The Emirate of Dubai welcomed 9.88 million international visitors between January and June 2025, representing growth of 6% compared with the same period of 2024, according to the latest statistics issued by Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism.
For his part, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, affirmed that the strong performance of the emirate's tourism sector during the first half of 2025 reflects the implementation of a clear vision to strengthen Dubai's position as a global hub for tourism and investment, according to a post on the Dubai Government Media Office website.
He stressed the role of the partnership between the public and private sectors in supporting the growth of the tourism sector, and pointed to the integration of efforts between local and international entities to consolidate Dubai's position on the global tourism map.
Partnerships, global events and campaigns, and the launch of a series of new destinations in the city helped convey a more comprehensive picture of Dubai to international visitors, whether first-time or repeat visitors.
The tailored marketing strategy implemented by Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism in collaboration with more than 3,000 global and local partners also yielded further growth in key markets.
Key Markets
Data from Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism show that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets and the neighboring markets of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region accounted for 26% of Dubai's total visitors from January to June 2025, at 1.51 million (15%) and 1.12 million (11%) respectively.
Western Europe accounted for the largest share of Dubai's visitors with 2.12 million visitors (22%), followed by the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Eastern Europe (15%), South Asia (15%), Northeast and Southeast Asia (9%), the Americas (7%), Africa (4%) and Australasia (2%).
Dubai, the Best Travel Destination
In the first six months of 2025, the emirate expanded its hotel portfolio with new launches announced across all categories and in various locations, including Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab in Umm Suqeim, Cheval Maison in Expo City, Biltmore Hotel Villas in Al Barsha, and Vida Dubai Mall in Downtown Dubai.
In this context, Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, said the tourism sector's performance during the first half of 2025 confirms the resilience of Dubai's economy in the face of global challenges such as inflation and changing travel patterns, explaining that the emirate has focused on developing visitor experiences and investing in innovation and sustainability, in line with the targets of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
For his part, Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, noted that advanced infrastructure and international events, along with the public-private partnership, have helped strengthen Dubai's status as a global destination, with efforts continuing to attract new segments of visitors and improve quality of life.
Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing launched several global promotional campaigns during the first half of 2025, most notably "Choose Your Story" and "Dubai, an Unforgettable Summer", in collaboration with international figures such as Millie Bobby Brown and Virat Kohli, with the aim of enhancing the emirate's appeal to a wider audience.
Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism also signed partnerships with global hotel groups such as Marriott, Hyatt and Premier Inn to support the targets of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, coinciding with the expansion of hospitality projects, including Ciel Dubai Marina, which is expected to become the world's tallest hotel tower.
Dubai Business Events
Dubai Business Events, the city's official convention bureau and part of Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, helped strengthen Dubai's position as a strategic destination for impactful business events. Dubai once again ranked first in the Middle East for the number of association conferences it hosted in 2024, according to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA).
Dubai Business Events also set a record in the first half of 2025, winning 249 bids to host international conferences, seminars and incentive programs. These events are expected to attract more than 127,000 delegates to Dubai in the coming years.
Hotel Occupancy
Data from Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism revealed that the hotel sector achieved outstanding results on all fronts. Between January and June 2025, the average occupancy rate of Dubai hotels reached 80.6%, compared with 78.7% in the same period of 2024.
The number of occupied rooms rose 4% to 22.24 million room nights, compared with 21.35 million in the first half of 2024, while the average length of stay reached 3.71 nights.
Average Room Rate
The average daily room rate (ADR) rose to 584 dirhams, up 5% compared with the same period last year, while revenue per available room (RevPAR) increased 7%, from 439 dirhams last year to 471 dirhams this year.
Number of Hotel Rooms
Meanwhile, the total number of hotel rooms available in Dubai reached 152,483 by the end of June 2025, while the number of hotel establishments reached 822.
Restaurants and Global Options
The restaurant sector remains a major draw for visitors and international investment, as Dubai's diverse culinary scene continues to receive global acclaim.
The fourth edition of the Michelin Guide Dubai, released in May, featured a total of 119 restaurants representing 35 international cuisines, including Dubai's first two three-Michelin-star restaurants: FZN by Björn Frantzén and Trèsind Studio.
With this latest recognition of FZN, Swedish chef Björn Frantzén became the first chef in the world to hold three Michelin stars at three different restaurants, while Trèsind Studio became the world's first Indian restaurant to receive three Michelin stars.
The 2025 edition of the guide also included 3 two-Michelin-star restaurants, 14 one-Michelin-star restaurants, 22 Bib Gourmand restaurants and 3 Michelin Green Star restaurants.
The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 list, announced in June, included two Dubai restaurants: Trèsind Studio, which came 27th on the list of the best restaurants in the Middle East, and Orfali Bros Bistro, which re-entered the list in 37th place.
To view the post on the Dubai Government Media Office website, click here.
