Annual visitor numbers surge to nearly 19 million as world descends on Dubai

Number of hotel rooms and occupancy rate in emirate also rise

Abra water taxis cross Dubai Creek between Deira and Bur Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Dubai attracted 18.7 million international tourists in 2024, up 9 per cent annually, as the emirate solidified its standing as a tourist destination.

The city's hotels also maintained an average occupancy rate of 78 per cent last year, compared to 77.4 per cent in 2023, the Dubai Media Office said in a post on social media platform X on Sunday.

The number of hotel rooms in Dubai at the end of December stood at 154,016 across 832 properties, a 2 per cent increase annually. Occupied room nights in Dubai amounted to 43 million in 2024, compared to 41.7 million the previous year, the Media Office said.

The average revenue per available room (RevPAR) during the period rose 2 per cent annually to Dh421 ($114.6), while the average daily rate during the period rose marginally to Dh538, according to the latest data.

"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," said Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence.

These figures align with Dubai Economic Agenda D33, reinforcing Dubai's position as the best city in the world to visit, live and work in, Dubai Media Office said.

Dubai is looking to establish itself as one of the top three global cities over the next decade and double the size of its economy by 2033 as part of its economic agenda.

The emirate is pursuing a strategy to diversify its non-oil sector with a heavy focus on tourism, aviation, hospitality, technology and trade.

Dubai is simplifying visa procedures and building infrastructure as it aims to attract more tourists to the emirate.

Dubai International Airport (DXB) handled a record 92.3 million passengers last year, an annual increase of nearly 6 per cent. The world's busiest airport by international traffic beat its November forecast of 91.9 million annual passengers last year, up from 87 million in 2023 and exceeding its pre-Covid record of 89.1 million in 2018.

To accommodate growth in passenger traffic, Dubai is also expanding its second hub, Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), with a $35 billion terminal that will have a capacity of 260 million passengers a year once the final phase is completed. That airport currently has a capacity of 32.5 million passengers − handling mainly cargo and some low-cost airlines.

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Western Europe remained the emirate's top source market last year, according to data from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, released on Sunday.

Meanwhile, north-east and south-east Asia together recorded the highest rate of growth in international tourist arrivals of 24 per cent, followed by Africa (20 per cent), the Commonwealth of Independent States and Eastern Europe (16 per cent) and Western Europe (14 per cent).

Dubai has "successfully navigated" global economic and geographic headwinds to achieve growth in tourism for a second consecutive year, "having long resumed its pre-pandemic upward trajectory", Helal Almarri, director general of the DET, said.

Dubai’s calendar of business, leisure and sporting events also helped to attract international tourists. Trade shows, industry exhibitions and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibition (Mice) sector events also played a role in the rise of international visitors to Dubai, the DET said.

Last year, the emirate secured the hosting of 437 future events, a 20 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of successful bids. The bids for events secured in 2024 are set to attract an estimated 210,731 delegates to Dubai over the coming years, it was estimated.

Dubai's economy grew by 3.1 per cent in the first nine months of last year, compared to the same period in 2023, reaching Dh339.4 billion. Growth was largely driven by sectors such as wholesale and retail trade, transport and storage, financial and insurance activities, information and communications, accommodation and food services as well as manufacturing.