dubai tourism economy

Tourism growth in Dubai gathers pace with 4.88 million visitors between January - October 2021

11 Dec, 2021

- Dubai reinforces its status as one of the world’s safest and fastest growing tourism destinations - Department of Economy and Tourism shares positive industry results at second bi-annual City Briefing event held at Ain Dubai attended by over 1,150 stakeholders and partners - International visitation in Dubai in October alone reaches over one million - 9.4 million room nights sold between January - October 2021 in comparison to 7 million room nights in the same period in 2019 - Expo 2020 raises Dubai’s profile as best city to live, work and visit Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) revealed that the emirate welcomed 4.88 million visitors between January - October 2021 with international visitation during October alone reaching over one million. Reflecting the rising growth momentum and stability of the industry, strong international visitation was complemented by a robust domestic tourism market, further boosting the hospitality sector resulting in 9.4 million room nights sold between January - October 2021 in comparison to 7 million room nights sold in the same period in 2019. The latest tourism figures were released at the second bi-annual City Briefing of 2021 held by the Department of Economy and Tourism to provide stakeholders with key updates on the tourism sector’s positive growth and insights into current and future strategies and global marketing campaigns. As Dubai continues to lead the global tourism rebound and stimulate international business growth, the forum featured a detailed presentation on domestic and global developments, including an overview of increasing visitor numbers, hotel occupancy, and activities in international markets, which have all reinforced Dubai’s profile as a safe, must-visit destination and the world’s best city to live, work and visit. The meeting was presided by His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, and was attended by over 1,150 representatives from leading establishments in the hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors. The forum was part of DET’s regular dialogue with business leaders to encourage collaboration and exchange insights to ensure the industry is seamlessly aligned with tourism growth initiatives and strategies. Held at Ain Dubai, the forum discussed ways to further accelerate growth in the industry, leveraging the latest landmark attractions to open in Dubai. HE Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, commented: “Inspired by the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE, and Ruler of Dubai and strengthened by the success of Expo 2020 Dubai and the UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, Dubai has been at the vanguard of the world’s tourism and economic rebound, setting the tone for sustained recovery and growth. “Our multi-pronged strategy to combat the pandemic and deployment of wide-ranging initiatives to increase our global competitiveness and attractiveness is a hallmark of Dubai’s highly progressive public-private partnership model, which has been a cornerstone of not only what was achieved in 2021 but what will be achieved in the next critical 12 to 24-month period. Expo 2020 also provides us a unique platform to engage with the global community as all hotels and tourism partners work closely to facilitate visits for their guests to maximise this opportunity. “Through this highly energised and cohesive tourism and economic ecosystem, I am confident that Dubai will deliver on its vision of being the world’s leading global centre for investment, business, talent, visitation and next-generation thinking.” Dubai’s strong reputation for safe travel internationally has resulted in both domestic and international tourism growth, as seen by the improved hotel performance. In a year-to-date study in October 2021, occupancy was at almost 64%, while the length of stay showed a 12% increase from 4.1 nights to 4.6 nights. During this period, there were 24.74 million occupied rooms nights across the emirate at an average daily rate of AED384, in comparison to 15.66 million occupied room nights at an average daily rate of AED335. Room inventory is now 6% higher than 2019. Taking a closer look at the profile of international visitors, research showed that in the first half of 2021, Dubai visitors were balanced across genders with 52% male visitors and 48% female visitors. During this time, the emirate also attracted a higher first-time visitor’s volume, reflecting the attractiveness of the city despite the pandemic, when compared to the first half of the previous year. Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing commented: “At Dubai’s Department for Economy and Tourism, we are proud to be part of the success Dubai has achieved so far in 2021, which has been built on the vision and leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Over the last five decades Dubai has transformed into a global tourism and business hub and through the effective citywide management of the pandemic, the city has strengthened its position as one of the safest destinations in the world. Dubai’s ability to evolve and adapt, with the support of our stakeholders and partners, has been critical in ensuring that the city continues to retain its position at the forefront of the world’s leading travel and business destinations. With our world-class infrastructure, one of the highest vaccination rates in the world and flexible working visas, Dubai is becoming the preferred business hub for conglomerates and start-ups alike. As part of our strategy, we have consistently used innovative global campaigns to further highlight the city’s multi-faceted touristic appeal and reach our overseas markets, with the latest being Dubai Presents. This synergetic approach to showcasing Dubai’s diverse offering involves the enlistment of celebrities, influencers and community personalities to create a steady stream of ambassadors and advocates to narrate Dubai’s story across gastronomy, retail, tourism, leisure and events to showcase it as the best city to live, visit and work in.” To ensure that Dubai was top-of-mind and seen as the destination of choice for 2021, DET launched an integrated global marketing campaign via ‘Dubai Presents’ that broadcast over 3,500 assets across 25 languages and specifically targeted audiences that were seeking international travel, had engaged with previous campaigns or were searching for Dubai on digital channels. By creating Hollywood inspired trailers with A-list actors Jessica Alba and Zac Efron, DET simultaneously highlighted the emirates’ multiplicity of offerings and reinstated its profile as ‘the happening city’. Dubai’s ability to evolve and adapt, combined with its diversified multi-geographic approach to markets, was key in ensuring that Dubai retained its relevance and competitiveness as a global destination and creative hub. In the last year, the emirate built momentum in business tourism as Dubai gave more flexibility and options for talent to visit and stay by introducing new categories and programmes, which included the Golden Visa, the Property Investor Visa, the Entrepreneur Visa, the Retire in Dubai Visa and the Virtual Working Visa. The focus for DET for the upcoming year is to continue to drive growth across all sectors. Initiatives will be introduced to further catalyse Expo 2020 visitor numbers, strengthen relationships with the travel trade and explore new channels to source visitors. By highlighting Dubai’s versatility, DET plans to demonstrate its position as a thriving global hub for business and tourism, gastronomy, sustainability, weddings, retail and events.

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Dubai’s Ambitious $8.7 Trillion Economic Plan Prioritizes Tourism

Peden Doma Bhutia , Skift

January 18th, 2023 at 2:00 AM EST

It's interesting to note how each of Dubai's ambitious economic predictions rests on its tourism prowess and its ability to attract international visitors.

Peden Doma Bhutia

Middle East Travel Roundup

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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, launched the Dubai Economic Agenda — D33 with the ambitious goal of doubling the size of Dubai’s economy over the next decade. With economic targets of $8.7 trillion over the next 10 years , the agenda also aims to establish Dubai’s position among the top three global cities . A key priority of the D33 Agenda is to make Dubai one of the top three international destinations for tourism and business by providing a globally competitive environment for business and driving down the cost of doing business across a number of sectors. The agenda also includes the launch of innovative projects to help make Dubai the world’s best city to live and work in as well as drive sustainable economic growth through innovative approaches. “Dubai will rank as one of the top four global financial centers with an increase in foreign direct investment to over $177 billion over the next decade and an annual $27.2 billion contribution from digital transformation ,” the Dubai ruler said.

In an effort to simplify the process for homeowners and operators to acquire permits to convert their homes into holiday homes, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority has announced updates to its holiday homes system . The online system allows owners and operators to book an inspection appointment for the registered units and also provides classification service for the units in compliance with the regulations related to holiday rentals in the emirate. With a growing number of visitors booking longer stays in the emirate, Raki Phillips , CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, said, “We want to tap into this trend and have therefore updated our holiday homes rental system to make it even easier for homeowners and operators to register, organize permits for and convert their units.” Ras Al Khaimah welcomed over 1.13 million overnight arrivals in 2022 , an increase of 15.6 percent compared to 2021. In 2019 , the emirate had received around 1.1 million arrivals .

With a target to attract over six million international visitors a year by 2030 , Qatar Tourism has partnered with Kazunion , one of Kazakhstan’s largest tour operators , to operate four commercial charter flights a week from Almaty and Astana to Qatar via FlyArystan from January to March 2023 . Kazakhstan is one of 15 target markets identified by Qatar Tourism as a primary source for tourists. The commercial charter flights from Kazakhstan to Qatar are part of a travel package deal formed by Kazunion which include flights and beach side accommodation for travellers. “Our agreement will help sustain the growth of Qatar’s tourism sector by promoting the country as a family-friendly, cosmopolitan, and culturally rich destination for travellers from Kazakhstan,” said Berthold Trenkel , chief operating officer of Qatar Tourism. Qatar Tourism’s 2030 strategy aims to increase the number of visitors to Qatar by threefold, increase spending by 3 to 4 times, and growing the gross domestic product contribution of the tourism sector to 12 percent.

Oman will be introducing an online system for travel and tour operators to apply for a license for organizing adventure tourism activities . Announcing the launch of the electronic system in the first quarter of 2023, the ministry of heritage and tourism said the service would help the ministry to further organize adventure tourism in a systematic manner. In line with Oman’s Vision 2040 to build a sustainable tourism economy, the ministry said that diversification of tourism offerings would help increase arrivals. Aiming to turn Oman into one of the most important and safe adventure tourism destinations, the ministry noted that the country has been witnessing an encouraging demand for adventure tourism from travelers. The ministry has also signed a memorandum of cooperation with the New Zealand government to exchange experiences in the field of adventure tourism in particular and the tourism sector in general.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced that the cost of the comprehensive insurance for foreign Umrah performers has been reduced by around 63 percent , from $62.5 to $23 . The insurance policy for Umrah is a unified policy that is covered by those coming to Umrah from outside Saudi Arabia. It is included in the visa procedure before coming and covers emergency cases as well as general cases such as accidental permanent total disability, and death. It also includes covers for flight delay compensation and flight cancellation compensation. The ministry also clarified that the scope of the insurance coverage is only within Saudi Arabia and is valid for a period of 90 days, starting from the day of entering the country.

Queen Alia International Airport in the Jordanian capital of Amman welcomed over 7.8 million passengers in 2022 , just 12 percent short of its 2019 figures while registering a 72 percent increase compared to 2021 . In December alone, the airport received 660,274 passengers . The airport said in a statement that it continues to work closely with the ministry of tourism and antiquities and the Jordan Tourism Board to expand airline networks and destinations, promote tourist sites and enhance Jordan’s connection to major regional and global hubs. The statement also noted that 44 airlines operated to 76 destinations via the airport in 2022 with the launch of several direct routes via national carrier Royal Jordanian as well as partnerships with several airlines like United Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, flyadeal, Vueling Airlines, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, Wizz Air UK and Alexandria Airlines.

The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), has launched Sky Adventures , the first official paragliding licensed centre in the United Arab Emirates. The centre also marks Shurooq’s latest investment in sports, leisure and adventure tourism in Sharjah’s central region. The centre that opened to the public on Monday, allows aerosports enthusiasts to experience the desert landscapes of Sharjah’s Central Region area from the skies. Sheikh Khalid bin Isam Al Qassimi , chairman of the department of civil aviation in Sharjah said, “At the department, we were keen to introduce legislation, systems, and criteria to ensure the centre meets the highest paragliding safety standards that align with our belief in security and quality in all of our operations and strategies.” Calling the paragliding centre an opportunity to promote growth and investment in the tourism and adventure sector, Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer , acting Chief Executive Officer of Shurooq, said, “Our portfolio of destinations and activities continues to expand as we aim to drive investment in various sectors of Sharjah.”

The United Arab Emirates registered the highest occupancy rate among the Gulf countries in 2022 , according to KPMG’s latest Dubai Hospitality report . The report noted that Dubai’s occupancy rates closely follow top benchmark cities — Istanbul (75 percent), New York (74 percent), and Paris (73 percent) . “The UAE now hosts one of the richest hospitality markets in the world with an expected 25 percent growth in the industry by 2030 and 40 million new visitors staying at hotels in Dubai by 2031 . Dubai’s hospitality sector achieved a total of approximately 150,000 rooms by the end of 2022,” read the report. India remained the top source market for Dubai tourism as 1.4 million Indians visited the emirate in the first 10 months of the year .

Bahrain’s Water Garden , a tourism landmark in the capital city of Manama, has now been opened to the public following a major revamp. The park, which had been closed for renovation for almost five years , will now feature a botanical garden, lakes as well as play areas for children. “This public park, which was setup in 1948, is linked to the national memory as a heritage facility, a recreational outlet, and a tourist destination,” Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa , consultative council president of the National Initiative for Agricultural Development. She commended the government’s drive to set up gardens and parks while making efforts to ensure sustainable development.

Emirates will be ramping up its operations in China ahead of the New Lunar Year and in response to strong travel demand, boosting connectivity to its gateways — Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing . The airline will resume passenger services to Shanghai starting with two weekly flights operated by an Airbus A380 aircraft from January 20. This service will ramp up in frequency to four weekly flights from February 2. Emirates will further boost its Dubai-Shanghai route from March 1 with a daily non-stop service. Even as the airline currently operates a non-stop flight from Dubai to Guangzhou, from February 1, Emirates will increase services between Dubai and Guangzhou. Services to Beijing will resume from March 15 with a daily non-stop service from Dubai. This will bring the airline’s operations in the market up to 21 weekly flights .

During his visit to Cairo, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang discussed tourism cooperation between China and Egypt and talked about increasing Chinese tourism to Egypt , which has for years struggled to revive its vital tourism sector. Gang was marking his last stop in a multi-leg trip to Africa, including Ethiopia, Gabon, Angola and Benin. Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry said that Egypt looks forward to increase the number of tourists to the country. More than half a million Chinese tourists visited Egypt in 2018 . Chinese citizens can now obtain visa on arrival in Egypt provided they are part of a tour group organized by a tourism agency. In November 2019 , EgyptAir announced its first direct flight to Hangzhou in a bid to boost tourism to Egypt.

The United Arab Emirates issued 79,617  golden visas   throughout 2022, Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs said. The directorate said that it processed more than 62.24 million transactions in 2022, including 46.9 million entry and exit transactions through air, land, and sea ports — up from 37.3 million transactions in 2021. The United Arab Emirates introduced the golden visa program as a long-term residence visa designed to attract and retain foreign talents to live, work or study in the country. Visa holders are allowed to reside in the country for a period of either five or ten years, without the need for a sponsor. They are also allowed to sponsor family members and domestic helps while being able to take up employment outside the UAE. Investors in the public sector and real estate, entrepreneurs, outstanding specialized talents, inventors, doctors, scientists, and creatives in the field of art and culture are eligible to apply for the golden visa.

While hotel occupancy in Dubai in December was lower than pre-pandemic levels, the average daily rate and revenue per available room were above 2019 levels, according to STR’s preliminary data on Dubai hotels. Occupancy in December averaged 76.6 percent with average daily rate around $243 . While occupancy was 2 percent below December 2019, average daily rate was 33.8 percent and revenue per available room was 31.1 percent higher , according to STR. In its last report for the United Arab Emirates, the hotel data company was tracking more than 200,000 existing rooms with an active pipeline of nearly 50,000 rooms , and with a combined total of almost 251,000 rooms expected by 2030 . Ras Al Khaimah was second only to Dubai in the size of its pipeline, which was almost the same amount as Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Fujairah combined. In the past, the UAE’s growth in hotel rooms has spurred demand as room supply increased, STR said.

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Tags: adventure travel , asia monthly , bahrain , china outbound , dubai , egypt , emirates air , hajj , jordan , kazakhstan , oman , qatar , ras al khaimah , saudi arabia , Skift Pro Columns , visas

Photo credit: A key priority of Dubai's ambitious economic agenda is to make the emirate one of the top three international destinations for tourism. Nextvoyage / Pexels

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Performance Indicators

The contribution of the travel and tourism sector to the uae’s gdp.

In 2022 , the contribution of the travel and tourism sector to the UAE’s GDP was nearly AED 167 billion which is equivalent to 9% of the total GDP. In 2022, the total spending of international tourists amounted to AED 117.6 billion. In 2022, the number of hotels in the UAE has increased to 1189, while the hotel capacity in the country reached 203,000 hotel rooms.

Contribution of Travel and tourism to the GDP in 2022

AED 167 billion

Tourism revenue in 2022

AED 38 billion

UAE hotel revenues in 2022

Hotel rooms in the UAE in 2022

Hotels in the UAE in 2022

AED 117.6 billion

Total tourism expenditures in 2022

Tourism Sector Indicators in 2020

Tourism sector indicators in 2022.

Travel and tourism contribution to the UAE’s GDP

Hotel occupancy rate in the UAE

25th Globally

in Travel & Tourism Development Index

25.2 Million

Guests in hotel establishments

Total Contribution of the Tourism Sector to the UAE’s GDP

Tourism sector performance in the uae, communication channels.

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United Arab Emirates 2020

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Travel and tourism sector to contribute $49bn to UAE’s economy this year, WTTC says

The industry is expected to create 7,000 new jobs in emirates.

Kite surfers in action at the Kite and Surf beach in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

The travel and tourism sector is projected to contribute Dh180.6 billion ($49.18 billion) to the UAE’s economy this year, representing nearly 10 per cent of the total, says the World Travel and Tourism Council.

The estimate for 2023 is only 1.6 per cent lower than the 2019 high of Dh183.4 billion, the global tourism body said in itslatest Economic Impact report on Wednesday.

WTTC expects the sector to cross the pre-pandemic employment levels , reaching more than 758,000 jobs, including nearly 7,000 new positions, this year.

“The sector is recovering at a rapid pace, proving the UAE continues to grow in popularity amongst international travellers,” said Julia Simpson, WTTC president and chief executive.

“The UAE is home to one of the world’s busiest and most successful airports, Dubai International , which acts as a gateway to the Middle East.”

Last year, the travel and tourism sector ’s contribution to the UAE’s gross domestic product grew by more than 60 per cent to reach nearly Dh167 billion, representing 9 per cent of the country’s economy, WTTC said.

The sector created more than 89,000 jobs last year, bringing the total to about 751,000 on a countrywide level.

“2022 saw the return of international travellers to the UAE, with India, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UK leading as source markets for international arrivals,” the report said.

Last year, international visitors contributed Dh117.6 billion to the Emirates' economy, marking a 65.3 per cent year-on-year growth, but still down 19 per cent from 2019 levels.

Meanwhile, domestic spend surged by nearly 36 per cent to reach Dh46.9 billion, up 10.6 per cent from pre-pandemic levels.

“The future for the sector looks positive. By the end of this year, the sector’s contribution will level that of 2019, and over the next decade, growth will outstrip the national GDP and create more than 114,000 new jobs, representing one in nine jobs,” said Ms Simpson.

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 tourism sector, an important pillar of Dubai’s economy, has strongly rebounded from the coronavirus-induced slowdown.

The emirate recorded 14.36 million international visitors in 2022, inching closer to the 16.73 million tourists welcomed in 2019, according to data from the Department of Economy and Tourism.

It 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, told The National earlier this month.

“Our report highlighted the appeal tourist destinations across the country, such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, continue to hold for international travellers. These cities have shown an incredible resilience and strong leadership,” said Ms Simpson.

The WTTC expects the sector to grow its GDP contribution to Dh235.5 billion by 2033, representing 10.2 per cent of the country’s economy.

Over the next decade, the travel and tourism industry is projected to give employment to more than 872,000 people in the UAE, accounting for about 12 per cent of the total workforce, the WTTC said.

The UAE, the Arab world’s second-largest economy, is estimated to have grown by 7.6 per cent last year , marking its highest expansion in 11 years, after GDP rose by 3.9 per cent in 2021, according to the UAE Central Bank.

It is expected to grow by 3.9 per cent this year and accelerate further to 4.3 per cent in 2024.

Meanwhile in the Middle East, the WTTC expects travel and tourism sector's GDP contribution to exceed Dh1.5 trillion, nearing the 2019 high.

The sector will recover almost all of the jobs lost during the pandemic by the end of 2023, the report said.

In the Mena region, real GDP grew by 5.3 per cent in 2022, reflecting strong domestic demand and a rebound in oil production, according to the International Monetary Fund. However, growth is expected to decelerate this year to 3.1 per cent before picking up slightly to 3.4 per cent next year.

Dubai's post-pandemic boom has made it one of the most visited places in the world today. Further to that, the city has seen tens of thousands of new residents arrive to settle down. Reuters

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Detailed statistics

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Number of international tourist arrivals in the United Arab Emirates 2014-2029

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Overview of tourism in mena.

• Premium Statistic Middle Eastern countries with the most international tourist arrivals 2022
• Basic Statistic Inbound visitor growth in the Middle East 2011-2025
• Basic Statistic Outbound visitor growth in the Middle East 2011-2025
• Premium Statistic Targets of international tourist arrivals GCC 2023, by country
• Premium Statistic Number of pipeline hotel rooms GCC 2023-2028, by country

Middle Eastern countries with the most international tourist arrivals 2022

Middle Eastern countries with the largest number of international tourist arrivals in 2022 (in millions)

Inbound visitor growth in the Middle East 2011-2025

Inbound visitor growth in the Middle East from 2011 to 2025

Outbound visitor growth in the Middle East 2011-2025

Outbound visitor growth in the Middle East from 2011 to 2025

Targets of international tourist arrivals GCC 2023, by country

Targets for international tourist arrivals in the Gulf Cooperation Council as of 2023, by country

Number of pipeline hotel rooms GCC 2023-2028, by country

Number of rooms of pipeline hotel projects in the Gulf Cooperation Council between 2023 and 2028, by country (in 1,000s)

Contribution of tourism to UAE economy

• Premium Statistic Share of the GDP of the tourism sector in the United Arab Emirates 2013-2028
• Premium Statistic Absolute economic contribution of tourism in the United Arab Emirates 2014-2029
• Premium Statistic International tourism receipts per capita in the United Arab Emirates 2006-2029
• Premium Statistic Per capita spending on restaurants and hotels in the UAE 2014-2029
• Premium Statistic Expenditure per capita on international tourism in the United Arab Emirates 2006-2029

Share of the GDP of the tourism sector in the United Arab Emirates 2013-2028

Share of the GDP of the tourism sector in the United Arab Emirates from 2013 to 2028

Absolute economic contribution of tourism in the United Arab Emirates 2014-2029

Absolute economic contribution of tourism in the United Arab Emirates from 2014 to 2029 (in million U.S. dollars)

International tourism receipts per capita in the United Arab Emirates 2006-2029

International tourism receipts per capita in the United Arab Emirates from 2006 to 2029 (in U.S. dollars)

Per capita spending on restaurants and hotels in the UAE 2014-2029

Per capita consumer spending on restaurants and hotels in the United Arab Emirates from 2014 to 2029 (in U.S. dollars)

Expenditure per capita on international tourism in the United Arab Emirates 2006-2029

Expenditure per capita on international tourism in the United Arab Emirates from 2006 to 2029 (in U.S. dollars)

• Premium Statistic Number of international tourist arrivals in the United Arab Emirates 2014-2029
• Premium Statistic Number of hotel guests UAE 2022, by region of origin
• Premium Statistic Annual growth in number of hotel guests UAE 2022, by region of origin
• Premium Statistic Share of visitor arrivals to Dubai 2022, by region
• Premium Statistic Share of tourist trips UAE 2022, by purpose

Number of international tourist arrivals in the United Arab Emirates from 2014 to 2029 (in millions)

Number of hotel guests UAE 2022, by region of origin

Number of guests at hotels and hotel apartments in United Arab Emirates in 2022, by region of origin (in 1,000s)

Annual growth in number of hotel guests UAE 2022, by region of origin

Annual growth in number of guests at hotels and hotel apartments in United Arab Emirates in 2022, by region of origin

Share of visitor arrivals to Dubai 2022, by region

Share of visitor arrivals to Dubai in 2022, by region

Share of tourist trips UAE 2022, by purpose

Share of tourist trips in the United Arab Emirates in 2022, by purpose

Tourism attitudes

• Premium Statistic Travel product bookings in the UAE 2023
• Premium Statistic Travel frequency for private purposes in the UAE 2023
• Premium Statistic Travel frequency for business purposes in the UAE 2023
• Premium Statistic Attitudes towards traveling in the UAE 2023

Travel product bookings in the UAE 2023

Travel product bookings in the UAE as of March 2023

Travel frequency for private purposes in the UAE 2023

Travel frequency for private purposes in the UAE as of March 2023

Travel frequency for business purposes in the UAE 2023

Travel frequency for business purposes in the UAE as of March 2023

Attitudes towards traveling in the UAE 2023

Attitudes towards traveling in the UAE as of March 2023

Hotel supply

• Premium Statistic Number of hotels UAE 2008-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of rooms in hotels UAE 2008-2022
• Premium Statistic Share of hotel key supply UAE 2023, by hotel class

Number of hotels UAE 2008-2022

Total number of hotels and similar establishments in the United Arab Emirates from 2008 to 2022

Number of rooms in hotels UAE 2008-2022

Total number of rooms in hotels and similar establishments in the United Arab Emirates from 2008 to 2022 (in 1,000s)

Share of hotel key supply UAE 2023, by hotel class

Share of hotel key supply in the United Arab Emirates in 2023, by hotel class

Hospitality indicators

• Premium Statistic Revenue of hotel industry UAE 2022 by type
• Premium Statistic Revenue per available room in the UAE 2022, by emirate
• Premium Statistic Change in hotel revenue per available room in the UAE 2022, by emirate
• Premium Statistic Hotel room occupancy rate UAE 2000-2022
• Premium Statistic Occupancy rate in the UAE 2022, by emirate
• Premium Statistic Average length of stay in hotels in UAE 2002-2022
• Premium Statistic Average daily rate in UAE 2022, by emirate

Revenue of hotel industry UAE 2022 by type

Revenue of hotel industry in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2022, by type (in million UAE dirham)

Revenue per available room in the UAE 2022, by emirate

Revenue per available room of hotels in the United Arab Emirates as of 2022, by emirate (in UAE dirhams)

Change in hotel revenue per available room in the UAE 2022, by emirate

Change in revenue per available room of hotels in the United Arab Emirates as of 2022, by emirate

Hotel room occupancy rate UAE 2000-2022

Occupancy rate of rooms in hotels and similar accommodation establishments in the United Arab Emirates from 2000 to 2022

Occupancy rate in the UAE 2022, by emirate

Occupancy rate of hotels in the United Arab Emirates as of 2022, by emirate

Average length of stay in hotels in UAE 2002-2022

Average length of stay in hotels and similar accommodation establishments in the United Arab Emirates from 2002 to 2022

Average daily rate in UAE 2022, by emirate

Average daily rate of hotels in the United Arab Emirates as of 2022, by emirate (in UAE dirhams)

• Premium Statistic Number of pipeline luxury hotels GCC 2023, by country
• Premium Statistic Share of pipeline hotel rooms UAE 2023-2028, by hotel class
• Premium Statistic Expected revenue of hospitality industry in the UAE 2021-2026
• Premium Statistic Share of hotel projects in Dubai UAE 2022, by phase
• Premium Statistic Share of hotel projects in Dubai in the UAE 2022-2025, by completion date

Number of pipeline luxury hotels in the Gulf Cooperation Council as of 2023, by country

Share of pipeline hotel rooms UAE 2023-2028, by hotel class

Share of rooms of pipeline hotel projects in the United Arab Emirates between 2023 and 2028, by hotel class

Expected revenue of hospitality industry in the UAE 2021-2026

Forecasted revenue of the hospitality industry in the United Arab Emirates from 2021 to 2026 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Share of hotel projects in Dubai UAE 2022, by phase

Distribution of hotel projects in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates in 2022, by phase

Share of hotel projects in Dubai in the UAE 2022-2025, by completion date

Distribution of hotel projects in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates from 2022 to 2025, by planned completion date

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Tourism projected to account for 12% of UAE's GDP in 2024: Minister of Economy

D UBAI, 7th May, 2024 (WAM) -- Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, stressed that the tourism sector contributed to the UAE's economy, registering an 11.7 percent increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023, amounting to AED220 billion.

Speaking at the opening day of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024, Al Marri said that the sector is anticipated to contribute 12 percent to the UAE's GDP, equating to AED236 billion.

The 31st edition of ATM, being hosted at Dubai World Travel Centre (DWTC) until 9th May, discussed Gulf-wide collaboration, ease of inter-regional travel and infrastructure development.

Al Marri’s speech was followed by a panel discussion among Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority; Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority; Azzan Al Busaidi, Under-Secretary of Tourism at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism in Oman; and Sarah Buhijji, CEO of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority. The session was moderated by Dubai Eye presenter, Richard Dean.

During the in-depth discussion, the ministerial panellists explored the importance of inter-regional initiatives in elevating the GCC tourism industry to the next level, while striking the right balance between collaboration and competition between destinations and nations. The planned GCC Unified Tourist Visa was cited as a key facilitator for the region, alongside factors such as sustainability, infrastructure and culture.

Panellists said that the planned unified visa would allow member nations to present the GCC as a connected destination, boosting accessibility and driving key performance indicators (KPIs) such as length of stay, average spend and employment. Speakers noted they would continue to ensure that the travel industry positively impacts local businesses, communities and ecosystems, contributing to the long-term sustainability of tourism across the region.

Participants also explained that current and future infrastructure will complement the GCC Unified Tourist Visa by enhancing accessibility within and between Gulf nations. In addition to ongoing investment in new and existing airports and cruise terminals, the ministerial speakers highlighted the central role of the upcoming GCC Railway in facilitating and optimising region-wide access for both domestic and international visitors.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said, “While it’s clear that healthy competition will continue to play an important role in strengthening the GCC’s world-class tourism offering, it was also encouraging to hear how collaboration is enabling the region to become more than the sum of its parts in terms of attracting global travellers. We are immensely grateful to this year’s ministerial participants, who provided a diverse range of valuable insights into the region’s unified tourism future.”

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Dubai [UAE], May 8 (ANI/WAM): The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and Emirates have signed a strategic partnership outlining joint initiatives to intensify international efforts and bolster Dubai’s mindshare as a hub for trade, tourism and investment.

Building on both entities’ long-standing partnership and success in tourism promotion, this latest development underlines their respective commitment to achieving the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, and to further enhance the city’s status as a leading destination for business and leisure.

The agreement was formalised on the sidelines of Arabian Travel Market in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, and Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. The agreement was signed by Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), and Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer.

Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), said, “Driven by the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, DET is committed to developing and leveraging partnerships that can contribute towards achieving the city’s ambitious D33 goals. DET and Emirates have already built a powerful collaborative relationship in recent years, and this new MoU further enhances our ability to reach, engage with, and attract business audiences around the world. A key driver of Dubai’s tourism and wider economic growth has been the city’s international connectivity, propelled by Emirates’ global network and reputation as a leading airline, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with Emirates to make Dubai the best city to visit, live and work in.”

Adnan Kazim remarked, “Dubai is already a magnet for so many international companies, entrepreneurs and family businesses with its business and investor-friendly climate and landscape, favourable trading conditions and high-standards of living. We’re committed to elevating Dubai’s global economic hub status with our partners at DET to increase its visibility across our network of over 140 cities and beyond through a gamut of promotional activities. We’re also working hard to grow our network and connectivity to complement Dubai’s already formidable trade map. DET’s and Emirates’ coordinated and robust strategy will support our visionary leadership’s goals of doubling the size of Dubai’s economy over the next decade and reinforce its position amongst the top three global cities.”

The strategic partnership will see both entities come together to promote Dubai’s robust business ecosystem, strategic location, unparalleled connectivity to key catchment regions, business-friendly policies and processes, ultra-modern infrastructure, and innovation-led economy. They will target corporates, multinational companies, prominent family businesses, and global investors, positioning Dubai as an ideal hub for businesses looking to tap into rapidly growing economies.

The partnership covers a wide range of initiatives where the two entities can collaborate and complement each other’s efforts; these include marketing campaigns to showcase the city as a key transit point for cargo and passengers, access to a wide range of services and solutions to streamline global logistics operations, and the sharing of market insights to further build awareness and favourability of Dubai as a hub for business, trade and investment. They will also work together on a series of events to strengthen relationships with the international business community, with Emirates becoming ‘Preferred Airline Partner’ at these global exhibitions and conferences. (ANI/WAM)

This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.

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Saudi Arabia wants big spenders for the first part of its Neom megaproject

• Saudi Arabia plans to open the first part of its Neom megaproject this year.
• Sindalah, an island resort, is aimed at a luxury clientele and the global yachting community.
• Saudi Arabia is pushing to distinguish itself in the high-end luxury market to compete with Dubai.

Saudi Arabia plans to open the first region of its Neom megacity by the end of the year.

The island of Sindalah will provide the first physical glimpse into the ambitious desert project, which has reportedly been scaled back from its initial plans due to financial struggles .

Developers say they want the island to be an "exclusive gateway to the stunning Red Sea," adding that they planned to cater to luxury clientele and the global yachting community.

Neom recently ended investor roadshows in China by confirming the luxury island resort would open this year, Arab News reported . It's set to have three luxury hotels, a golf course and sports club, beach club, marina, and dozens of restaurants and shops.

In January Marriott International said it had signed an agreement to bring Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy to Sindalah. Chadi Hauch of the hotel operator said the concept was a "great fit" for the island and reflected a "growing desire for premium and luxury apartment-style accommodation" from travelers.

The following month Saudi music entertainment company, MDLBEAST, announced it would operate the Sindalah Beach Club on the island.

Vives, Neom's chief urban planning and islands officer, said in a press release that Sindalah will be a "new model for luxury travel and living."

Capturing the luxury tourism market

The Saudi government's focus on the luxury market is an attempt to distinguish itself from nearby Dubai, part of the United Arab Emirates.

Related stories

"Dubai goes for the mass market of people wanting to go and have fun in the winter," Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, a fellow for the Middle East at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, told Business Insider.

"The Saudis are increasingly pushing themselves toward a high-end luxury market, which is what Sindalah and, to some extent, some of the other Red Sea projects are going to cater for," he said.

Saudi Arabia hasn't been shy about its tourism aspirations, claiming it aims to attract between 100 million and 150 million visitors by 2030 .

However, Dubai is a formidable competitor. It already has a 20-year head start in the tourism race, both in terms of infrastructure and aspirational appeal. It also has Emirates, the popular long-haul airline that brings tens of millions of people through Dubai annually.

If Neom's ambitious plans become a reality, the Saudis are betting that their megaprojects can attract some high-end travelers from the glitz and glamor of its neighbor.

Managing ambition

Developing luxury resorts like Sindalah may also help Saudi Arabia encourage tourism sooner by starting smaller.

Sindalah is one of the more realistic elements of Neom's futuristic plans . It pales in comparison to structures like the mirrored "horizontal skyscraper" known as The Line.

"It's less ambitious in scope and scale," Ulrichsen said. "That might mean that it's more realistic to open first."

Recent reports have indicated the Saudis may be facing a harsh reality when it comes to f inancing some of the megaprojects included in Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 project .

Previous deadlines have already been pushed back for some of Neom's more ambitious projects.

Earlier this month, Bloomberg reported that the Gulf Kingdom had reduced estimates for the number of people expected to live in The Line .

The report said the realities of some of the trillion-dollar investments included in the Vision 2030 project were starting to cause alarm at the highest level of the country's government.

Neom did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Watch: Marriott International's Tina Edmundson tells Insider that the travel mindset has changed since the pandemic

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PRESSR: Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism hails transformative 31st edition of Arabian Travel Market

• 2,600+ exhibitors from over 160 countries and more than 46,000 attendees at ATM 2024 – the biggest edition of the event to date

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has celebrated a successful week at the 31st edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which took place from 6-9 May 2024 at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). DET was joined on the Dubai stand by 129 key partners and stakeholders from the public and private sectors, who held business meetings with delegates from around the world, showcasing the emirate’s diverse and innovative tourism offering to thousands of industry leaders attending the global travel trade exhibition.

This year’s ATM was held under the forward-looking theme ‘Empowering Innovation – Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship’. During the four-day event, DET highlighted the pivotal role played by entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout the city, and how Dubai’s travel and hospitality sectors have nurtured innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainability to create new pathways for growth beyond traditional tourism. This strategic approach is inspired by the ambitious goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to further consolidate Dubai’s position as a leading global city for business and leisure.

ATM 2024 provided a platform to build and consolidate relationships across the travel industry, and DET signed several strategic partnership agreements, including one with Emirates which will see the two entities work together to intensify international efforts and bolster Dubai’s mindshare as a hub for trade, tourism and investment. During an action-packed show at DWTC, DET made a number of major announcements, including the launch of the inaugural ‘Dubai Sustainability Industry Report’. Contributing to the ATM Conference Programme, DET spokespeople also delivered keynote addresses and took part in a range of panel discussions, including ‘The Potential of Cruise: Creating Swell in the Middle East’ and ‘Educating Young Entrepreneurs: Building a Career in Travel’. 

Dubai’s successful participation at ATM 2024 follows a record-breaking year for its tourism sector, after welcoming 17.15 million international overnight visitors in 2023. As announced by DET at the show, this momentum continued in the first quarter of 2024, with 5.18 million international overnight visitors from January to March, an 11% rise over the same period in 2023.

His Excellency Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), said: “The 31st edition of Arabian Travel Market was the most successful yet for Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, yielding strong outcomes as we connected with industry leaders to discuss the future of travel and the latest trends transforming our sector. Guided by the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the goals of the D33 Agenda, we have a clear objective to further advance tourism’s economic impact, including by leveraging innovation and entrepreneurship. At ATM we had the opportunity to develop a number of new partnerships, which are an important part of the strategy to make Dubai the best city to visit, live and work in. These partners, as well as all our travel and tourism stakeholders, play a critical role in achieving these goals, and we thank them for their support as we build on the knowledge shared at ATM.”

DET organised the largest ever ATM Hosted Buyers Programme, promoting Dubai’s unparalleled hospitality and offerings to a record participation of more than 540 buyers from 47 different markets and countries. With the support of stakeholders including DMCs, hotels, venues and attractions, the hosted buyers were able to enjoy a range of experiences and iconic locations in the city, including evenings hosted by Expo City Dubai, Real Madrid World, and Dubai Creek Harbour.

In addition to meeting DET and stakeholder representatives, visitors to the stand also had the opportunity to play ‘Dubai Pinball’, an interactive and engaging gaming experience that enhanced players’ familiarity with attractions and landmarks around the city, offering prizes for the highest scores.

Strengthening Dubai’s position as a global hub for business and MICE events, ATM 2024 was the biggest edition to date, welcoming over 46,000 attendees and more than 2,600 exhibitors from over 160 countries across four days at DWTC. Growth was recorded across all event verticals with exhibitor participation increasing by 26% YoY.

About Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET)

With the ultimate vision of making Dubai the world’s leading commercial centre, investment hub and tourism destination, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) is mandated to support the Government in positioning the emirate as a major hub for global economy and tourism, and in boosting the city’s economic and tourism competitiveness indicators, in line with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to double the size of the emirate’s economy and consolidate its position among the top three global cities over the next decade.

Under this remit, DET is driving efforts to further enhance Dubai’s diversified, innovative service-based economy to attract top global talent, deliver a world-class business environment and accelerate productivity growth. Additionally, DET is supporting Dubai’s vision to become the world’s best city to visit, live and work in by promoting its diverse destination proposition, unique lifestyle and outstanding quality of life, overall.

DET is the principal authority for planning, supervising, developing and marketing Dubai’s business and tourism sectors. It is also responsible for licensing and classifying all types of businesses, including hotels, tour operators and travel agents. DET’s portfolio includes Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC), Dubai Business Licence Corporation (DBLC), Dubai Corporation for Consumer Protection and Fair Trade (DCCPFT), Dubai SME, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) and Dubai College of Tourism (DCT). 

For further information, please contact: [email protected]

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