• The GCC’s tourism sector could face a shortfall in skilled professionals
• Hotels and resorts are the most active projects under contract in the GCC tourism industry, according to regional projects tracker MEED Projects
• Nearly 90,000 skilled professionals are needed in the region’s hospitality sector by 2026

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A shortfall in skilled professionals could affect the GCC’s status as a global tourism hub, according to a senior banking expert in the UAE.

“As the GCC advances on its tourism ambitions, it needs to pay equal attention to the ‘softer’ aspects of development – people, technology and sustainability,” says Cyril Lincoln, executive vice president, global head of real estate finance and advisory at Mashreq Bank.

Lincoln’s comments are vital given the significant number of new investments in the sector.

In the GCC, there is more than $143bn-worth of leisure and hospitality projects planned and under construction, according to data from regional projects tracker MEED Projects.

Nearly $28bn of this total is already under construction, including developments such the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi museum in the UAE, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Park Royal Arts Complex, the Six Flags theme park in Riyadh, and luxury hotel projects by firms including the Red Sea Development Company and Katara Hospitality.

There is a significant future pipeline of projects. More than $115bn-worth of tourism projects are in various pre-execution stages, highlighting the expected rise in demand for skilled labour.

“The challenge now is not the absence of opportunity, but perhaps the lack of manpower and technical skill sets,” says Lincoln. “Covid-19 sparked unemployment across travel and tourism, not just in the region, but globally. As the industry recovers, there are clear indications of pent-up demand – but not all workers may choose to return.”

Hospitality leads the way

The majority of leisure and hospitality projects planned and under way in the GCC are hotels and resorts. MEED Projects reports that $13bn-worth of hotel and resort projects are currently under way in the region, with almost 45 per cent of these  in Saudi Arabia as the kingdom seeks to establish itself as a major tourist destination.

Real estate service provider Colliers has identified that the GCC will require more than 90,000 skilled professionals in its hospitality sector by 2026, of which nearly 86,000 will be needed in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. This number is expected to grow in light of the scale of the project pipeline.

“The projects market is a reflection of how important the tourism sector is to GCC governments,” says Lincoln. “It is seen as a contributor to national incomes, as well as a means for a country’s brand-building.”

But even as stability returns to the industry, Lincoln says that more needs to be done to boost the efficiency of the sector’s recovery.

“As the industry regains its strength, it needs to ensure it is actively investing in more than just projects – it needs to bring back its people, while also future-proofing.”

Lincoln says training and retaining talent are equally important parts of the process, which countries such as the UAE are enabling through policy changes and visa reforms. He further emphasises the need to create a balance between local and expatriate manpower in the sector.

“Governments need to drive the development of local capabilities, and this can be done by establishing relevant training institutes and university programmes. This further aligns with the vision to establish a knowledge-based economy, while also creating business opportunities for international educators in the field.”

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