sharjah has adopted a “data-led approach to better understand and anticipate the evolving behaviour of Indian travellers.” This has enabled the destination to curate personalised itineraries and targeted campaigns aligned with India’s diverse outbound audience—from families and culture seekers to adventure enthusiasts and premium travellers.
The first five months of 2025 saw a 32% increase in Indian arrivals, with 88,000 visitors recorded compared to 66,000 during the same period in 2024. “This growth reflects our sustained engagement with the market through trade shows, roadshows, familiarisation trips, and strategic partnerships, all tailored to the expectations of the Indian traveller,” he adds.
Sharjah’s 2025 strategy places special focus on high-potential segments. “Adventure and experiential tourism are strong drivers for us, thanks to Sharjah’s mountains, deserts, beaches, and iconic events like the F1H2O Grand Prix,” he notes. Additionally, the emirate is positioning itself as a boutique hub for MICE and intimate destination weddings, supported by its cultural richness and modern infrastructure. “Our commitment to the Indian market is long-term. We will continue enhancing our offerings and partnerships to ensure Sharjah remains a preferred destination for Indian travellers,” concludes H.E. Al Midfa.
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