Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: STRATEGIC partnerships, global marketing campaigns and major events contributed to Dubai welcoming 19.59 million international overnight visitors in 2025, marking a 5 per cent increase compared to 18.72 million arrivals in 2024, according to data published by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), and a third successive year of record-setting figures.
The city ended the year by welcoming more than 2 million visitors in a single calendar month for the first time in December, building strong momentum heading into 2026.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, said the results reflect the strategic vision of Dubai’s leadership and the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33. He highlighted that the emirate’s performance is driven by its global connectivity, infrastructure investment and ability to deliver diverse, high quality experiences.
Western Europe remained Dubai’s largest source market, contributing 4.1 million visitors in 2025. The GCC and MENA region accounted for a combined 26 per cent of all arrivals, while CIS and Eastern Europe and South Asia each contributed 15 per cent.
Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of DET, said tourism continues to be a key driver of economic diversification, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a leading global destination for investment, talent and business. Hotels and tourism were among the top sectors for foreign direct investment into Dubai in the first half of 2025. Dubai’s hotel sector also posted strong results. By December, the city’s hotel inventory had grown to more than 154,000 rooms across 827 establishments, placing it among the world’s largest hospitality markets. Average hotel occupancy rose to 80.7 per cent, up from 78.2 per cent the year before, while average daily rates increased 8 per cent to Dh579.
Key new openings in 2025 included the world’s tallest hotel, Ciel Dubai Marina, and luxury properties by Jumeirah, Mandarin Oriental and IHG. Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said Dubai’s momentum is underpinned by digital innovation, progressive visa policies and strong public private collaboration. High profile global campaigns and partnerships with brands including Marriott, Visa and Hyatt helped expand international reach throughout the year.
Dubai also earned major global accolades. It became the first Certified Autism Destinationin the Eastern Hemisphere, ranked among the world’s safest cities, and featured prominently on the World’s 50 Best Hotels and Restaurants lists. Dubai International Airport retained its title as the world’s busiest airport for international passengers for an 11th year.
