Dubai’s tourism sector has shown impressive growth, as seen in the latest Dubai tourism figures. In 2022, the city welcomed 14.36 million international visitors, bouncing back strongly from the pandemic. The numbers continue to rise, with a forecasted 3.8% growth in 2024.
In this post, we’ll dive into the key stats that highlight the city’s thriving tourism industry, including visitor trends, hotel performance, and the economic impact tourism has on Dubai.
General Statistics on Dubai Tourism
- Airport Traffic (Q1 2024): Dubai International Airport handled a record-breaking 23 million passengers in Q1 2024, highlighting its status as a major global travel hub (Emirates NBD Research).
- Hotel Inventory Growth: By mid-2024, Dubai had a total of 150,879 hotel rooms, reflecting ongoing expansion in the hospitality sector to meet rising demand (AGBI).
- Average Daily Rate for Hotels: The average daily rate for hotel rooms in Dubai is around AED 558, providing various options for tourists (AGBI).
- Top Source Markets for Tourists (H1 2024):
- Western Europe: Approximately 20% of visitors
- South Asia: About 17%
- GCC Countries: Roughly 14%
This distribution highlights the diverse demographic of tourists visiting Dubai (Economy Middle East).
- Projected Growth Rate for 2024: The tourism sector in Dubai is forecasted to grow by approximately 3.8% in 2024, supported by strong visitor numbers and economic conditions (Emirates NBD Research).
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Visitor Statistics
Total International Visitors (2022): Dubai welcomed 14.36 million international tourists in 2022, recovering significantly from the pandemic.
Visitor Numbers Over the Years:
Monthly Visitor Breakdown (2024)
| Month | Visitors (in millions) |
|---|---|
| January | 1.77 |
| February | 1.90 |
| March | 1.51 |
| April | 1.50 |
| May | 1.44 |
| June | 1.19 |
| July | 1.31 |
- Total Visitors: In 2023, Dubai welcomed 17.15 million international visitors, reflecting a 19.43% increase from 14.36 million in 2022 (Global Media Insight).
- First Half of 2024: Dubai recorded 9.31 million international overnight visitors in the first half of 2024, a 9% increase from the same period in 2023 (Emirates NBD Research).
- Total Visitors (Jan-July 2024): From January to July 2024, Dubai welcomed 10.62 million tourists, representing an 8% rise compared to the same timeframe in 2023 (Economy Middle East).
- Purpose of Visit: Approximately 30% of visitors come for leisure, while around 20% visit for business and the rest for other reasons (Global Media Insight).
- Repeat Visitors: About 70% of tourists are repeat visitors, indicating strong loyalty to the destination (Global Media Insight).
- Peak Tourist Seasons: Dubai experiences peak tourist seasons primarily from November to March, coinciding with cooler weather and major events like the Dubai Shopping Festival (Emirates NBD Research).
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Accommodation Performance
- Accommodation Options: As of late 2023, there are 821 hotels with a total of 150,291 rooms available in Dubai (Global Media Insight).
- Occupancy Rate (H1 2024): The average hotel occupancy rate was approximately 78.7%, up from 77.7% in H1 2023 (Emirates NBD Research).
- Average Length of Stay: Tourists typically stay an average of 4.6 nights, with variations depending on accommodation type (Global Media Insight).
Economic Impact
- Tourism GDP Contribution: In 2022, tourism contributed approximately AED 29.4 billion (about USD 8 billion) to Dubai’s economy, accounting for about 11.7% of the UAE’s GDP (Emirates NBD Research).
- Visitor Spending (2022): International visitors spent around AED 117.6 billion, reflecting a growth of over 65% from the previous year (Global Media Insight).
- Average Spending: In 2023, international visitors spent an average of AED 7,500 per person during their stay in Dubai (Road Genius).
- Employment Impact: The tourism sector supports over 809,300 jobs, representing about 12% of total employment in the UAE (Global Media Insight).
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Tourism Expenditure in Dubai Each Year
- 2022: International tourist spending reached AED 117.6 billion, marking a significant recovery post-pandemic (Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism).
- 2023: International visitor spending surged to over AED 175 billion, representing a nearly 40% increase from the previous year and exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 12% (WTTC).
- Domestic Visitor Spending (2022): Domestic spending fully recovered to reach more than AED 55.5 billion, which is almost 40% higher than in 2019 (WTTC).
- Forecast for 2024: International visitor spending is projected to grow by nearly 10%, reaching approximately AED 192 billion (WTTC).
- Domestic Visitor Spending Forecast (2024): Expected to increase by 4.3%, reaching almost AED 58 billion (WTTC).
- Long-term Projection: By 2034, the tourism sector’s GDP contribution is forecasted to exceed AED 275 billion, accounting for almost 11% of the UAE economy (WTTC).
Demographics and Origins
Top Source Markets (2023):
| Country | Population (millions) |
|---|---|
| India | 2 |
| Saudi Arabia | 1.5 |
| United Kingdom | 1.3 |
| Russia | 1.1 |
| Pakistan | 1 |
| USA | 0.9 |
| Germany | 0.8 |
| France | 0.7 |
| China | 0.6 |
| Philippines | 0.5 |
Demographic Profile: Majority of tourists are aged between 25-44 years, with many being families and young couples (Global Media Insight).
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Attractions and Infrastructure
Most Visited Attractions and Their Popularity
- Burj Khalifa:
- Attracts approximately 37% of all visitors to Dubai, which translates to around 6.35 million visitors in 2023 (based on 17.15 million total visitors).
- Dubai Mall:
- Known to attract around 99% of international visitors, making it one of the most frequented locations.
- Palm Jumeirah:
- Experienced a significant rise in popularity, accounting for about 54% of all visitors in 2022, indicating a growing trend
- Desert Safaris:
- Approximately 46% of all visitors participated in desert safari experiences in 2022
- Dubai Marina:
- While specific visitor numbers are not detailed, it remains one of the key attractions due to its vibrant atmosphere and activities.
Tourism vs Infrastructure Capacity: Dubai’s infrastructure is designed to accommodate up to 20 million tourists annually, with ongoing investments to support growth
Breakdown of Transportation Methods
- Public Transport Usage:
- Modes of Public Transport:
- Dubai Metro: Accounted for 37% of all public transport users, carrying a total of 133 million passengers in the first half of 2024 (RTA).
- Taxis: Used by 27% of public transport users, with a total of 97 million passengers in the first half of 2024 (RTA).
- Public Buses: Transported approximately 89.2 million passengers during the same period (RTA).
- Dubai Tram: Carried around 4.5 million passengers in the first half of 2024 (RTA).
- Marine Transport: Including water taxis and ferries, served about 9.7 million users (RTA).
- Taxi Sector Growth:
- Future Goals and Developments:
- The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) aims for 25% of all journeys in Dubai to be made using public and shared transport by 2030; as of late 2023, this figure was at 20.9% (RTA).
- The RTA is also focusing on expanding the bus network and enhancing metro services to accommodate the growing population and mobility demands (Magellan).
- Innovations in Transportation:
Conclusion
In conclusion, the growth and resilience of Dubai’s tourism sector, as highlighted by the latest Dubai Tourism Statistics, reflect the city’s strong appeal as a global travel destination. Despite challenges such as the pandemic, Dubai has shown impressive recovery and continues to attract millions of visitors each year.
With a diverse range of source markets and ongoing investments in infrastructure and hospitality, Dubai is well-positioned to sustain its tourism growth and remain a leading global hub for travelers. The data underscores Dubai’s dynamic tourism landscape and its significance to the UAE’s economy.
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Ron Hoekstra is the founder of The LibertyOnDemand. He is a graphic designer, self-taught entrepreneur, writer, and Illustrator. He will give you professional insights and tips in the world of travel,
