Dubai up 9% year-on-year

International

City focuses on strategic approach to destination growth as upward trajectory continues.

In yet another remarkable annual performance, Dubai welcomed 18.72 million international overnight visitors from January to December 2024, a 9% year-over-year increase that surpasses the previous record of 17.15 million in 2023, according to data from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).

Marking consecutive years of record-setting growth for the city, the achievement reinforces the city’s position as one of the world’s leading travel destinations, and demonstrates the success of its strategic approach in expanding the sector and investing in infrastructure and talent to meet growing demand.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, said that Dubai’s record-breaking tourism growth reflects the strategic vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, embodied in the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, to consolidate the city’s status as a global hub for business and leisure and one of the world’s best cities to visit, live and work in.

“This achievement is the result of visionary leadership and strong collaboration between the public and private sectors. We are committed to maintaining this exceptional growth momentum. Through strategic innovation, infrastructure development, talent acquisition, and market diversification, we will continue to enhance Dubai’s competitiveness, attract more international visitors, and enhance tourism’s role as a key driver of economic growth,” His Highness said.

Sheikh Hamdan also highlighted the city’s strategic focus on expanding foreign investment, and attracting global talent to further accelerate growth. “By continuing to create new opportunities and value-driven offerings for the global traveller, Dubai will not only maintain its status as a preferred destination but also strengthen its position at the forefront of global growth in the sector,” he added.

Impactful local and international partnerships, creative and targeted global campaigns, and major events were among the key contributing factors that drove Dubai’s tourism sector to another record-breaking year in 2024.

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, the increase in international visitation aligns with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to double the size of Dubai’s economy by 2033.

It also builds on Dubai’s ranking as the number one city globally for FDI into tourism, among other sectors, according to the Financial Times Ltd’s ‘fDi Markets’ data for H1 2024, and the announcement of key infrastructure projects, such as the expansion of the Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), that will provide the platform for strategic growth, further optimising the destination experience for all visitors and residents.

Showcasing a must-visit destination DET continued to work closely with partners across the public and private sectors to develop and enhance Dubai’s diverse offerings, ensuring the city delivered world-class infrastructure, exceptional service at all touchpoints, and experiences catering to all budgets and preferences. This was complemented by a highly successful diversified market strategy in more than 60 countries, propelling Dubai’s outstanding industry performance in 2024. Maintaining continuous dialogue with domestic stakeholders and more than 3,000 international partners, DET’s year-round marketing activities showcased the city as not only a must-visit destination, but also one that continues to attract permanent residents from around the world.

As a well-connected global destination strategically located at the crossroads of East and West, Dubai continued to attract visitors from across the globe. From a regional perspective, North East & South East Asia combined delivered the highest rate of growth of 24%, followed by Africa (+20%) and CIS & Eastern Europe (+16%). Visitors from Western Europe also grew significantly, up 14%, while maintaining its position as the number one source region for international visitors to Dubai.

His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), said: “Dubai’s exceptional performance in the tourism sector for 2024 is a powerful testament to the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

“Through careful planning and dynamic, agile policy implementation, Dubai has successfully navigated global economic and geographic headwinds to achieve record-setting growth in tourism for a second consecutive year, having long resumed its pre-pandemic upward trajectory. This achievement is not an isolated milestone but a foundational pillar of Dubai’s diversified growth strategy, one that fuels interconnected D33 objectives—spanning talent acquisition, FDI inflow, and the global competitiveness of businesses operating within Dubai’s ecosystem.

“Dubai’s economic trajectory is driven by its ability to adapt and innovate. This is supported by a diversified portfolio of industries, enhanced global connectivity, and an increasingly business-friendly environment. World-class infrastructure development and sustained investment in capacity have further solidified Dubai’s standing as a global leader across all critical segments.

“As we move forward into 2025, Dubai will continue charting new avenues for growth. By transcending traditional tourism, fostering high-impact investment opportunities, nurturing entrepreneurship, and magnetising global talent, we will reinforce Dubai’s position as not only a preferred destination but also as a cornerstone of global economic leadership and innovation.”

New openings spur hotel sector performance As a core element of the destination experience, hotels contributed significantly to the city’s performance, with the steady growth in inventory balancing the respective demands of both guests and hospitality stakeholders. Spurred by a series of high-profile new openings – including, but not limited to, One&Only One Za’abeel, SIRO One Za’abeel, and The Lana Dorchester Collection – Dubai’s hotel inventory at the end of December 2024 comprised 154,016 total available rooms across 832 establishments, compared to 150,291 rooms at 821 establishments in 2023.

According to STR data, Dubai is significantly ahead of other major global peer cities such as New York, Bangkok, Paris and Singapore, and nearly on par with London, in terms of total room inventory. Furthermore, a robust pipeline of new properties, such as the upcoming Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab and the Mandarin Oriental Downtown, will ensure the city is able to cater to ever-growing demand from both visitors and residents. The high quality of hospitality establishments in Dubai also continues to be recognised; in its first year of operations, The Lana was ranked at No.23 on The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2024 list, while Atlantis The Royal, in its second year of operations, was No.9.

Performance on key hotel metrics remained strong in 2024, with average occupancy for the hotel sector growing to 78.2%, up from 77.4% in 2023, and occupied room nights rising to a high of 43.03 million, representing 3% growth compared to 41.70 million in 2023. Reflecting the hospitality sector’s commitment to cater to all budgets and preferences, the Average Daily Rate (ADR) of AED538 only rose marginally against the ADR of AED536 in 2023, and according to STR Data, Dubai provided guests with more attractive average rates than global peers including Paris, New York, London and Singapore. Meanwhile, the Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) of AED421 in 2024 was a 2% increase on the AED415 the previous year.

His Excellency Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), said: “Dubai’s remarkable tourism performance in 2024 reflects the sustained commitment and strategic efforts of our extensive network of partners and stakeholders, and the guidance of our city’s visionary leadership. Our market strategy, built on bespoke and diversified campaigns, has been pivotal in showcasing Dubai’s diverse tourism offerings to the world, and we have leveraged strong partnerships with private and public sector organisations and individuals to enhance our global reach and promote Dubai as a leading hub for business, leisure, and innovation. These collaborations have not only intensified our international efforts, but also made Dubai the destination of choice for new and returning visitors, with an increasing number of them finding the city appealing to relocate to, on a more permanent basis. A powerful sense of community among the almost 200 nationalities living in Dubai is also seeing more residents advocate for the city, inviting and hosting their friends and family to experience it for themselves. As we aim to build on this momentum throughout 2025, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of service and continuously innovating to exceed expectations, whether for tourists visiting for the first time, or for loyal repeat guests and residents exploring the city and enjoying its lifestyle offerings.”