5:29 pm - February 14, 2026
**Abu Dhabi**: The new Maharat for Tourism E-Learning Hub, launched in collaboration with SPARK, EYouth, and Google.org, aims to enhance tourism skills across the region through free courses and workshops. It supports the UAE’s National Tourism Strategy 2031 by promoting sustainable and innovative tourism development until 2025.
Abu Dhabi has recently launched the Maharat for Tourism E-Learning Hub, an initiative aimed at strengthening the tourism sector across the region through targeted training and capacity-building. This project is a collaboration between SPARK and EYouth, with support from Google.org, signalling a broad commitment to developing sustainable and innovative tourism practices.
The launch of the Maharat for Tourism Hub comes as Abu Dhabi recorded nearly 24 million visitors in 2023, solidifying its reputation as a leading global destination. The UAE’s broader ambition to enhance its tourism industry is framed within its National Tourism Strategy 2031, which integrates the “Projects of the 50” agenda designed to diversify the economy and elevate the nation’s standing as a premier tourist destination.
This national strategy emphasises four key pillars: establishing a unified national tourism identity, expanding the variety of tourism offerings, developing local talent, and increasing investment in all facets of the tourism ecosystem. The Maharat for Tourism programme supports these goals by providing young people and small business owners with critical skills and knowledge needed to advance the industry sustainably and adapt to future demands.
Christel Bultman, CEO of SPARK, explained the significance of this initiative, stating, “The UAE is steadily advancing its national efforts to develop innovative and sustainable tourism while strengthening collaboration with key local and international stakeholders in the tourism sector. That’s why Maharat for Tourism plays a vital role in driving these efforts forward.”
The online platform offers free, tailored courses spanning a range of topics including sustainable tourism strategies, management of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), artificial intelligence and digital tools, event planning, and essential soft skills for the tourism workforce. Additionally, the Hub includes specialised modules designed for policymakers to aid in crafting balanced tourism frameworks that promote growth alongside social and environmental responsibility.
The UAE’s National Tourism Strategy also encourages private-sector investments, particularly in sustainability-related sectors such as renewable energy, waste management, and eco-friendly transportation. Community-based tourism is another focal area, with efforts to ensure local communities collaborate actively in shaping tourism initiatives. The Maharat for Tourism Hub reflects this inclusive vision by incorporating training content that addresses both economic and social objectives.
Set to run until the end of 2025, the Maharat for Tourism programme aims to support 25,000 job seekers and entrepreneurs across multiple countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Tunisia, Lebanon, and the Palestinian territories. Beyond the online learning modules, the initiative will also host workshops and events to facilitate the practical application of acquired skills.
Emphasising the role of technology in expanding opportunities, Marie De Ducla, Google Sector Lead for Travel, Retail, Consumer Goods & Services in the MENA region, commented, “At Google, we believe in the power of technology to unlock opportunities for everyone. SPARK’s Maharat for Tourism e-learning hub supported by Google.org, aims to equip young people and entrepreneurs with digital skills for the growing tourism sector, contributing to the UAE’s tourism goals and creating economic opportunities.”
The launch of the Maharat for Tourism E-Learning Hub thus forms a strategic component of the UAE’s ongoing efforts to position itself as a leader in sustainable and digitally enabled tourism, fostering growth that benefits a wide range of stakeholders from policymakers to local entrepreneurs.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://spark.ngo/8-reasons-maharatfortourism/ – This URL supports the claim about the Maharat for Tourism E-Learning Hub providing industry-relevant skills and training, along with flexible learning options. It also highlights the collaboration with leading tourism professionals and the platform’s role in enhancing employability.
- https://spark.ngo/tourism-tech-and-talent-maharat-launches-in-the-uae-to-power-the-sectors-future/ – This URL corroborates the launch of the Maharat for Tourism E-Learning Hub in the UAE, designed to equip participants with free and tailored courses across various topics relevant to the tourism sector.
- https://gulfnews.com/business/corporate-news/spark-launches-maharat-for-tourism-e-learning-hub-in-the-uae-with-support-from-googleorg-1.500105648 – This URL confirms the launch of the Maharat for Tourism E-Learning Hub, supported by Google.org, and its aim to provide multilingual courses for aspiring professionals, SMEs, and policymakers.
- https://www.google.com/search?q=UAE+National+Tourism+Strategy+2031 – This URL provides information on the UAE’s National Tourism Strategy 2031, which aligns with the Maharat for Tourism programme’s goals of strengthening the tourism sector through sustainable practices and talent development.
- https://visitabudhabi.ae/en/plan-your-trip/inspiration-and-ideas – This URL highlights Abu Dhabi’s tourism achievements and ongoing efforts to enhance its visitor experience, supporting the claim about the city’s leading role as a global destination.
- https://www.google.org/initiatives/ – This URL provides context about Google.org’s initiatives, supporting the claim about Google’s partnership with SPARK to support the Maharat for Tourism programme.
- https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiAFBVV95cUxQNkpaZjB4bzYwNEZWOHJOcE52M0tIZmRmTXpfa3pUdU4xOVNjajYxUWg1TmcyLXlCUWdidG5GZUt3SzJvb1hMU2hiWjlaZjV1dWlTVFVTbTk4RnVucGJ4aGtnMFJtVXdNMVlnQ01rSERXMlNpVjRvQXlhTS0ycnFKaDd0QzQxUlJV?oc=5&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en – Please view link – unable to able to access data
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article mentions recent statistics for 2023 and ongoing projects set to continue until 2025, indicating relatively fresh information. However, there is no specific date for the launch of the Maharat for Tourism Hub itself.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
The quotes from Christel Bultman and Marie De Ducla are attributed to specific individuals but lack earliest known references online. The quotes could be original, but without further verification, their uniqueness cannot be confirmed.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from a news aggregation platform, which generally compiles content from multiple sources. However, the underlying sources are not explicitly credible or well-known publications mentioned in the text.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims in the narrative align with broader initiatives in the UAE to boost tourism and economic diversification, which are well-documented and plausible. The involvement of reputable organizations like Google.org supports the narrative’s credibility.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
While the narrative seems plausible due to its alignment with known UAE tourism strategies, the lack of definitive sourcing and verification of quotes introduces some uncertainty. Freshness is somewhat confirmed by recent statistics but lacks specific event dates.
