Dubai records 7% growth in tourist arrivals in first four months, reaching 7.15 million
Dubai's hotel sector is showing robust forward bookings for the remainder of 2025, outperforming last year's figures as the emirate continues to attract a growing number of international visitors.
Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), a division of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), shared this positive outlook during the inaugural Dubai Stakeholders City Briefing.
'We're confident the coming months will be even busier than previous years,' Kazim said. 'We're exploring every possible opportunity to sustain this upward momentum.'
Dubai recorded 43.03 million occupied room nights in 2024 — up from 41.7 million in 2023 — marking a 3 per cent increase. Average hotel occupancy rose to 78.2 per cent in 2024, compared to 77.4 per cent the previous year. Kazim noted that the occupancy rate is expected to climb further to around 80 per cent in 2025.
The city briefing, held at Coca-Cola Arena on Tuesday, brought together thousands of stakeholders from the hospitality, tourism, and related sectors.
According to DET data, Dubai Marina led hotel occupancy in 2025, reaching 86 per cent, followed closely by Palm Jumeirah and Oud Metha at 85 per cent. Al Barsha recorded 84 per cent, Bur Dubai 83 per cent, Jumeirah and the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) 82 per cent, Deira and Jebel Ali 80 per cent, and Downtown Dubai at 77 per cent.
Kazim emphasised Dubai's commitment to evolving its tourism offerings in line with global travel trends.
'When it comes to product development, we always aim to stay ahead. We're closely monitoring global trends and traveller preferences to ensure we meet and exceed expectations,' he said. 'Our collaboration with partners is key — we align the right plans with the right investors and stakeholders to deliver a world-class experience. When our strategy was launched, Dubai had about 66,000 hotel rooms. Today, that number has more than doubled to around 153,000.'
Looking ahead, Kazim urged stakeholders to prepare for a further surge in tourist arrivals once the new Al Maktoum International Airport opens to passenger traffic.
7% growth in 4 months of 2025
After consecutive record-breaking years in 2023 and 2024, Dubai welcomed 5.31 million international visitors between January and March 2025—a 3% year-on-year increase. By the end of April, the total number of tourists reached 7.15 million, representing a 7 per cent growth compared to the same period in 2024, according to DET data.
'After the disruption of 2020, we surpassed our pre-pandemic visitor numbers in 2023. Then in 2024, we exceeded them once again,' Kazim noted.
'The 7 per cent year-on-year increase this year reflects our focused approach, especially in targeting underperforming markets with high potential.'
The tourism chief concluded by stressing the importance of strategic market focus and continued innovation to maintain Dubai's competitive edge in global tourism.
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