Dubai welcomed 6.97 million international tourists in the first eight months of 2026, while hotel occupancy reached 66% in August, according to the latest data from Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism.
The emirate's hotels recorded 21.61 million occupied room nights from January to August, while hotel capacity stood at 149,000 rooms at the end of August, according to a report by the Emirates News Agency (WAM).
Hotel occupancy in August reached 66%, equivalent to 89% of the occupancy level recorded in August 2025, compared with 36% in March 2026.
Dubai received 869,000 international tourists in August, the highest monthly figure since February 2026, as tourist numbers have continued to grow since March.
Western Europe led the source markets for tourists to Dubai from January to August with a 20% share of the total, followed by South Asia with 17%, the GCC with 16%, and the CIS and Eastern Europe with 14%.
Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism said the diversity of source markets supports its efforts, together with its partners, to attract more visitors from traditional and emerging markets, in line with the targets of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, part of the Department of Economy and Tourism, said the sector's performance in recent months reflects the integrated efforts of local and international partners in the tourism and hospitality sectors.
He added that Dubai continues to welcome growing numbers of international tourists, benefiting from its diverse source markets, infrastructure, hospitality sector and tourism experiences.
He noted that Arabian Travel Market is a platform for cooperation with partners from different markets, understanding demand trends and exploring new growth opportunities, with a focus on increasing demand from key traditional and emerging markets.
The Department of Economy and Tourism is taking part in the 33rd edition of Arabian Travel Market 2026, held from 14 to 17 September at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
The department is participating alongside more than 115 exhibitors from Dubai's tourism ecosystem, including hotel groups, attractions, destination management companies, aviation partners and government entities.
It is also hosting more than 300 international travel professionals from more than 40 countries as part of Arabian Travel Market's hosted buyer program.
During the exhibition, the department and its partners are showcasing Dubai's tourism offering in hospitality, gastronomy, culture, entertainment, wellness, accessibility, sustainability and family experiences.
Dubai's tourism priorities for 2026 include strengthening its presence in global markets and developing accessible and inclusive tourism offerings and experiences, while continuing to develop the "Dubai Sustainable Tourism" and "Dubai Can" initiatives.
Throughout this year, the Department of Economy and Tourism has continued to engage with its travel and tourism partners, organizing exhibitions and familiarization trips, launching campaigns and forging partnerships in key source markets.
These efforts included the "Invitation from Dubai" initiative, which aims to involve residents in promoting tourism in the emirate and has received more than 90,000 requests from residents inviting relatives and friends to visit Dubai.
The Dubai Government had launched an AED 2.5 billion economic relief package to support the tourism, hospitality and entertainment sectors, following the geopolitical developments that affected the global travel sector this year.
Dubai has also restored high levels of international air connectivity, with Emirates resuming 97% of its global network, while Dubai International Airport has continued to record improving load factors approaching 2025 levels.
The Department of Economy and Tourism is taking part in Arabian Travel Market throughout its four days, through meetings with partners and panel discussions focusing on cooperation and supporting tourism demand.
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