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DUBAI TOURISM STATISTICS 2024 (INFOGRAPHICS)

Posted by gmi blogger posted in infographics.

The post-pandemic world has seen many changes and struggles especially for the tourist sector.

Dubai has bravely faced these challenges through its innovation and dedication.

In 2024, the city’s exceptional performance in tourism has been underscored by various accolades like the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2024 (third year in a row) and being ranked as the world’s No.1 city destination in the Top 100 City Destinations Index 2023 by Euromonitor International.

These achievements are a result of programmes by the Dubai government like the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.

These initiatives aim to channel Dubai’s charm along with its world-class amenities and infrastructure to attract both visitors and workers.

In the past year, the city has entered into collaborations with icons like Real Madrid Club de Fútbol (opening a real-madrid theme park) and the artistic genius of Hans Zimmer who created “Sounds of Dubai” (a musical piece that shows the city’s vibe). 

It has also graciously hosted several global events including Gulfood and Gitex Global Dubai drawing crowds from far and wide.

All these have helped in reaffirming the city’s position as a top tourist destination.

Let’s look at the tourism statistics of 2024 and try to understand the region’s reputation as a must-visit destination on the global tourism map.

Dubai Tourism Statistics 2024 (Key Points)

Total International Visitors in the month of January 2024 alone is 1.77 Million

According to the research done by GMI Team , a total of 17.15 million people visited Dubai between January and December 2023.

There was an approximate 19.43% increase in international visitors to Dubai in 2023 compared to 2022 (14.36 million).

Dubai boasts a substantial accommodation infrastructure, with 821 hotels catering to tourists.

Visitors to Dubai have access to a vast array of accommodation options, with 150,291 rooms available across the city.

The average daily rate for rooms in Dubai is 536 AED, offering tourists a range of choices to suit their budgets.

Accommodation Available in Dubai [Jan to Dec 2023]

As tourism in Dubai grows, so does its hospitality industry.

In 2023, the emirate saw a significant rise in both the number of hotels and available rooms.

The total number of hotels for accommodation rose to 821, up from 804 in 2022 and 755 in 2021.

This represents a growth of approximately 2.1% from 2022 and a substantial 8.7% increase from 2021.

The number of available rooms in Dubai also saw a steady rise over these years.

In 2023, there were 150,291 rooms available, an increase from 146,496 in 2022 and 137,950 in 2021.

This indicates a growth of about 2.6% from 2022 and a notable 8.9% rise from 2021.

The average daily rate for rooms in Dubai remained constant at 536 AED in 2022 and 2023, showing a commitment towards competitive pricing.

However, there was a significant increase of 18.8% from the 2021 rate of 451 AED.

These figures highlight that Dubai’s hospitality industry is growing in tandem with the rise in tourism.

Top Sources of Visitors to Dubai [Jan to Dec 2023] *

Dubai was buzzing with tourists in 2023, and guess what?

India took the lead, sending over 2.2 million eager explorers to the city!

They made up a whopping 12.83%(2,200,345) of all visitors.

Oman wasn’t far behind, with its army of adventurers making up 9.13%(1,565,795) of the crowd.

Saudi Arabia, who added their flair to the mix, accounted for 8.47%(1,452,605) of visitors.

The UK, Russia, and the US brought in their fair share of tourists too, adding to the vibrant tapestry of cultures.

The UK contributed 7.26%(1,245,090) of the total visitors, while Russia accounted for 5.28%(905,520)  and the US added 4.11%(704,865) to the total.  

Germany, France, Pakistan, and Iran all had their moments in the Dubai sun.

Germany’s tourists represented 2.94%(504,210) of the total, while France made up 2.53%(433,895).

Pakistan and Iran also played significant roles, with Pakistan contributing 2.48%(425,320) and Iran bringing in approximately 2.28%(391,020).

Additionally, a multitude of other countries collectively accounted for a substantial portion of Dubai’s tourist arrivals- 42.69%(7,321,335).

Dubai truly is a melting pot of cultures and experiences, drawing in people from all corners of the globe.

Note: * Calculations made by the GMI research team based on growth percentages.

Source of Visitors by Region [Jan to Dec 2023]

Dubai’s tourism scene is truly a global affair, with visitors pouring in from all corners of the world.

The reasons could be many, such as the emirate’s sunny landscapes, towering skyscrapers, renowned shopping, and entertainment offerings.

Western Europe takes the lead with a solid 19% share, sending over 3.25 million tourists.

South Asia follows closely behind, contributing an impressive 18% share, that is, over 3 million visitors.

The GCC region, including neighboring countries, makes up 16% of the crowd, with approximately 2.74 million visitors.

Eastern Europe, MENA, and North Asia & South East Asia each play significant roles, adding 13% (22,29,500), 12% (20,58,000) and 9% (15,43,500) respectively.

The Americas contribute 7% (12,00,500), Africa 4% (68,6000), and Australasia 2% (34,3000).

All these figures showcase Dubai’s global appeal as a premier destination for travelers worldwide.

International Tourists in Dubai [Jan to Dec 2023]

Dubai’s allure as a top tourist destination has steadily grown over the years, with a notable surge in international visitors.

In 2023, the city welcomed a staggering 17.15 million international tourists, marking a significant increase from the previous year’s 14.36 million arrivals.

This upward trend reflects Dubai’s continued efforts to attract visitors from across the globe.

Looking back, the numbers tell an intriguing story: in 2021, despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic, Dubai still managed to host 7.28 million international tourists, showcasing its resilience and appeal as a travel destination.

And if we rewind to 2019, we see a peak of 16.73 million tourists, highlighting Dubai’s long-standing popularity among travelers.

Over the years, Dubai has consistently drawn in millions of visitors, solidifying its position as a premier tourist hotspot in the Middle East.

With each passing year, the city’s tourism industry continues to flourish, offering travelers unforgettable experiences and memories to cherish.

Dubai Tourism Statistics 2023 (Key Points)

According to the research done by GMI Team , a total of 15.37 million people visited Dubai between January and November 2023.

Of all the countries, India contributed the highest number of visitors to Dubai in January-October 2023, with 2.0 million.

Dubai welcomed 8.55 million international visitors in the fiirst half of 2023.

Dubai’s total international visitors for Q1 2023 is 4.67 million.

Dubai’s total international visitors for Q2 2023 is 3.88 million.

Dubai’s total international visitors for Q3 2023 is 3.85 million.

The majority of Dubai’s international visitors in Q1 2023 came from India (612K visitors).

Total number of international visitors in 2022 was 14.36 million.

Dubai saw an increase of 7.08 million visitors in 2022, which is a 97% increase from 2021.

Number of hotels available for accommodation in Dubai as of the end of 2022 were 804, with 146,496 rooms.

Average daily rate for a hotel room in Dubai is 536 AED.

India was the major source of visitors in 2022 with 1.8 Million visitors.

GCC and Western Europe were the two regions that contributed the highest percentage of visitors, each contributing 21%.

Dubai Tourism Statistics 2023 [Infographics]

Accommodation Available in Dubai [Jan – Dec 2022]

From luxurious resorts like The Ritz Carlton to affordable hostels like Backpacker 16, anyone planning to visit Dubai can easily find accommodations based on their budget and preferences. By the end of 2022, there were 804 hotels available with 146,496 rooms. The average daily hotel room rate in Dubai is 536 AED.

Top Sources of Visitors to Dubai [Jan – Dec 2022]

Based on our Dubai tourism data research, India is one of the top sources of visitors to Dubai, with 1,842,000 Indians touring the region in 2022.

Oman is in the second position with 1,311,000 visitors, and Saudi Arabia occupies the third position with 1,216,000.

Source of Visitors by Region [Jan – Dec 2022]

Looking at the region-wise distribution of tourists in 2022, we can see that the GCC and Western Europe together supplied 42% of the total visitors.

The second position is occupied by South Asia with 17%, and MENA comes in the third position with 12% visitors.

International Tourists in Dubai [2015 -2022]

According to GMI research Team, Dubai has seen a steady influx of international tourists over the past several years, except between 2019 and 2021 due to the pandemic.

While 16.73 million visitors came in 2019, the number drastically reduced to 7.28 million in 2021.

However, with the help of strict COVID guidelines and attractive marketing strategies, ‘safe’ travel was once again introduced to international visitors. Thus, by 2022, the number had again risen to 14.36 million.

Top 5 International Destinations

According to Travel Medium , Dubai is the fourth most visited city in the world after Bangkok, Paris and London. Bangkok ranked first on the list, and has an average visitor count of more than 22 million.

Paris, the second most visited city in the world, attracts visitors with its classic buildings, arching Parisian bridges and elegant boulevards. The city has an average of 19.10 million visitors.

Renowned for its Gothic architecture, London is the 3rd most visited city in the world. The city attracts more than 19 million tourists.

With around 16 million international visitors, Dubai ranks fourth on the list. The city is popular for its highrises, mega-malls, and desert trips.

Singapore comes fifth on this list with around 15 million visitors. This green and innovative city is a tourist hotspot with its unique hawker centers, street markets and fine dining restaurants. 

Top Tourist Destinations in Dubai

Dubai is a dream city with the tallest skyscrapers, shopping malls, mammoth aquariums, indoor ski slopes and a number of other tourist spots. The city attracts thousands of visitors every day. 

As per the list of most popular tourist destinations in Dubai by Trip Advisor, the Burj Khalifa is the most visited site. The list claims that the Burj Khalifa is more popular than the Dubai Fountain, Dubai Mall as well as the Dubai Miracle Garden. 

Burj Al Arab, the most popular luxury hotel in Dubai, came first on the list of ‘Top Sites To See In Dubai’ on Lonely Planet, another travel portal. In this list, the Burj Khalifa ranks fourth after IMG Worlds of Adventure and Dubai Museum.

Most Famous Buildings & Artificial Islands in Dubai

Being the favourite tourist destination and the most searched place in Dubai, the Burj Khalifa is, without doubt, the most famous building.

Burj Al Arab is the next most famous building, followed by Atlantis the Palm, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Cayan Tower, and the Jumeirah Emirates Towers.

The world’s largest artificial island, Palm Jumeirah is in Dubai. The island is shaped like a palm tree and is filled with luxury hotels, beachfront villas, and apartments. World Islands, an archipelago of small artificial islands, is located off the coast of Dubai. 

Dubai Tourism Statistics 2022

• Total International Visitors from Jan to Nov 2022 is 12.82 Million.
• India was the highest number of international visitors in Jan – Nov 2022, with 1.6M visitors.
• Total International Visitors from Jan to Oct 2022 is 11.40 Million.
• India was the highest number of international visitors in Jan – Oct 2022, with 1.4M visitors.
• Total International Visitors from Jan to Sep 2022 is 10.12 Million.
• India was the major source of tourists in Jan – Sep 2022, with 1.2M visitors.
• Total International Visitors from Jan to June 2022 is 7.12 Million.
• India was the major source of tourists in Jan – June 2022, with 858K visitors.
• Total International Visitors from Jan to May 2022 is 6.17 Million.
• India was the major source of tourists in Jan – May 2022, with 707K visitors.
• Total International Visitors from Jan to April 2022 is 5.10 Million.
• Oman was the major source of tourists in Jan – April 2022, with 590K visitors.
• Total International Visitors from Jan to March 2022 is 3.97 Million.
• Oman was the major source of tourists in Jan – March 2022, with 463K visitors
• Total International Visitors from Jan to Feb 2022 is 2.19 Million.
• Saudi Arabia was the major source of tourists in Jan – Feb 2022, with 194K visitors
• Total Visitors in the Month of January 2022 alone 979.7K
• Saudi Arabia was the major source of tourists in January 2022, with 105K visitors
• Total International Visitors in 2021 – 7.28 Million
• Total Number of Hotels for Accommodation 2021 – 755
• Available Rooms in Dubai 2021 – 137,950
• Average Daily Rate for Rooms in Dubai 2021 – 451 AED

Accommodation Available in Dubai (Jan – Dec 2021)

With hotels dotted everywhere in Dubai, finding a good place to stay is no big deal. From five star resorts to budget hotels, you can choose accommodation based on your travel preferences. 

As of 2021, there are 755 hotels and nearly 137,950 rooms available for tourists in Dubai. The average rate of rooms is AED 451 per day. 

67% is their average occupancy level and the average length of stay is 4.6 nights.

International Tourists in Dubai

In 2015, the total number of international tourists accounted for 14.2 million. The figure rose gradually over four years, touching 16.73 million in 2019. However, the pandemic put a damper on the tourism sector, causing a sudden plunge in the annual visitations. According to official estimates, only 5.51 million tourists came to Dubai in 2020. Now, the UAE government is taking necessary measures to revive the tourism sector again.

Top Sources of visitors to Dubai (Jan-Dec 2021)

The UAE tourism sector under the effective guidance of the government undertook ‘revival’ strategies to open its doors to visitors. Innovative solutions were designed to adjust to the ‘new’ normal and make the visitors feel safe while travelling. These efforts to rekindle the tourism sector did not go in vain. 

 Around 7.28 million foreign nationals visited Dubai between Jan and Dec 2021. Of which, nearly 0.91 million were Indians. India was (and continues to be) the primary source of visitors to Dubai and UAE. Saudi Arabia came in second with 0.49 million visitors followed by Russia with 0.44 million. You can check the chart for the top ten sources of visitors to Dubai.

Sources of Visitors by Region (Jan – Dec 2021)

When we take the region-wise distribution into account, from January to December 2021, Western Europeans dominated the tourist category with 22% of the total visitors. South Asians followed close with 18%. The third position was occupied by Eastern Europeans with 15%. While 13% of tourists were from the MENA and GCC region and 8% of tourists came from the African region.

Most Searched ‘Dubai’ Places on Google

Unsurprisingly, Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, is the most searched place on Google. Nearly 1 million people search Burj Khalifa every month, which is almost  6 times higher than Burj Al Arab, the second spot with 1,60,000 searches. The Dubai mall is the third most searched place in Dubai with 99,000 searches per month and Global Village comes in fourth place with 52,000 monthly searches. Moreover, 35,000 people search for Ski Dubai, 25,000 people search for Dubai Frame and 15,000 people search for Dubai Miracle Garden every month. 

Events that Promote Tourism in Dubai

Apart from the architectural marvels, Dubai hosts a lot of festivals and events every year. Dubai Shopping Festival, Dhow Race, Dubai International Film Festival, Dubai World Cup, etc. are some of them. Every year these events attract thousands of tourists from all corners of the world. 

The year 2021 saw the grand opening of the most-awaited Dubai Expo 2020. Let’s take a look at the two main attractions of 2021 that generated the maximum visitations.

Dubai Expo 2020 

The Dubai Expo 2020 was a 6-month long event that started on 1st October 2021 and ended on 31st March 2022. 24 million visitors from over 178 countries travelled to witness the breathtaking architecture, groundbreaking technological advances and thrilling live performances staged at the expo For the first time in world expo history, each country showcased itself through a pavilion. The theme of the expo was Connecting Minds and Creating the Future. 

For those who could not visit the Expo and those wishing to revisit their experiences, the Virtualexpodubai.com became a boon. This first-time initiative allows people to indulge in a virtual tour of the Expo. To date, this platform has received 250 million visits with the majority of traffic from India, China and the UAE.

Dubai Shopping Festival 2021

The 27th edition of the Dubai Shopping Festival started on 17th December 2020 and continued till 30th January 2021. The shoppers were enthralled with the power-packed performances of international celebrities. The celebrations kickstarted at Burj Park, Downtown Dubai with a performance by Balqees Fathi and Mohamed Hamaki. 

An impressive collection by local artisans and mouthwatering delights by food trucks filled the hunger and impressed the minds of the visitors. The DSF Drone Light Show at Bluewaters Island returned this year with more dazzle and pomp. Dubai Lights also debuted this year throughout the city. It included 7 interactive lighting installations. Not to forget the huge discounted offers from leading brands that welcomed shoppers. 

Many visual delights like aerial acrobatics enthralled the visitors. Harry Potter’s magical world and Madagascar were also recreated here. To sum up, the DSF was truly an unforgettable experience for shoppers and visitors alike. If you missed out this year, you can be a part of the next DSF, which is expected to take place from 15th December 2022 to 29th January 2023.

Global Tourism Campaigns

Dubai has been engaging global audiences through international campaigns for several years. The notable ones are ‘Dubai Presents’ and ‘Stay more Pay less’. While the former promotes the city’s attractions through movie-style trailers featuring Hollywood and Bollywood celebrities, the latter shows Dubai as a summer destination and draws people to the Dubai Summer Surprises Festival. These campaigns are designed to portray Dubai as the destination of choice for all kinds of travellers from across the globe.

Modes of Transportation

Dubai city is the most travel-friendly city since it provides several means of affordable transportation for tourists. 

For long-distance travel, the metro is the best option for tourists. Metro trains are available every few minutes. If you are staying in Dubai for a long duration, you can buy a red NOL card. You can recharge this card with a sufficient amount of money and use it for any public transport facility.

If you want to travel along the coastal route then you can take the tram. The tram in Dubai has 11 stations and runs along Al Sufouh Road and Jumeirah Beach Road.

The bus network in Dubai covers 87% of the urban area and has 1,518 buses. The internal lines connect to metro stations and the intercity lines can be used to travel to another emirate.

The taxi is the cheapest mode of transportation available to tourists. However, you may have to face the peak hour traffic, sometimes. But with proper planning, this situation can be avoided to a good extent.

Various modes of Marine transport are available to tourists for a comfortable trip around Dubai. These include the water bus, the Dubai ferry, Abra and the water taxi. 

• Abra is the most traditional transportation facility that is part of the city’s heritage (you can opt for a traditional Abra or an air-conditioned/petrol heritage Abra).
• A ferry can take you on a striking journey along the coastline and give you a view of the historical sites alongside.
• The water taxi is the perfect alternative to the city’s busy traffic. Tourists can either explore the impressive skyline between Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina or the heritage between Creek and Dubai Water Canal.
• The water bus provides a comfortable air-conditioned ride for tourists to enjoy the charms of the scenic Dubai Marina area.

If you visit the official website of the Government of Dubai, you can access the timetables of the various transports. You also have the option of entering the ‘From’ and ‘To’ sections under: ‘Plan your Journey’ to view the time taken by each transport service. 

Awards and Recognitions – A Testimony to Dubai’s Travel-Friendliness

• Julius Baer’s Global Wealth and Lifestyle report placed Dubai as no.1 in the MEASA region and no.12 globally for providing exceptional experiences and maintaining an outstanding quality of life.
• The Global Talent Competitive Index placed Dubai in the 3rd position as the most desirable place to live and work.
• Gallup Global Law and Order gave the first position to the UAE in terms of night safety and the second position in terms of overall safety.
• At the TripAdvisor Travelers Choice Awards, Dubai was voted as the No.1 destination for ‘City Lovers’ and the No. 4 destination for ‘Food Lovers’.

Visa Initiatives

The Dubai Government has taken many initiatives to make travel a hassle-free experience for visitors. As part of this, it has introduced several easy entry procedures for travelers like

• Five-Year Multi-Entry Visa – Employees of international companies can access this visa. 
• Golden Visa Initiative – Retired professionals, acclaimed personalities, investors and entrepreneurs can access this visa.

These steps were undertaken to encourage people to extend their visits and also multiply their visits to Dubai.

Post-Covid Travel Requirements

The Dubai government has issued certain travel requirements from 26 February 2022 for tourists to create a safe environment for travelers while they enjoy the city. All passengers arriving from any country should present one of the three documents mentioned below:

• Vaccination certificate with a QR code that proves they are fully vaccinated. Vaccines should be approved by the WHO or the UAE.
• Negative PCR test with a QR code given by an approved health provider. It should be issued within 48 hours from the time of sample collection to the flight time.
• A Valid medical certificate with a QR code given by relevant authorities that shows you have recovered from Covid-19 within a month before the date of travel.

The Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan is an initiative to turn Dubai into a city that is the preferred destination for businesses, tourists and investors. These friendly and strategic steps are definitely yielding results as visitors continue to throng the city to witness its delights. Below you can read the Tourism Statistics for Dubai 2019

Dubai Tourism Statistics 2019 (Infographics)

Rooms for Everyone

In 2020, in spite of the pandemic, Dubai had a whopping 5.51 million visitors from around the world. In addition to a plethora of sights and delights that attracted these high number of people, Dubai is also well-equipped in terms of accommodations for dealing with this kind of inflow. The emirate has more than  740 hotels , offering a total of  127,814 rooms . These rooms are available across a whole spectrum of price ranges, catering to everyone from the luxury tours to the budget traveler. The average daily rate for rooms in Dubai is  343 AED .

International visitors for the first 6 months of 2019 (Jan-Jun) is recorded as  8.36 million .

Popular Places

Being home the tallest skyscraper in the world to the biggest shopping mall, Dubai is literally a wonder. These prominent tourist hotspots attract thousands of visitors daily. Dubai had attracted a record 16.7 million tourists in 2019 – an increase of 5.1 % compared to the previous year –

According to a  list  of most popular tourist sites in Dubai by  Trip Advisor , the Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest building is the most visited site in Dubai. The list claims that the that the Burj Khalifa is more popular than Dubai Mall, Dubai Fountain as well as the Dubai Miracle Garden.

Burj Al Arab – the famous hotel of celebrities, was at the top of the  list  of ‘Top Sites To See In Dubai’ on  Lonely Planet  – another travel portal. In their list, Dubai Museum and IMG Worlds of Adventure rank ahead of the Burj Khalifa.  

These are the top 10 destinations according to the list:

1. burj khalifa.

Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest building, standing at a height of 828 meters. It is a mixed-use structure that hosts the Dubai Mall, Souk Al Bahar, Dubai Fountain, etc. besides numerous hotels and residential apartments.

2. The Dubai Fountain

The Dubai Fountain is the most popular free tourist attraction in the city. It is built on Burj Khalifa Lake in downtown Dubai. The fountain shoots water sprays as high as 15 meters, illuminated by over 6000 lights, color projectors, and lasers.

3. The Dubai Mall

Raised in Downtown Dubai, this is the largest shopping mall in the city, home to over 1000 stores and restaurants. The mall offers a number of tourist destinations including an ice rink, multiplex cinema, and an aquarium.

4. Dubai Miracle Garden

Open to visitors in 2011, this ambitious project began with the aim to be the world’s largest garden. The Miracle Garden is a seasonal attraction, open from October to April each year. It is located in Al Barsha South.

5. Global Village

The Global Village is a seasonal shopping extravaganza where multiple countries come together to showcase their regional culture, cuisines, etc. It is claimed to be the world’s largest tourism, shopping, leisure entertainment program. Global Village is open to visitors during the winter months in Dubai.

6. Dubai Frame

The Dubai Frame is the latest addition to Dubai’s already awe-inspiring line of tourist attractions. This impressive feat of engineering has two 150 meter towers connected by Sky Deck, a 93-meter bridge. Dubai Frame is located in Zabeel Park.

7. Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark

This large waterpark is a part of the Atlantis Resort, Palm Jumeirah. The park hosts a private beach, river rides, and numerous waterslides. The park opens daily at 10 am and closes at sunset.

Lamer is a popular beachfront tourist destination in Jumeirah. Visitors can indulge in a wide range of leisure facilities like restaurants, shops, cafes, and more. Lamer attracts tourists for its magnificent street art and industrial-inspired zone.

9. Burj Al Arab

The Burj Al Arab is located on its own island near Jumeirah Beach. This ultra-luxury hotel offers premium suites overlooking the sea besides fine dining restaurants. The magnificent hotel has a guest list of VIPs and celebrities from across the world.

10. Ski Dubai

This is an indoor ski resort spread across a large area of 22,500 sq km. Professional instruction is available for beginners, while all equipment and clothing are included in the entry fee. For non-skiers, there is a large snow park offering wide-ranging activities for families and children

Dubai Tourism – Some Interesting Facts

• IMG Worlds of Adventure, Dubai, is the world’s largest indoor-themed entertainment center.
• The Dubai Aquarium Tank, with a 10 million liters capacity is the largest suspended aquarium in the world.
• Around 85% of Dubai’s Population Is Foreign
• The Emirates Mall in Dubai allows you to ski indoors!
• Almost all popular food chains in the world have a branch in Dubai
• Dubai has air-conditioned shelters for those waiting for public transport
• Terminal 3, Dubai International Airport, is the world’s largest airport terminal
• The world’s longest automated metro (75 km) is in Dubai
• Dubai Miracle Garden is the world’s largest flower garden.

World’s Busiest Airports

The Hub of Global Air Travel

Dubai’s global popularity could be attributed to its geographical location. The city is located in a conveniently central location that is equidistant from both the east and the west. This makes it an important hub for travellers from Asia travelling to Europe and North America.

In 2018, Dubai International Airport welcomed  89.1 million  travellers, making it the  3rd most popular airport in the world  behind Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta and the Capital International Airport in Beijing. During the  first half of 2019 , Dubai International Airport has already seen  41.28 million visitors . Last year, in spite of the travel restrictions, the DXB had 25.9 million visitors. 

Top 10 Sources of Visitors for Dubai

Visitor Nationality

The UAE government’s new policies to boost tourism have worked like a charm, and the city has played host to tourists from all over the globe. Unsurprisingly, Indians were atop the list of nationalities visiting the city.

The most number of visitors to Dubai in the last year came from India. A total of 865,000 Indians visited the city between January to December. Saudi Arabia was second behind India with 400,000 visitors and the UK was in the third position just ahead of Russia, followed by Oman, Pakistan, the USA, and China.

International Tourist in Dubai

Urban Paradise

‘The City of Gold’ has been quickly climbing the list of the most explored tourist destinations in the world. While London and Bangkok have been shuttling in the number one position, Dubai is likely to take over the spot in the coming year according to a recent article in the Telegraph.

It is the only city from the MENA region in the top 10 of this list. Bangkok, with 21.9 million visitors, is at the top of this list; followed by  London and Paris with 20.42 and 17.95 million visitors respectively.

Most Searched ‘Dubai’ Places On Google Search

What’s Popular On The Web

Besides being on top of the list of most popular tourist sites in Dubai, the Burj Khalifa also dominates the internet. The famous tower accounts for nearly 1 million Google searches every month, nearly 4 times higher than Burj Al Arab at 2nd spot with 246,000 searches. The Dubai Mall is the 3rd most Googled destination in Dubai, while Global Village is at the fourth spot with 135,000 monthly searches. The newly opened Dubai Frame has been extremely popular on the internet with 74,000 searches every month.

Almost all the prominent hotels and resorts from the world over have opened up a branch in the city in recent years. The UAE government is offering visa-on-arrival for tourists from more and more countries as they expand capacity for tourism in the city. 

The Expo 2020 coming up in October and running till March 2022, would be a catalyst for tourism growth. The Expo will further enhance the national economy besides boosting retail and real estate activity as the Covid-19 immunization program progresses.

2020 will be a crucial year for the tourism sector in Dubai. Several huge projects started during this administration are expected to be completed including the Museum of the Future, Jewel of the Creek, Dubai Water Canal Project and several more. The city will also host its first World Expo in 2020. It is definitely exciting times ahead for the Dubai Tourism Sector.

Looking for strategies to make the most of the tourism boom in Dubai? Think digital, think social, think GMI. Reach out to us and let us chart out the right  digital marketing strategy  for you. 

Find out our Dubai Tourism Statistics Infographics in 2018.

Disclaimer:  GMI acknowledges that though we try to report accurately, we cannot verify the absolute facts of everything that has been represented on this infographic. The information represented is based on information researched from various sources on the internet. We are not liable for any errors, financial loss, or damages of any kind that may result from the use of, or reliance on, the information herein.

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Mega projects and 2022-23 growth surge give Dubai’s tourism sector a strong head start

02 May, 2023

Mega projects and 2022-23 growth surge give Dubai’s tourism sector a strong head start on achieving long-term strategic targets Tourism is set to be a major contributor to the Dubai Economic Agenda D33’s goal of doubling the size of Dubai’s economy in the next 10 years                                                                                                         Dubai’s ambitious tourism plans also support the national strategy to attract AED100 billion in additional tourism investments and receive 40 million hotel guests in 2031 Helal Almarri: “Dubai’s ability to simultaneously leverage new opportunities and industry trends whilst navigating the impact of global challenges has made it one of the world’s most attractive and fastest-growing tourism and economic cities” From island destinations to high-end waterfront developments, the emirate is implementing a raft of new game-changing tourism projects Dubai tourism industry’s Q1 2023 performance metrics close in on pre-pandemic levels Hotel sector’s performance surpasses pre-pandemic levels across all key measures With over 2,000 exhibitors and 34,000 attendees from more than 150 countries, ATM 2023 is expected to stimulate new investment interest in Dubai’s tourism sector Dubai’s tourism industry has begun the year 2023 on a bright note with vital growth indicators closing in on pre-pandemic levels, giving the emirate a head start in the race to achieve its strategic long-term targets over the next decade. With public and private sector players rolling out a series of mega projects and major global hospitality brands making a beeline to invest in the emirate, tourism is set to be a big contributor to the Dubai Economic Agenda D33’s goal of doubling the city’s economy in the next 10 years. With Dubai expanding its status as a global gateway for trade and investment and its role as a bridge between markets and cultures, tourism is expected to grow in parallel. In 2022, the emirate’s tourism sector contributed $29.4 billion to its economy, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). Dubai’s ambitious plans for tourism growth also support a national strategy launched in November last year by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to attract AED100 billion in additional tourism investments and receive 40 million hotel guests in 2031. The plan, which includes 25 initiatives and policies, has whetted fresh global investor appetite for a slice of the rapidly-growing tourism pie. His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, said: “Dubai’s ability to simultaneously leverage new opportunities and industry trends whilst navigating the impact of global challenges has made it one of the world’s most attractive and fastest-growing tourism and economic cities. With a unique and diverse tourism proposition, diversified market strategy, world-leading urban infrastructure, inclusive and cohesive public-private partnership ecosystem and high safety and security, Dubai continues to be the preferred choice for global travellers. “Dubai’s tourism growth surge mirrors its development into a leading hub for trade, commerce, investment, talent and entrepreneurship. With the D33 Economic Agenda charting a visionary new growth path for development, Dubai is set to further consolidate its status as one of the world’s top international business and tourism destinations.”   Global recognition The start of 2023 saw Dubai’s global tourism profile being boosted with a flurry of global accolades. The city was ranked as the world’s most popular destination for holidaymakers in Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Awards 2023 for a second year in a row. Dubai also took the second spot behind Paris in a Euromonitor report on the world’s top 100 city destinations. For the ninth year in a row, Dubai International Airport was named the world's busiest international passenger hub in 2022. The tourism industry’s Q1 2023 performance metrics augur well for high-octane growth this year. Dubai welcomed 4.67 million international overnight visitors in the first quarter of 2023, compared to 3.97 million tourists during the same period in 2022, a 17% increase. More tellingly, the first quarter figures were merely 2% less than the pre-pandemic inflow of 4.75 million international overnight visitors in the first quarter of 2019, making the city a frontrunner in the global tourism industry’s rebound. Emirates NBD said in a recent report that the strong start to the year is a promising sign that Dubai could exceed the record of 16.7 million visitors it set in 2019. Dubai Airports forecasts the total number of passengers passing through the city in 2023 to reach 78 million. In the first quarter of the year, the Dubai hotel sector’s performance surpassed pre-pandemic levels across all key measures. Average occupancy for the sector in the January-March period stood at an impressive 83 %, making it one of the highest in the world, and almost on par with the 84 % occupancy recorded in Q1 2019. This achievement is particularly notable given a 26 % increase in room capacity since then. Collectively, Dubai hotels provided 10.98 million Occupied Room Nights, a 27% rise from Q1 2019 and registered an Average Daily Rate (ADR) of AED607, a 22 % growth from Q1 2019. Revenue per available room (RevPAR) in Q1 2023 surged 21 % from the first three months of 2019 to reach AED504 while the average guest stay increased to 4 nights from 3.5 in the same period in 2019. In Q1 2023, visitor spend on accommodation also increased 22 % from Q1 2019. The meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector emerged a prominent driver of tourism growth. Dubai registered its highest hotel occupancy rate in 15 years at the end of Expo 2020 last year, according to the latest KPMG Dubai Hospitality report. Major global events to be hosted by the emirate in 2023, including the COP28 climate summit, the Dubai Airshow and a host of international business and sporting events, will put the global spotlight on Dubai not only as a prominent venue for global events but also as a magnet for tourists. Rising investment Dubai has introduced a new strategic plan for exponential tourism growth powered by a massive expansion of its hospitality and leisure infrastructure. From island destinations to unique waterfront communities, Dubai is implementing new game-changing megaprojects.  Consistent with Dubai’s ethos of private-public sector cooperation, the emirate’s tourism mega projects are fostering synergistic partnerships that are creating new economic value.   The exceptional response that this year’s Arabian Travel Market received from the international travel and tourism industry is a testimony to Dubai’s investment opportunities. With over 2,000 exhibitors and 34,000 attendees from more than 150 countries participating, the trade show is expected to fuel new investment interest in Dubai’s tourism sector. Recent investments have led to the growth of Dubai’s hotel stock to 148,877 rooms in 814 hotel establishments compared to 118,039 rooms in 717 hotel establishments in 2019, a rise of 26 % and 14 % respectively. Another 8,000 rooms are expected to be delivered by the end of 2023, according to KPMG. Nakheel is set to launch the Dubai Islands comprising five islands across a total area of 17 sq. km, a destination offering a mix of residential, retail, leisure and hospitality services. A unique development that creates new experiences for international travellers, the Dubai Islands features 20 km of beachfront, 2 sq. km. of parks, and more than 80 hotels, including luxury and wellness resorts, and boutique, family and eco-conscious hotels. The 6 sq. km Dubai Creek Harbour project, a joint venture between Dubai Holding and Emaar Properties set to be built over the next decade, featuring premium serviced apartments, residential complexes and parks, is set to further stimulate the city’s tourism and hospitality markets. Other major projects include Meraas’ newest seafront destination, Port de La Mer, which features six plots inspired by the elements of seaside living. With the continued rollout of large projects, the city has steadily strengthened its position as a focal point for global tourism investments. Dubai currently holds the top global spot for FDI inflows into the tourism sector, according to The Financial Times’ fDi Markets data. In another vote of confidence for Dubai’s emergence both as a tourism destination and a global commercial hub, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts last month relocated its global headquarters from Paris to Dubai. Fairmont’s parent company Accor said the decision was driven by the city’s “strong position as a global hub; strategic proximity to Europe, Asia, and Africa; and the city’s ability to attract top talent, brands, companies and investors.” The move reflects a larger shift in the centre of gravity of the global tourism industry from the west to the east. With nearly 40 % of Fairmont’s current development projects located in the IMEAT (India, Middle East, Africa and Türkiye) region, the relocation to Dubai allows Fairmont to take advantage of vast opportunities in the region’s fast-growing tourism markets. Growing appeal for the global traveller Dubai’s distinctive identity that combines its cultural heritage with its futuristic outlook, and adventure opportunities with world-class shopping and entertainment have drawn a growing number of international visitors over the last few years. Apart from a significant expansion in capacity, a series of events and developments in the last year have further enriched Dubai’s appeal for travelers.

The hosting of the six-month Expo 2020 led to Dubai registering its highest hotel occupancy rate in 15 years of 96 %, according to the latest KPMG Dubai Hospitality report. The global extravaganza recorded 24 million visits, of which more than a third were overseas travellers. With Dubai already having built a global reputation as a must-visit destination, visitors from around the world seized the opportunity offered by Expo 2020 to visit the city and explore its multifaceted offering, in addition to enjoying the unique experiences at the mega global event. Dubai also became a focal point for the global football fraternity during the Qatar World Cup 2022. With almost 50% of flights to Doha coming from Dubai during the tournament, the emirate became the first choice stop-over city for vast numbers of football fans seeking to combine a trip to the World Cup with a holiday in the city, further boosting occupancy in the emirate’s hotels. One of the biggest catalysts in raising Dubai’s appeal for travellers in the post-pandemic phase was the city’s management of the crisis. Dubai was one of the first cities to resume international travel and business events after the pandemic. The city implemented globally-benchmarked travel protocols and precautionary measures, which were among the most comprehensive and strictly enforced in the world, earning it the status of the world’s safest travel destination. Tourism and allied sectors continue to reap the benefits of the city’s handling of the crisis.   Dubai’s rise as one of the world’s great gastronomic destinations has also vastly enriched its tourism proposition. With world-class restaurants offering an incredible eclectic range of culinary delights, the city is drawing gastronomes from all corners of the planet. In 2022, Dubai garnered more prestigious international awards for its restaurants than any other city. The world’s most celebrated restaurant guides unveiled their local lists last year including Gault & Millau and the Michelin guide.

In the last few years, Dubai’s travel, tourism and hospitality industries have also been at the vanguard of adopting and accelerating new trends in technology and sustainability. New technology-driven immigration and hospitality procedures like airport smart gates, contactless check-in and hotel mobile keys have enhanced the travel and tourism experience offered by Dubai. Driving eco-friendly practices, stakeholders in the local industry are showing a strong commitment to transitioning from plastic bottles, optimising use of natural resources and reducing carbon emissions. Under the theme of 'Working Towards Net Zero', ATM 2023 has sparked a new dialogue on how stakeholders can work together to build a sustainable travel industry, ahead of the COP28 climate conference that will be held in Dubai later this year. All of these developments place Dubai’s tourism sector in an ideal position to ride the crest of global demand, generate new economic value and investment opportunities, and ultimately help realise the leadership’s vision to make the emirate the world’s best city to live, visit, work and invest in.

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DET: The driving force behind Dubai’s tourism success

With the ultimate vision of making Dubai, the world’s leading commercial center, investment hub, and tourism destination, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism ( DET ) is mandated to support the Government in positioning the emirate as a major hub for the global economy and tourism, and in boosting the city’s economic and tourism competitiveness indicators.

DET is the principal authority for the planning, supervision, development, and marketing of the emirate’s economic and tourism sectors. With Dubai being crowned the top global destination for two consecutive years in the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2023, it aligns with the goals of the newly launched Dubai Economic Agenda, D33 to further consolidate Dubai’s position as one of the top three global cities.

In a recent interview with Economy Middle East, H.E. Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), part of DET, discussed the numerous strategies that have contributed to Dubai’s achievements in this vital sector.

How do you ensure that Dubai stays competitive in the global tourism market, and what are some of the key strategies you have implemented to achieve this?

In 2022, Dubai witnessed a remarkable resurgence in tourism, with the city welcoming 14.36 million international overnight visitors. This figure surpassed both global and regional benchmarks for recovery, as evidenced by data published by the U.N. World Tourism Organisation. The strong growth in international visitors can be attributed to the strategic and creative initiatives implemented under the guidance of His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. These initiatives aim to ensure that Dubai’s tourism sector remains on track to become the world’s most visited and revisited destination.

Dubai’s ability to provide a diverse range of offerings that cater to travelers of varying budgets and preferences has made it a top destination, earning it the top spot in the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards for 2022 and 2023. This accolade marks only the second time in history that a city has won this prestigious award for two consecutive years.

As we work toward accelerating momentum across our tourism sector in 2023 and beyond, our strategy to increase the competitiveness and global appeal of the destination will be aligned with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to further consolidate Dubai’s position as one of the top three global cities.

We will continue to focus on a diversified approach to markets; continuous international outreach to global audiences through celebrity and digital-first state-of-the-art campaigns, keeping the city top-of-mind among global travelers and showcasing the city’s multi-faceted tourism offering; highlighting Dubai’s position as an international MICE and events hub, as well as further strengthening cooperation with our stakeholders and partners.

The success of our strategies will be largely built around the pillars of sustainability, gastronomy, trade, and technology.

With 2023 declared as the UAE’s “Year of Sustainability,” this is indeed a landmark year for us, particularly as Dubai is preparing to host COP28, the U.N. Climate Change Conference. We will look at successfully balancing sustainability and destination strategies to incorporate sustainable practices into all aspects of the visitor experience while also offering unique and compelling experiences to make Dubai the best city in the world to visit, live in, and work.

Our Gastronomy Always on Campaign to position Dubai as a global hub for food tourism will be regularly enhanced, as we continue to drive growth across the hospitality and F&B sector based on the four pillars of diversity, value for money, authenticity, and experiential. This builds on the launch of the inaugural edition of Michelin Guide Dubai. A total of 69 restaurants in the city were included in the guide, with two restaurants awarded two Michelin Stars and nine restaurants awarded one Michelin Star, while 14 others received a Bib Gourmand.

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Dubai’s investment in infrastructure and support systems for entrepreneurs has made it a preferred destination for start-ups, global talent, and entrepreneurs. The Intelak Hub, Dubai’s aviation and tourism-focused start-up platform, is just one example of our strategic investment in and commitment to revitalizing entrepreneurship in the city.

We are dedicated to building a world-class entrepreneurial ecosystem that encourages growth and innovation. Dubai has also undergone a significant transformation in its legal framework, reflecting our commitment to building a competitive and productive society that is on par with other global economic hubs.

Dubai is committed to always offering something new and unique for the discerning international traveler. These developments will be largely through the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which includes the expansion of tourism attractions by over 100 percent, enabling new areas for investment, as we increase the diversity of attractions and experiences for residents and visitors.

We will also offer alternative pathways to growth facilitated by a series of reforms and regulatory enablers that have eased barriers to entry and paved the way for long-term affiliation with the city through initiatives like the Golden Visa, five-year Multi-Entry Visa, and Virtual Working and Retire in Dubai programs. These initiatives have also further enhanced Dubai’s pro-business environment to attract multinationals, family offices, global talent, entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors.

We will continue to promote Dubai to the world across all segments including ecotourism, food tourism, wellness tourism, cruise tourism, sports tourism as well as a hub for destination weddings and more. We will look beyond traditional tourism to create alternative routes to attract visitors. Ultimately, our goal is to strengthen our existing and emerging markets, as well as identify new growth opportunities at home and overseas, while creating unique value and always providing the best guest experience.

Can you share with us some of the major challenges and opportunities currently facing the tourism industry in Dubai?

Challenges are nothing new to Dubai and as a city we have tackled them head-on and even transformed them into opportunities. The pandemic was undoubtedly an unprecedented challenge but thanks to our decisive leadership and their guidance combined with Dubai’s resilience and ability to be agile and adapt to changes, we were able to swiftly and successfully navigate our way out and put the industry back on track. We are now harnessing the benefits of the strategic measures that were taken during tough times, having gained first-mover advantage on many fronts. One of the most significant strategies at the time was revitalizing the domestic tourism market, creating numerous growth opportunities for the hospitality sector.

We have recognized that the way forward is to open up new avenues for growth beyond traditional tourism, generating more opportunities that could further diversify our offering and reinforce Dubai’s position as the first-choice destination for global travelers. As we look forward to a brighter tomorrow, sustainability is increasingly becoming both an opportunity and a key driver for growth as more and more travelers are seeking out sustainable destinations. Sustainability is embedded at the heart of the city’s development strategy, and with the stepping up of activities under our Dubai Sustainable Tourism initiative, we are ready to cater to global travelers who are driven by the desire to seek authentic local experiences that promote sustainable practices.

DET has recently announced the relaunch of the Carbon Calculator tool that measures the carbon footprint within Dubai’s hospitality sector. What more can you tell us about this?

Since January 2017, the Carbon Calculator has been measuring the carbon footprint of hotels across Dubai in real-time, as a part of our Dubai Sustainable Tourism initiative, which supports the UAE Net Zero 2050 strategy.

The Carbon Calculator helps hotel establishments identify and manage their energy consumption. On a monthly basis, hotels are mandated to submit their consumption of nine carbon emission sources, including: electricity, water, district cooling, liquefied petroleum gas, landfill waste, recycled waste, petrol, diesel, and refrigerants. This information is aggregated and analyzed to provide valuable industry insights on the sector’s collective carbon footprint.

The data provided helps hotels and resorts implement initiatives to efficiently manage their carbon footprint in line with the 19 Sustainability Requirements these establishments are mandated to abide by, establishing a baseline across hotels in Dubai and unifying hotels’ environmental practices. Our pioneering Dubai Can initiative, which promotes the use of reusable bottles and encourages residents and visitors to refill, has successfully reduced the use of an equivalent of more than 7 million 500 ml single-use plastic water bottles within a year since its launch in February 2022.

Sustainable tourism practices are critical to the success of the tourism industry as they aim to minimize any adverse impact on the environment to ensure that the destination remains attractive to visitors. Sustainable tourism practices also promote social responsibility, ensuring that tourism benefits local communities and respects their culture and way of life, as well as encouraging more people to visit and re-visit the destination.

How does DET collaborate with other government entities and private sector partners to promote tourism in Dubai?

The extraordinary success that Dubai’s tourism sector continues to enjoy is a testament to the unique spirit of collaboration between the government and private sectors that permeates throughout our industry, allowing us to create a unified approach to showcasing Dubai as a must-visit destination.

This harmonious alignment between our Department, stakeholders, and partners has enabled us to leverage our collective strengths, resources, and expertise to work toward a common goal of creating an exceptional tourism experience for all. This has ensured that all are aligned with Dubai’s global campaigns and initiatives and are well-placed and prepared to promote the city effectively in international markets. The future of tourism lies in our ability to adapt to evolving market trends and changing consumer preferences. That is why we are committed to continuously liaising with our stakeholders and over 3,000 global partners to keep pace with new developments and provide regular destination updates to ensure Dubai remains top-of-mind among global travelers.

How important are digital marketing and technology in the tourism industry, and what role does DET play in leveraging these tools to promote Dubai as a destination?

Inspired by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to position Dubai as a global city at the forefront of innovation and technology, we have constantly rolled out initiatives to promote the destination across digital platforms.

Intelak Hub is a testament to our focus on technology and innovation to create a transformative experience across the tourism ecosystem. It was established as part of an integrated strategy to position Dubai as the most sought-after destination for innovators, talents, entrepreneurs, and investors. Guided by its founders – the Emirates Group, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, Accenture, and Microsoft – Intelak Hub is committed to supporting a cohort of innovative start-ups with mentorship and opportunities to enable them to grow and scale their business.

Dubai has a world-class physical and digital infrastructure, offering entrepreneurs and SMEs a platform for ease of setup and scale, as well as allowing companies in the travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors to provide state-of-the-art systems and services across tourism touchpoints in the city.

Digital marketing has become increasingly important in the travel cycle as consumers rely heavily on online research and booking platforms. Recognizing this strategic shift, Dubai has placed significant emphasis on its mobile-first, digital-first agenda, customizing our visitor experience for travelers from each source market based on the audience mix and segment preferences. One of the strategies employed by Dubai is the use of innovative global campaigns like Dubai Presents to highlight the city’s multifaceted appeal. The Dubai Presents campaign comprises a series of short video films featuring Hollywood stars set against some of Dubai’s most iconic landmarks and hidden locations.

Dubai has pioneered innovative, data-driven digital marketing communications and accelerated the use of these platforms and remote campaigns during the pandemic to position itself as a safe destination for global travelers and sustain its international appeal, presenting the city as the perfect holiday getaway for tourists when it is safe for them to travel. Dubai has also partnered with global technology and internet leaders and digital platforms like Microsoft, Google, and Snapchat to raise destination awareness in a creative way.

To further raise awareness of the destination, Dubai embraces data, analytics, and disruptive innovation to stay abreast of consumers’ rapidly evolving needs. The city utilizes a range of social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter, to reach its target audiences. At the core of its internet strategy is the region’s most advanced destination website, Visit Dubai, a content-rich ecosystem that showcases the city’s offerings and serves as a valuable resource for visitors.

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Economic momentum sets up Dubai’s tourism sector for robust growth

Launch of mega projects in the uae is supporting sector's rapid expansion, keeping it on track to achieve long-term growth targets.

Tourism remains at the heart of the emirate’s growth ambitions and it set to be a major contributor to the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. Reem Mohammed / The National

The economic momentum carried forward from last year and the launch of mega projects in Dubai have set the emirate up for robust growth in the tourism sector this year, putting it on track to achieve its long-term growth objectives.

The tourism industry remains at the front and centre of the emirate’s growth ambitions and is set to be a major contributor to the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, the Dubai Media Office said on Friday.

“Dubai’s ability to simultaneously leverage new opportunities and industry trends whilst navigating the impact of global challenges has made it one of the world’s most attractive and fastest-growing tourism and economic cities,” Helal Almarri, director general of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, said.

“With a unique and diverse tourism proposition, diversified market strategy, world-leading urban infrastructure, inclusive and cohesive public-private partnership ecosystem and high safety and security, Dubai continues to be the preferred choice for global travellers.”

The tourism industry in Dubai, the commercial and leisure hub of the Middle East, started the year on a bright note with vital growth indicators closing in on pre-pandemic levels that gives the emirate a head start in achieving its targets over the next decade.

The tourism sector, an important pillar of the emirate's economy, has strongly rebounded from the coronavirus-induced slowdown . Dubai International Airport remained the world's busiest international hub for passengers last year for the ninth year in a row, as long-haul travel demand surged , rankings by the Airports Council International showed in April.

The emirate recorded 14.36 million international visitors in 2022, inching closer to the 16.73 million tourists in 2019, according to DET statistics.

It now aims to exceed the pre-pandemic annual number of international visitors this year, after the emirate recorded a 17 per cent increase in the tourist numbers in the first quarter of 2023, Issam Kazim, chief executive of the Dubai Department for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), told The National during the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai on Monday.

Dubai hosted 4.67 million overnight visitors in the three months to the end of March, compared to 3.97 million tourists during the same period in 2022, the DET data showed.

Growth of the tourism industry is also supported by the robust economic momentum in the emirate.

Business activity in Dubai's non-oil private sector economy hit a five-month high in March as output expanded on stronger increases in both jobs and inventories, with growth rates reaching multiyear records.

A raft of measures to support the hospitality sector were set out at Dubai's Arabian Travel Market 2021, including a one-month trial to ease Covid-19 rules for bars, restaurants and live venues. Antonie Robertson / The National

Dubai's economy expanded by 4.6 per cent on an annual basis in the first nine months of 2022, according to data from the emirate's statistics centre.

Emirates NBD estimates Dubai's full-year 2022 growth at 5 per cent and expects the emirate’s GDP to grow by 3.5 per cent in 2023.

With public and private sector players rolling out a series of mega projects and major global hospitality brands making a beeline to invest in the emirate, the tourism sector is expected to grow at a rapid pace.

In 2022, the emirate’s tourism sector contributed $29.4 billion to its economy, the media office said, citing the World Travel and Tourism Council data.

Dubai’s plans for tourism growth also support the national strategy launched in November last year by to attract Dh100 billion in additional tourism investments and receive 40 million hotel guests in 2031.

Recent investments have also led to the growth of Dubai’s hotel stock to 148,877 rooms in 814 hotels compared to 118,039 rooms in 717 hotels in 2019, a rise of 26 per cent and 14 per cent respectively, the media office said.

Another 8,000 rooms are expected to be delivered by the end of 2023, it said, citing KPMG data.

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UAE Tourism Earnings Cross $5 Billion As Tourists Return

Dubai airport, the world's busiest for international travel pre-pandemic, handled 27.8 million passengers in the first half of this year..

UAE tourism: The total number of hotel guests reached 12 million. (Representational)

The United Arab Emirates' tourism revenues surpassed $5 billion in the first half of this year, officials said Sunday, with a strong performance expected this winter when neighbouring Qatar hosts football's World Cup.

Hotel occupancy was up more than 40 percent on Covid-hit 2021, UAE prime minister and Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said after a cabinet meeting in the capital Abu Dhabi.

"Our tourism sector's revenues surpassed 19 billion dirhams ($5.2 billion) in the first half of 2022," Sheikh Mohammed said, according to the official WAM news agency.

"The total number of hotel guests reached 12 million, achieving 42 percent growth, and we expect a strong tourism performance in this winter season."

Dubai, an established holiday destination, is expecting to host large numbers of football fans during the World Cup in November and December due to a scarcity of accommodation in tiny Qatar.

Dubai is one of the Gulf cities operating daily shuttle flights to and from Qatar during the World Cup, allowing fans to stay outside the wealthy state and still attend games.

Dubai airport, the world's busiest for international travel pre-pandemic, handled 27.8 million passengers in the first half of this year, up more than 160 percent on the same period of 2021, it said last month.

A quick vaccination roll-out allowed the UAE to bounce back quickly from the pandemic, enjoying a sharp uptick in visitors as Dubai hosted the Expo world fair from last October to March.

Sheikh Mohammed said this year's economic growth has exceeded 22 percent and foreign trade is more than one trillion dirhams ($272 billion), compared to 840 billion dirhams pre-pandemic.

The cabinet also approved electric cargo aircraft "fully powered with clean energy", and a new law aimed at increasing private-sector involvement in government projects.

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The law will encourage "the private sector to participate in development and strategic projects, increasing investment in projects of economic and social values", WAM said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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UAE Eyes $122 Billion a Year From Tourism by 2031: Middle East Travel Roundup

Peden Doma Bhutia , Skift

November 16th, 2022 at 2:00 AM EST

Destinations in the Middle East are not just turning to tourism in an effort to diversify their national economies but positioning themselves to compete on a larger scale globally.

Peden Doma Bhutia

Middle East Travel Roundup

Get the latest news from the Middle East in one easy-to-digest newsletter.

In a bid to boost tourism’s contribution to the national gross domestic product to $122 billion a year by 2031, the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , launched the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031 on Friday. Eyeing an annual increase of $7.4 billion, the tourism startegy aims to attract new investments of $27.2 billion to the tourism sector in the country, and attract 40 million hotel guests in 2031. The strategy includes 25 initiatives and policies to support the development of the tourism sector in the country, according to the government media office. With the return of tourists, the United Arab Emirates’ tourism revenues surpassed $5 billion in the first half of this year.

Macro headwinds notwithstanding, airlines based in the Middle East and Africa region would return to profit by the end of the year as demand outstrips capacity, Kamil Al-Awadhi, International Air Transport Association’s regional chief said during a conversation with The National. Reporting its earnings for the first half of the fiscal year , Dubai state carrier Emirates Airline reported a net profit of $1.08 billion for the period ending September 30, compared to a loss of $1.6 billion for the same period last year. The shift in capacity from cargo to passenger operations, saw the airline carry 20 million passengers between April 1 and September 30, up 228 percent from the same period last year. Air Arabia , the region’s largest low-cost carrier, also reported solid operational and financial performance for the third quarter ending September 30. Air Arabia reported a net profit of $113 million for the three months ending September 30; an increase of 99 percent compared to $57 million registered in the corresponding third quarter of 2021.

As Oman looks to expand visibility across regional source markets, the destination has signed a partnership agreement with Saudi Arabia-based Almosafer to boost leisure tourism. Under the partnership, Almosafer’s consumer business will run a 360-marketing campaign throughout 2023 to promote Oman to the travel platform’s customer base in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates .The campaign will aim to increase awareness of Oman as a tourist destination. Oman is a fast-growing destination for Almosafer’s consumer business, with hotel bookings increasing exponentially in 2022. A release from the company stated that between January to October 2022, there has been a steep increase in bookings compared to the same period previous year. Hotel bookings from Saudi Arabia have increased by 370 percent and from the UAE by 432 percent for the year-to-date, compared to the same period in 2021, while bookings from Kuwait have increased by an astounding 1,070 percent. Almosafer’s parent company Seera Group announced its quarterly results last week in which the company reported its first post-pandemic operating profit of $8 million in the quarter ending September 30.

United Arab Emirates-headquartered TIME Hotels will be foraying into Morocco to come up with 35 luxurious lodges in an equestrian eco-resort in Ifrane’s National Park in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains. The Atlas Crown Collection by TIME Resort will undergo a major extension and facelift which is expected to be completed by the end of 2023. It will comprise 17 luxurious, cedar wood lodges, 18 hotel suites, a conference center, a heated outdoor and indoor swimming pool, restaurant, man-made lake, wellness spa, horse stables and a kids’ club. The resort would be an ideal all-year-round getaway located approximately an hour away from Fes airport, said Mohamed Awadalla, CEO of TIME Hotels.

Egypt will soon be launching a new tourism promotion campaign in its source markets. The new campaign would serve to highlight the diversity and richness of the Egyptian tourist destinations and tourism products that caters to all tastes and categories of tourists, said Ahmed Issa, the tourism minister. Issa made these remarks during his meeting with executives and marketing officials of EasyJet Holidays and Wizz Air on the sidelines of his visit to London.

Sabre Corporation hosted an interactive event for key travel players in Saudi Arabia to discuss the evolving industry landscape in the region and the need for digital transformation . Calling Saudi Arabia an “exciting country to be in right now,” Abdul-Razzaq Iyer, vice president, Sabre Travel Network Middle East, said that the country has a bright vision to build a progressive global tourism brand. At the Riyadh event, Sabre showcased its latest technology, including corporate solutions, application programming interface (APIs) and automation, and outlined how these solutions can increase efficiency through automation, allowing agents to spend more time to serve their customers and keep track of latest trends. “We are helping some of the leading travel agencies in Saudi enter the online space, through access to intelligent technology that can personalize the customer journey,” Iyer said.

Dubai-based developer Nakheel announced last week that it has secured a financing of $4.6 billion . Nakheel announced that the financing would be utilised to accelerate the development of its new projects including the 17 square kilometres-long Dubai Islands — the man-made island being planned along the emirate’s northern coastline. A Nakheel spokesperson said this reflects the confidence of the banking institutions in the strategic new focus of the company. “We are entering a new phase of growth. This new era of Nakheel will be defined by our commitment to developing exceptional communities, enhancing customer-oriented services, and delivering value across all touch points,” a statement from the company read.

Qatar Tourism and online travel service providers, Trip.com Group have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote Qatar across the globe as an ideal choice for family-friendly tourism. The one-year agreement will see Qatar extensively promoted through a series of marketing campaigns , across Trip.com Group’s brands and associated assets, which include Ctrip.com (China), Trip.com (global), MakeMyTrip.com (India), and Skyscanner.com (global). As Qatar gets set to host football fans from around the world, Qatar Tourism has also unveiled Posts of Qatar — ten distinctive goalpost art installations that frame the iconic landmarks and picturesque spots across the country. Former soccer star David Beckham captured the first of many pictures to be taken at one of the goalposts.

Nikki Beach Global, the luxury lifestyle and hospitality brand, announced that the Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Muscat is slated to open in fall 2023 . Developed in partnership with the government-owned Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group) , the luxury hotel will feature an adjacent beach club — Nikki Beach Muscat — as well as residences. The beach club will launch simultaneously with the residences opening shortly after. Situated on Yiti Bay, 30 minutes from Muscat airport, the property will feature 115 rooms, 25 suites, and 30 villas with private pools. Reservations are slated to open in early 2023.

Bahrain state carrier Gulf Air will now be able to offer its customers greater access and connection opportunities to destinations in Europe, Africa, South America and Southeast Asia on the Emirates network through a unilateral codeshare partnership signed between the two airlines. Starting December , the expanded partnership will see Gulf Air place their marketing code “GF” on Emirates-operated flights beyond Dubai. Travellers will be able to connect to points including Budapest, Prague, Warsaw, Algeria, Tunis, Bali, Hanoi, HoChi Minh City, Taipei and Sao Paulo. The new partnership will also offer customers the convenience of combined ticketing and check-in, a unified policy and seamless transfers for baggage, and competitive single fares on a multi-airline journey when connecting on Emirates. Emirates currently has codeshare cooperation agreements in place with 26 airline partners and two rail companies around the world, expanding its network reach to over 300 cities.

Wynn Resorts has now confirmed that it would be operating a casino at its resort in Ras Al Khaimah when it opens in 2026. Wynn Resorts CEO Craig Billings has said that the casino at Wynn Marjan would be larger than the one that the operator has at Las Vegas. The casino would be the first one in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region as gambling is not permitted in countries that adhere to Islamic laws. “You certainly don’t want to underbuild the casino, but you want to maintain that sense of energy,” Billings said adding that the operator is currently focused on the United Arab Emirates project as it presents a tremendous, very high return opportunity for Wynn.

UAE-based platform for short-term rentals, Silkhaus , has announced that it has raised a $7.75 million seed round . Global and regional investors joining this round include Nuwa Capital, Nordstar, Global Founders Capital, Yuj Ventures, Whiteboard Capital, and VentureSouq. Headquartered in Dubai and coming out of stealth mode, Silkhaus calls itself a platform that builds technology that provides asset owners with tools to monetise and manage their properties as short-term rentals.The company founded last year, claims that it has identified a $13 billion market across the Middle East and North Africa region, South Asia and Southeast Asia. Following this investment, Silkhaus will accelerate its expansion across MENA, South Asia and Southeast Asia. The company said in a release that it would grow the supply of properties on its platform, with a focus on hiring extensively for technology and strategic roles.

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Tags: dubai , egypt , emirates air , gulf airlines , middle east , middle east newsletter , oman , qatar , sabre , saudi arabia , short-term rentals , Skift Pro Columns , trip.com , wynn resorts

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Dubai Tourism: Record visitors numbers in the first nine months of 2023

• By admin / November 15, 2023
• Uncategorized

15 November 2023, Emirates NBD

Dubai’s tourism sector received record visitor numbers for the first nine months of 2023. The city attracted 12.45mn international visitors, up 23% y/y and exceeding the previous record registered in 2019 of 12.08mn visitors. The strong growth this year is being reflected in GDP data for Dubai, with hotels & restaurants recording real growth of 14.4% y/y in Q2.

Western Europe was the largest source of visitors, making up 19% of the total volume in the first nine months of 2023, followed by South Asia making up 18%. The GCC accounted for 16%, Eastern Europe and MENA both made up 13% respectively.

India was the largest single source of tourists with 1.8mn visitors followed by Saudi Arabia with 856k visitors, the United Kingdom with 825k visitors, Russia with 806k visitors, and Oman with 789k visitors.

Dubai International Airport saw 41.6mn passengers in H1

According to Dubai Customs, Dubai international airport, the world’s busiest international airport, experienced a significant 50% y/y increase passenger traffic in the first half of 2023, reaching 41.6mn passengers. Paul Griffiths, the CEO of Dubai Airports, revealed that 60% of passenger traffic is point-to-point, marking a reversal from the pre-pandemic trend that of 40% point-to-point and 60% transit. The surge in point-to-point passenger traffic reflects Dubai’s growing appeal as a global destination. Emirates Airlines has also announced the purchase of 95 Boeing planes for USD 52bn, providing a substantial boost to the tourism sector and passenger traffic over the upcoming years. Dubai airport is projected to handle 85mn passengers in 2023, slightly below the record of 89.1mn passengers set in 2018. This has been an instrumental support for Dubai’s economic expansion in 2023, as the Transport & storage sector has been the key growth driver over the first half of the year, recording 10.3% y/y in Q1 and 10.7% in Q2. Indeed, the GDP press release on WAM highlighted the positive contribution made by the national air carriers.

Rise in hotel occupancy

The average hotel occupancy for the first nine months of 2023 rose to 75.7%, a 4.9pp increase over the same period in 2022, and 2.3pp higher than 2019 according to data from DTCM. Although the guests’ length of stay declined from 4 nights to an average of 3.7 nights, the occupied room nights grew by 13% y/y and 32% from 2019 to 30.44mn nights. The average revenue per available room grew by 2% y/y to AED 358 despite the 5% y/y decline in the average daily rate to 473 AED. The number of total available rooms grew by 4% y/y to 148,809 rooms. Five-star hotels had the biggest share of the inventory with 35%, while four stars hotels made up 28%, and hotels from one to three stars made up 20%.

The fourth quarter has historically been a strong quarter for Dubai Tourism. Last year, Dubai welcomed over 100k visitors on New Year’s Eve alone. The tourism sector is set to receive a further boost this year as Dubai hosts the COP28 climate conference at Expo City from November 30 to December 12. More than 70k delegates are expected to attend from more than 190 countries. Given the positive outlook, Dubai is on track to surpass the 16.7mn visitors recorded in 2019 this year.

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Direct tourism contribution of Dubai to GDP of the UAE 2006-2026

Direct tourism contribution of dubai to the gross domestic product of the united arab emirates from 2006 to 2026 ( in billion u.s. dollars).

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December 2017

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2006 to 2016

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All UAE businesses need to firm up their ‘ESG’ frameworks

Business analysis.

• Travel & Tourism

Whatever be their size, businesses cannot let profit concerns dilute their ESG

Sustainable practices are strategic business moves. When viewed as more than the perfunctory nod to social responsibility, they can directly impact profitability.

Although the acronym is fairly new to corporate lexicon, the ‘Environmental, Social & Governance’ (ESG) principles have gained rapid familiarity as companies adopt, or at least acquaint themselves, with these issues. Much of the mist around these topics is now clearing, with the exception of how it can - and will - affect the bottom-line.

Top-performing companies don’t make trade-offs between sustainability, societal needs, good governance, and shareholder value – they achieve these outcomes at once.

The ‘triple bottom-line’ rests on the premise that the company does not care only about profits, but about people and the planet too. A company is said to act sustainably if it pursues all three goals with equal priority.

Even for a company that is just starting off, streamlining operations with an ESG outlook can result in long-term savings and contribute significantly to its singular bottom line. Contradicting the widely-held belief that sustainable practices are expensive, ESG initiatives can lead to actual cost savings and increased efficiencies.

Companies with strong ESG performances will gain a competitive advantage in attracting customers, leading to increased market share and revenues. Contemporary investors seek out companies with strong ESG performance in the belief that effective practices reduce the likelihood of financial losses in adverse times.

Another undeniable –  even if largely invisible –  aspect of ESG’s impact on profits is resilience. Companies that integrate ESG into their operations can weather storms more easily and effectively than their peers. It is a simple fact that companies will be able to face unexpected shocks and hardships if they are managed for the long-term and are in line with global mega-trends such as inclusion, gender equality, fair employment, and climate change.

An ESG approach, in combination with traditional financial analyses, can also decrease risk. It acts as a buffer by reducing risks and ensuring more robust responses to unforeseen events, whether they are related to social changes or climate challenges.

Risk management

In effect, companies that embed sustainability into their everyday operations are future-proofing themselves for changing consumer preferences, evolving regulations, and global challenges. Although it may not apply to everyone, companies that adopt effective ESG risk management practices are also able to reduce their exposure to regulatory and reputational risks.

There are clear benefits in the form of operational efficiencies: ESG measures such as reducing waste, strengthening relationships with stakeholders, and improving regulatory compliance are good business practices - but in many industries, they are now yardsticks that gauge competitiveness.

For firms of any size, going green is not just environmentally responsible but financially astute. Sustainability should not be seen as an expense; it is an investment that pays dividends in resilience, cost-efficiency, greater investor and customer appeal, employee loyalty and reputational brand value.

While it is a responsibility for companies to act in the best interest of all stakeholders, it becomes a long-term competitive advantage for the ones that do.

ESG requires that collective buy-in

Implementing new governance policies, making changes to the workforce, or acting on reducing emissions can be lengthy processes. Yet, they have to be kick-started, and it is important that the entire organization - from the C-Suite downwards - doubles down on the ESG imperative. And the collective effort it calls for…

The strategic challenge for corporate leaders is to be foresighted about the ESG themes that are still emerging as important industry drivers - and to identify them before their competitors do.

Taking shortcuts is not the pathway to achieving sustainable competitive advantage. In times such as these, every company must invest in the new ingredients of profitability - people, communities, and the environment.

The author is CEO of the Tristar Group.

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