DUBAI HOSTED 9.88 MILLION TOURISTS IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2025
Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), said: “Public-private partnerships and the power of community have played a significant role in promoting Dubai’s destination appeal to the world.”
According to data released by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Dubai welcomed 9.88 million international overnight visitors from January to June 2025, marking a 6% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This growth is attributed to the destination's offering, shaped by public-private sector partnerships and supported by a strong global marketing strategy.
New openings, events, campaigns, and global partnerships have introduced Dubai to both new and returning international visitors. DET's tailored market strategy, executed in collaboration with over 3,000 national and international partners, has driven growth in key regions.
According to DET data, visitors from nearby markets such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and MENA (Middle East-North Africa) accounted for 26% of total visitors in the first half of 2025. 1.51 million visitors came from the GCC (15%) and 1.12 million from MENA (11%). Western Europe was the largest source market with 2.12 million visitors (22%), followed by CIS and Eastern Europe with 1.52 million (15%), South Asia with 1.44 million (15%), Northeast and Southeast Asia with 894 thousand (9%), the Americas with 689 thousand (7%), Africa with 404 thousand (4%), and Australia with 176 thousand (2%).
Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), stated regarding the matter; “Dubai’s tourism performance is a reflection of public-private sector collaborations and the power of community. Our residents, businesses, and visitors played a significant role in this success in promoting our city to the world. Thanks to their authentic voices and sincere support, they introduced Dubai’s unique experiences. With its strong infrastructure and business-friendly environment, Dubai has further enhanced its accessibility. Year-round entertainment, trade, and MICE events have diversified the visitor profile and boosted economic impact. Together with our key stakeholders, we continue our infrastructure investments and capacity enhancements aimed at improving the quality of life for visitors and residents.”
ACCOMMODATION SECTOR CONTINUED ITS GROWTH
With its range of experiences, safety, and ease of connectivity, Dubai continues to be a preferred destination for visitors from traditional and new markets. The city's hotel portfolio continues to evolve, offering quality across all price segments. In the first six months of 2025, Dubai saw new hotel openings across different segments and locations. These include Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab in Umm Suqeim, Cheval Maison in Expo City, The Biltmore Hotel Villas in Al Barsha, and Vida Dubai Mall in Downtown Dubai.
According to DET data, Dubai's hotel sector achieved impressive results across all performance metrics. The occupancy rate for hotels, which was 78.7% in 2024, increased to 80.6% during January-June 2025. Occupied nights grew by 4% to 22.24 million. The average length of stay for visitors was 3.71 nights. The average daily room rate increased by 5% to AED 584, while revenue per available room (RevPAR) rose by 7% year-on-year from AED 439 to AED 471. As of the end of June 2025, the total number of rooms in the city reached 152,483, and the number of hotels reached 822.
DET SIGNED STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Visit Dubai, which promotes Dubai’s continuously evolving and diverse destinations, launched a series of global campaigns in the first half of 2025. These included “Find Your Story” starring Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi; “Dubai, Ready for a Surprise?” with Indian celebrity couple Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma; “Dubai, Who’s Ready?” featuring South Korean actors Park Seo Jun, Choi Woo Shik, and Park Hyung Sik; and “Dubai. That’s How You Summer.” These campaigns play a key role in introducing Dubai to new international audiences.
To enhance the visitor experience and boost its global appeal, DET signed strategic partnerships with hospitality giants such as Marriott International, Hyatt, and Premier Inn in the first half of 2025. Dubai's hotel portfolio will continue to expand with new openings this year, including Mandarin Oriental Downtown Dubai, ZUHHA Island in The World Islands, and Ciel Dubai Marina, Vignette Collection, which will be the world's tallest hotel-only tower.RECEIVED GLOBAL AWARDS
Dubai was honored with numerous global awards in the first half of 2025. In April, Dubai was recognized as the Eastern Hemisphere's first Autism-Friendly Certified Destination city. In the Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice 2025 awards, Dubai was again among the "best of the best" destinations. In a study conducted by travel insurance company InsureMyTrip, Dubai was chosen as the best city in the world for women traveling alone, receiving the highest scores in the "feeling safe" and "feeling safe walking alone at night" categories of the 62-city survey.
Dubai Business Events (DBE), Dubai's official convention bureau, strengthened the city's strategic importance for business events. According to International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) data, Dubai was the city that hosted the most association meetings in the Middle East in 2024. Dubai Business Events received bids to host 249 international events, which will welcome over 127,000 delegates, in the first half of 2025.
GASTRONOMY PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE
Gastronomy continues to play a significant role in attracting international visitors and investment to Dubai. The city's rich culinary scene continues to gain global recognition. The 4th edition of the Dubai MICHELIN Guide, announced in May, featured 119 restaurants from 35 different cuisines. The guide also included the city's first three-star restaurants, FZN by Björn Frantzén and Trèsind Studio. With this latest achievement, Swedish chef Björn Frantzén became the first chef in the world to hold three MICHELIN stars at three different restaurants: Frantzén in Stockholm, Zén in Singapore, and now FZN in Dubai. The local brand Trèsind Studio, led by Indian chef Himanshu Saini, earned the title of the world's first three-star Indian restaurant. The 2025 Guide also included three two-star, 14 one-star, 22 Bib Gourmand, and three MICHELIN Green Star awarded restaurants.
Two restaurants from Dubai were included in The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 list, announced in June. Trèsind Studio was ranked 27th, being named the best restaurant in the Middle East; Orfali Bros re-entered the list at 37th place.
