UAE: Why hotel occupancy rates in Dubai are over 80% even in summer months
Dubai's tourism sector is breaking seasonal stereotypes, maintaining an impressive hotel occupancy rate of over 80 per cent across both summer and winter months.
With more than 150,000 hotel rooms available, the city continues to thrive year-round, driven not only by leisure travellers but also by a robust calendar of corporate and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) events during the traditionally slower summer months.
This was revealed at a session — How Global Events and Festivals Drive Socio-Economic Growth — at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) underway at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
In response to a question by Khaleej Times, Ahmad Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, part of Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET), emphasised that the city's events and business landscape no longer peak only in winter. 'Many believe Dubai's events season is limited to the cooler months, but summer is equally vibrant, fuelled by a surge in corporate events, attractive seasonal offers, and steady trade growth year after year,' he said.
How big events benefit entire nation
Ahmad Al Khaja added, 'If there is a big event such as the Expo 2020…the magnitude of the event is positively impacting the entire country. Even in leisure events like Coldplay concert in Abu Dhabi, visitors coming for such an event to the capital come and visit Dubai and then Dubai benefits from it.'
Dubai's ambitious Economic Agenda D33 aims to double the city's economy by 2033, positioning it among the top three global cities for living, investing, and working.
A significant component of this strategy is enhancing the tourism sector, with initiatives like the multiple-entry five-year tourist visa. This visa allows tourists to enter the UAE multiple times on self-sponsorship, staying up to 90 days per visit, extendable for another 90 days, thereby encouraging longer and more flexible stays
Industry experts reiterated that even Ramadan, typically considered a quieter season for travel, saw strong visitor numbers, further proving Dubai's ability to maintain momentum across all periods.
Usual season in Abu Dhabi also
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi is also adopting a similar approach as Dubai and encouraging MICE events even during summers.
Mubarak Al Shamshi, Director of the Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau, explained that during summer months — when international associations often pause activities — the capital has shifted its focus towards corporate events and incentive travel.
'We have worked closely with stakeholders to launch targeted campaigns during the summer. This year, even Ramadan coinciding with holiday times didn't affect our business — numbers remained strong,' Al Shamshi noted.
'The mandate is to involve local communities to do so and involving different stakehoders. We are involving Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and various services providers (tourism-related) and how they can develop, explore and expose themselves to international communities.'
Even Ras Al Khaimah has been breaking the tourism record with 1.28 million overnight visitors last year.
Iyad Rasbey, destination tourism development vice-president at the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), said, 'In Ras Al Khaimah, the temperature is about 10 degrees cooler compared to the other emirates making it a popular spot where individuals and groups enjoy spending time at unique venues. The UAE is an all-year-round destination, ideal for both leisure and business.'
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