Dubai's tourist-to-resident ratio tops Paris, London as travel booms
According to the World Economic Forum, Dubai's ratio of tourists versus residents could rise from 5.5:1 in 2023 to 6.9:1 by 2034.
The emirate attracted 18.72 million international visitors in 2024 and 7.15 million during the first four months of 2025, placing the emirate on track for yet another record year for tourists.
The emirate's population has also been increasing, reaching 3.973 million on Sunday. Dubai has set a target of increasing its population to 7.8 million by 2040.
As travel and tourism expand, and the world population grows, the concept of 'overtourism' is increasingly discussed in destinations like Bali, Athens, and Amsterdam, primarily due to the influx of visitors.
Diversifying tourism
However, this is not the case in Dubai, where foreigners are welcomed by the locals. Importantly, foreigners already account for over 85 per cent of the emirate's population. The fact that over 200 nationalities live in the emirate in perfect harmony with the local population is proof that the emirate wholeheartedly embraces foreigners as tourists and residents.
In fact, Dubai – and overall the UAE as well – strongly promote tourism, and it has strong potential for growth as the emirate looks to diversify its economy.
'A more constructive approach requires shifting the narrative from restriction to redistribution. Many regions remain under-visited and could benefit significantly from tourism as a catalyst for economic opportunity, infrastructure investment and local development, particularly when aligned with community needs and sustainability goals," said the World Economic Forum in its latest report – Travel and Tourism at a Turning Point: Principles for Transformative Growth.
"The focus should be on managing flows, diversifying tourism offerings and fostering more balanced and inclusive growth across the ecosystem, rather than curbing the fundamental right and aspiration to travel,' it added.
No 'ideal' ratio
If visitor numbers in the most visited cities continue to grow at rates that match or exceed sector averages, they will see significant increases in the levels of visitor-to-resident ratios. By 2034, according to the World Economic Forum, Dubai's ratio could rise from 5.5:1 to 6.9:1, Paris from 1.3:1 to 1.8:1 and London from 1.9:1 to 2.6:1.
'While there is no universal 'ideal' ratio, what is acceptable varies based on infrastructure or spatial distribution – these projected increases would surpass thresholds that have historically triggered community concern in similar destinations,' it said.
Tourism sector's contribution to Dubai's GDP is one of the highest, generating thousands of jobs and billions of dirhams.
In 2023, the tourism sector contributed 11.7 per cent of the UAE's GDP, totalling Dh220 billion, and was expected to rise to 12 per cent or Dh236 billion in 2024, according to figures from the World Travel and Tourism Council.
The Council projected the travel and tourism contribution to the UAE GDP to reach around Dh275.2 billion by 2034, supported by the world-class infrastructure in the country, which includes airports and accommodations, but also thrilling tourist attractions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
8 minutes ago
- The National
CBD is in the big league. Now it wants to stand out, says CEO
It is tough to more than double the asset base of a bank, its profitability as well as its market share. But Bernd van Linder has done it, not once, but twice for two separate banks. He also has the rare distinction of achieving this feat in two Gulf countries. First in Saudi Arabia when he led Saudi Hollandi Bank, and then in the UAE as chief executive of Commercial Bank of Dubai. How did he achieve it? 'The very simple answer is that I like challenges,' Mr van Linder tells The National in an interview at the CBD headquarters in Dubai. 'What really excites me is leaving things better than I found and that's what I go to work for.' Holding a doctorate in artificial intelligence, Mr van Linder, who calls himself a very 'hands-on' corporate leader, arrived in the Gulf region in November 2006. He joined Saudi Hollandi – one of the oldest financial institutions in the kingdom, which later became Alawwal Bank after its merger with Saudi British Bank – as treasurer. He rose through the ranks to become its chief executive in May 2009 and managed to transform its fortunes during his six-and-a-half year tenure at the bank. 'We doubled the bank in size as a team, its balance sheet as well as its profitability from 1 billion Saudi riyal ($266.7 million) to 2 billion riyal. We moved it to become a 100-billion-riyal bank,' he says. And in 2016 opportunity knocked, with CBD wanting him to replicate what he had achieved at Saudi Hollandi. 'To try to do the same here at a bank with a good reputation, well managed and very stable, I really jumped at that,' he says. 'I thought, yeah, I want to do that again in another market, and I really will give it my best to try to achieve what we did in Saudi Arabia.' When Mr van Linder took over as the chief executive of CBD in January 2017, the lender's asset base was around Dh64 billion ($17.43 billion), which in the past seven years has more than doubled to Dh141 billion. But for him, doubling CBD's share of the overall UAE banking market is a bigger yardstick of success. Strategy cycle From a little over 2 per cent about eight years ago, the bank has increased its share of the market to nearer 5 per cent. The bank is midway through its latest three-year strategy cycle and Mr van Linder says it is on track to achieve its very 'aggressive KPIs', to fend off the 'extremely fierce competition, especially over the last 12 to 18 months'. 'So, our focus is on market share rather than on assets,' he says. 'We have to grow faster than the market and that's our first priority. The second priority is that we have to hit this 5 per cent market share mark, because that's really the level at which you can continue to be relevant in any market.' Being ranked as the seventh largest bank in the UAE by assets, 'we're in a fairly unique position … as the banks ranked five and six are much larger than we are, but banks number eight and nine are much smaller, so, it's almost a league of our own that we've created', he adds. Economic tailwinds Still, maintaining the growth momentum was not a small achievement, given that more than 50 licenced banks are jostling for a piece of the same pie in the Emirates, he says 'Taking this bank and turning it from what it was into a very aggressive, customer-focused, delivery-oriented organisation – I've loved doing it and I'm very happy that it worked out,' Mr van Linder says. CBD, which reported net profit of Dh3.03 billion at the end of last year, said its net income for the three months to the end of March climbed to Dh828 million, an annual 18 per cent rise. The success the lender has achieved in the past few years, he says, was in part driven by the robust economic growth. The UAE's economy grew by 4 per cent last year, driven by a strong expansion in its non-oil sector. The country's real gross domestic product reached Dh1.776 trillion, the Ministry of Economy said in June. The non-oil economy grew by 5 per cent annually to Dh1.34 trillion, accounting for more than 75 per cent of the country's economic activity, while oil-related activities contributed Dh434 billion to overall GDP. The UAE Central Bank expects real GDP to expand by 4.4 per cent in 2025 and increase to 5.4 per cent next year, it said in a report last month. This performance is driven by the "expected robust dynamism" of non-hydrocarbon activities and a "robust increase" in the hydrocarbon sector following updated Opec+ production plans, the regulator said. Non-hydrocarbon GDP is expected to grow by 4.5 per cent in 2025 and in 2026, it added. Geopolitical headwinds, including the 12-day war between Israel and Iran that threated to derail crude oil supplies from the energy-rich region, have not dented the UAE's economic growth prospects and the country's perception as a safe destination for global investment flows, Mr van Linder says. 'From my perspective, if anything, it has shown the world that this is a haven, an oasis … that it's the envy of the world,' he says. 'Right now, it's the best place in the world to live, the best place in the world to do business. If you ask for my personal view, I think that it will continue to be the case and I don't expect any outside influences or events changing that.' Retail to drive growth Looking ahead, CBD is pushing to further boost growth with a focus on retail banking operations. 'Hyper growth in our mortgages and credit cards' as well as a 'bigger and more profit-oriented financial institutions business', is what Mr van Linder says will help the bank achieve the 2024-2026 strategy goals. The lender was already in a good stead as a commercial banking institution when he took charge. However, going all the way back to 2017, retail banking has accounted for the major chunk of the growth it has posted so far. 'In 2017, we said we wanted to be a big bank in mortgages and there have been quarters when we were number one or two in terms of mortgage origination, a very clear reflection of our [successful] strategy,' he says. In recent years, CBD has started lending to government-related entities across the Emirates and has also managed to build its financial institutions as well as cross-border businesses. Retail, institutional and corporate businesses are contributing about one third each to CBD's revenue, and Mr van Linder says he is not unhappy with the current split. 'If there is to be a change to it, then I would like the percentage of the retail bank to increase further. If we would be able to bring that to 40 per cent of the total, that would be a good thing for the bank." With the consistent population and economic growth the UAE has experienced, achieving that target is 'not impossible'. 'The key for us will be to we continue to be agile. We move fast, because that's what customers expect, and that's what customers demand and reward you for,' Mr van Linder adds. SME lending growth Building the lending book for emerging corporates and small and medium enterprises is the next segment CBD plans to focus on. 'It's not new, but it's a difficult segment to get absolutely right. If you look at the UAE, there are banks that got it right and there are also banks that have taken hits by operating in this segment,' he says. CBD's loan book, which grew 11.7 per cent annually to Dh93 billion at the end of the last year, is set to hit high single-digit growth this year. Net profit is expected to hit high single-digit to low double-digit growth level in 2025, he adds. While focus remains on organic growth, CBD is also not shying away from mergers and acquisition opportunities, if the asset on offer makes commercial sense and aligns with the bank's strategic plans. 'We're open to anything, but the working assumption is organic all the way,' Mr van Linder says. CBD has already acquired the UAE credit card portfolio of Saudi lender Samba Bank, as well the Najam card business of Majid Al Futtaim. 'We've done that twice … we're open to doing that again,' he says. No deal is currently brewing on the front burner, he adds. Focus on tech In line with the global push towards technology, CBD's capital expenditure on digitisation in the past five years has risen more than fourfold and Mr van Linder sees that investment continuing to increase in the short to medium term. 'We're ready for open finance,' he says. 'There's more to be done on digitising services that we haven't done yet and there will be continuing investments.' The need to invest more in digitalisation as well as incorporating AI into banking is also driven by the emergence of digital banks in the UAE that have grabbed 'some market share' from conventional financial institutions in the country. But what is more significant then the market share is the 'wake-up call' for banks from their digital-only peers when it comes to customer experience, he says. 'This is your competition and you will only be able to compete with these guys if you get your end-to-end processes right. And this is not just about delivering a fancy banking app.' Biggest challenge With competition heating up from conventional peers as well as digital-only lenders in the UAE, staying relevant to customers is the biggest challenge for Mr van Linder. 'We operate in a market with 52 licensed banks, where the top four have an 80 per cent market share, we are number seven and there's an enormous tail of all kinds of smaller banks. 'In this market, every customer always has a choice … how can we make sure they pick us … that really is the thing that keeps me awake.' However, the father of 15-year-old triplets says he has no regrets in moving from a bigger bank and adds 'what's not to love about Dubai, and also this bank?' CBD is 'big enough to do everything' and yet small enough for him to get involved in every level of operation. Mr van Linder's vision for CBD has not changed much since taking charge, with the goal still in place of turning the bank into a 'high-performance organisation'. 'To me, an achievement is a midpoint to something else. We're not there where I want to take this bank, and for sure, there's much more to be done,' he says. 'We doubled in size, we tripled in net profit … but this is definitely not the end.' Mr van Linder sees CBD evolving into a 'bank of everything' for its customers. He wants to be remembered as the man 'who did it … who put an institution in place that was so well organised, well structured and resilient that, in a way, anybody could run it'.
Khaleej Times
2 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Looking for a job in aviation sector? Here are current vacancies across airlines
Wizz Air has announced that it will be closing its Abu Dhabi operations from September this year, leaving some of their employees in limbo. However, jobseekers in the aviation industry can find fresh opportunities with UAE-based airlines as they have openings across multiple departments. Airlines like Emirates, Etihad, Flydubai and Air Arabia have posted openings on their official websites — from cabin crew to pilots, engineers, and support staff. Emirates' recruitment events Dubai's flagship carrier Emirates is holding weekly invite-only recruitment events in the city. 'Our events are held weekly in Dubai, please apply to be invited,' reads a note on their careers page. Interested candidates must first fill out an application online to get selected for the in-person recruitment drive. Some of the roles currently listed include: Maintenance technicians Cabin crew recruitment advisors Airport service agents Business support officers Porters Sales support agents The airline also has a few pilot vacancies listed. Emirates cabin crew receive a tax-free monthly salary comprising a basic pay of around Dh4,430 and flying pay of approximately Dh63.75 per hour, based on 80 to 100 flying hours per month. This brings the average total monthly income to about Dh10,000 to Dh12,000. Crew members are provided with free, fully furnished shared accommodation in Dubai, with all utilities and transportation to and from work covered by the airline. Additionally, Emirates recently announced a bonus for its employees, awarding them a payout equivalent to 22 weeks of salary. This bonus comes in recognition of the airline's record profits for the financial year ending March 31, 2025, and reflects the company's commitment to rewarding its workforce for their dedication and contribution to its success. Etihad In Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways is also hiring for 70 different vacancies, according to their official website. Open roles on their website include: The airline is seeking candidates for various positions. The salaries aren't listed, and a few positions offer benefits, including accommodation, transport, and medical coverage. Etihad pilots enjoy a competitive, tax-free salary along with performance-based profit sharing, providing both financial stability and long-term security. They are entitled to a world-class provident fund and retirement benefits that support them beyond their flying years. Comprehensive medical, dental, and life insurance coverage is also provided, ensuring peace of mind for pilots and their families throughout their careers. Flydubai Low-cost carrier Flydubai has multiple vacancies open, though the exact number of openings is not mentioned on their official website. The airline is asking candidates to apply online through its official careers portal. Air Arabia Sharjah-based Air Arabia is also actively recruiting. Their careers page shows roles available in: Air Arabia is offering opportunities in both UAE and international operations.
Khaleej Times
2 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Some Filipino workers frustrated by limited online contract verification slots
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on July 7 launched a new online system that allows Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to submit and verify their documents remotely — without having to visit the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Dubai in person. This contract verification process is a crucial step for OFWs planning to travel to the Philippines, as it is a prerequisite for obtaining the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) — a document needed for re-entry into the UAE. However, as the MWO-Dubai begins pilot testing its new online verification system for OFWs, some residents are expressing concerns over the limited number of appointment slots being opened daily. Kris Ibesate, a 35-year-old food safety assistant manager, said the current system remains inconvenient and inefficient. 'It doesn't make sense that appointment slots are so limited. Even the requirement for contract verification itself feels excessive." Under the previous process, OFWs could submit documents online but were still required to visit the Philippine Consulate and MWO-Dubai in person to complete verification. Kris and her husband struggled to secure an appointment slot online despite trying multiple times over the two weeks leading up to their departure for the Philippines. 'It was incredibly stressful because our flights were already booked, and we weren't sure if we could go home this summer. We were worried it might affect our ability to return to the UAE,' Kris said. Limited slots With nearly one million Filipinos calling the UAE home — making up around 6.8 per cent of the total population — the smooth processing of employment documents is important, as it directly impacts one of the country's largest and most active expatriate communities. Currently, the system accepts up to 200 applications per weekday between 8am and 11.59pm, with officials noting the capacity may expand based on demand and evaluator availability. However, repeated attempts by this reporter to book a slot across several days — at 6am, 7am, 8am, and even midnight — yielded the same message: maximum application exceeded. Check out the screenshot below: Many, like Kris and her husband, have been trying since the pilot began, only to find slots consistently filled almost immediately. With no other option but to file for leave from work, Kris and her husband who live nearby, opted to walk in. But even then, the process was far from smooth. 'I queued from 8am to 1.30pm. Imagine those coming from far-off areas of Dubai, commuting just to stand in line. You spend nearly half your day there. That time could be spent resting or preparing for your trip home," she said. "And when you're finally inside, you're shuffled from one counter to another,' she added. Kris also questioned the lack of modern digital solutions. 'In today's world of AI and advanced tech, why can't they invest in an efficient app for this? Even the consulate's website feels outdated and isn't user-friendly at all.' Multiple queues Mary Ann Bautista, a teaching assistant supervisor at a private nursery, shared a similar frustration — particularly about the multiple queues inside the consulate. 'Even just to show the receipt of what you paid for, there's another queue,' said the 37-year-old Dubai resident. 'There are so many desks, and you have to line up at each one.' She also urged authorities to expand eligibility for online contract verification — especially for OFWs with lower basic salaries. 'Not everyone earns a high wage. I hope they reconsider and make the system more inclusive.' Ludy, another Dubai-based OFW, echoed similar concerns. 'There aren't enough staff to accommodate everyone, so you end up using your day off just to get your contract verified. I didn't finish until 6pm.' The 60-year-old domestic worker described the experience as exhausting. 'You're shuffled from one room to another, sometimes even transferred to a different building. The queue starts outside, so you're standing in the heat before you can even sit down inside." "It's a real struggle. The whole process is such a hassle, but we have no choice — it's something we need to do so we can go home.' While many are frustrated, some have had more positive experiences. Pinky Azarcon, a teaching assistant at a private nursery, recalled a smoother process during her visit to the consulate in July last year. That day, she said, slots were specifically set aside for school staff. 'They even gave us free food while we waited,' she said. 'The only issue was having to stand outside in the heat, waiting for the gates to open.' She found out about the opportunity through a TikTok post announcing that school employees could visit the consulate on that particular Saturday morning. Why are slots limited? Addressing the growing frustration, Atty John Rio A. Bautista, Labor Attaché of MWO Dubai, clarified that the current online verification system is still in its pilot phase. 'Slots are limited because this is just the preliminary trial of a new system before a wider or full-scale implementation,' he said. "The number of slots offered at the moment was computed based on the number of available evaluators, which is currently very limited." Atty Bautista further explained that the same staff responsible for reviewing online submissions are also tasked with evaluating documents submitted onsite by walk-in OFWs. "Evaluators will only have time to review online applications after all walk-in clients have been served," he noted. Online system pilot phase He also emphasised that the purpose of this pilot run is twofold — to test the functionality of the system and to assess how well OFWs respond to this new method. Bautista also noted that the online system is offered as an alternative. While walk-in processing remains available, especially for those with confirmed flights, the digital option was introduced for OFWs who urgently need contract verification. The online verification allows OFWs to submit their employment documents and have it verified, even if they don't have a scheduled departure yet. What happens after the pilot? When asked about the next steps once the 30-day pilot ends, Bautista explained that the system will undergo a thorough evaluation. This will be based on client feedback collected through post-process surveys, public comments, and an internal review of how effectively the system improved processes for both OFWs and the MWO. "Depending on the findings, the Department of Migrant Workers, through MWO-Dubai, will decide on how to best roll out the system and the improvements which may be necessary for it to be more user-friendly and accessible to more OFWs," Bautista said. To address the current limitations, MWO-Dubai is also exploring the possibility of assigning offsite evaluators. These would be DMW based in the Philippines who will be trained to review employment documents from the UAE. Having more evaluators, even remotely, would allow for a higher number of applications to be processed daily. Importance of contract verification According to Atty Bautista, contract verification plays a vital role in safeguarding the rights, benefits, and welfare of OFWs. By reviewing the terms of employment and comparing them with the standards set by both the Philippine and UAE governments, the MWO ensures that workers are treated fairly and in accordance with labour laws. "It also guarantees that OFWs are documented by the Philippine government," he said. "This makes it easier for the DMW to locate and assist them when needed." Dubai-based HR professional Allaine Alves echoed this sentiment. She emphasised that verified contracts aren't just for OFWs returning home — they also serve as essential documents for accessing key services. 'Having this record allows you to open bank accounts that don't require a deposit and makes registering for your Social Security System (SSS) retirement much easier,' said the 27-year-old OFW. She also pointed out another practical benefit: "It provides you with the advantage of tax exemption when travelling back home."
