Abstract

This study investigates tourism workforce development in Dubai, focusing on enhancing workforce readiness to meet the evolving demands of the sector by 2035. Positioned within the context of the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031 and the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), the research addresses the growing misalignment between current workforce capabilities and the future skills required in a rapidly transforming tourism landscape shaped by digitalization, sustainability imperatives, and shifting visitor expectations. Guided by the central research question of how Dubai can strategically enhance workforce readiness, the study adopts a strategic foresight approach to explore long-term workforce transformation. A mixed qualitative design is employed, integrating secondary data with primary data collected through a targeted survey of tourism and hospitality stakeholders, including employees, managers, and students. This enables both an empirical baseline of workforce conditions and insight into stakeholder perceptions of skills gaps and preparedness. The findings reveal a structural disconnect between policy ambition and workforce system readiness. While the sector demonstrates moderate baseline capabilities, critical gaps persist in digital, analytical, and sustainability-related competencies. Workforce development systems remain largely reactive, limiting their ability to anticipate and respond to future industry demands. The study concludes that effective tourism workforce development requires a shift toward integrated, foresight-driven strategies that align policy, education, and industry systems. It recommends the adoption of long-term, adaptive workforce planning models supported by continuous upskilling and cross-sector collaboration. Future research should expand empirical data collection and incorporate longitudinal analysis to better understand workforce evolution over time.

Publication Date

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Professional Studies (MS)

Department, Program, or Center

Graduate Programs & Research

Advisor

Ozcan Saritas

Comments

This thesis has been embargoed. The full-text will be available on or around 5/12/2027.

Campus

RIT Dubai

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