In Q1 2024, Dubai saw an 11 percent increase in arrivals compared to 4.67 million in 2023. Furthermore, following a milestone year in 2023, with Dubai receiving a record 17.15 million international overnight visitors, the city’s tourism industry is building on that momentum. Driven by the visionary leadership of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the achievement is remarkable. Moreover, this growth aligns with the ambitious goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to strengthen Dubai’s position globally for business and leisure.
City-wide strategy
The rise in international tourists during Q1 is the result of city-wide strategies. It was established across vital pillars in the tourism sector, including sustainability, accessibility, entrepreneurship and innovation. Also, the city hosted several major industry events, such as Gulfood and Arab Health.
Key source markets
Dubai’s diversified approach, built on bespoke strategies and activities in more than 80 markets, helped maintain its position as a first-choice travel destination for visitors both from key traditional and emerging markets.
Sustainability initiatives
With the UAE’s “Year of Sustainability” extending into 2024, Dubai continues its commitment to sustainability by supporting global and country-wide objectives. Furthermore, Dubai’s tourism and hospitality sectors are spearheading this drive, with programs and initiatives demonstrating the city’s ecotourism strategy.
Hotels and hospitality
From January to March this year, Dubai’s hotels maintained a room occupancy rate of 83 percent. Occupied room nights increased by 2 percent, while RevPAR increased by 4 percent. Moreover, this performance clearly indicates city hoteliers are maintaining competitive prices and revenues amid high levels of occupancy.
Dubai’s vision
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council, stated: “The first quarter of 2024 indicates Dubai is on course for another standout performance this year in terms of visitors. Notably, the emirate received a record number of visitors last year, with international visitors reaching 17.15 million. This will ensure that the tourism sector continues its growth journey.”
Dubai’s exceptional performance reinforced global recognition for the destination, having begun 2024 by being named the No.1 global destination for an unprecedented third successive year in the Tripadvisor Travellers Awards.
Important figures:
Key Source Markets:
Western Europe: 1.138 million arrivals (22 percent)
South Asia: 869,000 visitors (17 percent)
CIS and Eastern Europe: 817,000 arrivals (16 percent)
GCC: 664,000 arrivals (13 percent)
MENA: 605,000 arrivals (12 percent)
North-East Asia and South-East Asia: 470,000 arrivals (9 percent)
Americas: 344,000 arrivals (7 percent)
Africa: 202,000 arrivals (4 percent)
Australasia: 70,000 arrivals (1 percent)
Dubai’s hotels and hospitality (January to March 2024):
Room occupancy rate: 83 percent
Occupied room nights: 11.2 million
Average Daily Rate (ADR): AED638 (5 percent increase from 2023)
Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR): AED527 (4 percent increase from 2023)
Total available rooms in Dubai: 152,162
Number of establishments: 832
Dubai as a global leisure hub:
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Rita Ghantous is a hospitality aficionado and a passionate writer with over 9 years’ experience in journalism and 5 years experience in the hospitality sector.
Her passion for the performance arts and writing, started early. At 10 years old she was praised for her solo performance of the Beatles song “All My Love” accompanied by a guitarist, and was approached by a French talent scout during her school play. However, her love for writing was stronger. Fresh out of school, she became a freelance journalist for Noun Magazine and was awarded the Silver Award Cup for Outstanding Poetry, by The International Library of Poetry (Washington DC).
She studied Business Management and earned a Masters degree from Saint Joseph University (USJ), her thesis was published in the Proche-Orient, Études en Management book.
She then pursued a career in the hospitality industry but didn’t give up writing, that is why she launched the Four Points by Sheraton Le Verdun Newsletter.
Her love for the industry and journalism led her to Hospitality Services - the organizers of the HORECA trade show in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan, as well as Salon Du Chocolat, Beirut Cooking Festival, Whisky Live and other regional shows. She is currently the Publications Executive of Hospitality News Middle East, Taste & Flavors and Lebanon Traveler.
It is with ultimate devotion for her magazines that she demonstrates her hospitality savoir-faire.
Dubai records commendable tourism growth
According to Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the city welcomed 5.18 million international overnight visitors from January to March 2024.
In Q1 2024, Dubai saw an 11 percent increase in arrivals compared to 4.67 million in 2023. Furthermore, following a milestone year in 2023, with Dubai receiving a record 17.15 million international overnight visitors, the city’s tourism industry is building on that momentum. Driven by the visionary leadership of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the achievement is remarkable. Moreover, this growth aligns with the ambitious goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to strengthen Dubai’s position globally for business and leisure.
City-wide strategy
The rise in international tourists during Q1 is the result of city-wide strategies. It was established across vital pillars in the tourism sector, including sustainability, accessibility, entrepreneurship and innovation. Also, the city hosted several major industry events, such as Gulfood and Arab Health.
Key source markets
Dubai’s diversified approach, built on bespoke strategies and activities in more than 80 markets, helped maintain its position as a first-choice travel destination for visitors both from key traditional and emerging markets.
Sustainability initiatives
With the UAE’s “Year of Sustainability” extending into 2024, Dubai continues its commitment to sustainability by supporting global and country-wide objectives. Furthermore, Dubai’s tourism and hospitality sectors are spearheading this drive, with programs and initiatives demonstrating the city’s ecotourism strategy.
Hotels and hospitality
From January to March this year, Dubai’s hotels maintained a room occupancy rate of 83 percent. Occupied room nights increased by 2 percent, while RevPAR increased by 4 percent. Moreover, this performance clearly indicates city hoteliers are maintaining competitive prices and revenues amid high levels of occupancy.
Dubai’s vision
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council, stated: “The first quarter of 2024 indicates Dubai is on course for another standout performance this year in terms of visitors. Notably, the emirate received a record number of visitors last year, with international visitors reaching 17.15 million. This will ensure that the tourism sector continues its growth journey.”
Dubai’s exceptional performance reinforced global recognition for the destination, having begun 2024 by being named the No.1 global destination for an unprecedented third successive year in the Tripadvisor Travellers Awards.
Important figures:
Key Source Markets:
Dubai’s hotels and hospitality (January to March 2024):
Dubai as a global leisure hub:
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Rita Ghantous
Rita Ghantous is a hospitality aficionado and a passionate writer with over 9 years’ experience in journalism and 5 years experience in the hospitality sector. Her passion for the performance arts and writing, started early. At 10 years old she was praised for her solo performance of the Beatles song “All My Love” accompanied by a guitarist, and was approached by a French talent scout during her school play. However, her love for writing was stronger. Fresh out of school, she became a freelance journalist for Noun Magazine and was awarded the Silver Award Cup for Outstanding Poetry, by The International Library of Poetry (Washington DC). She studied Business Management and earned a Masters degree from Saint Joseph University (USJ), her thesis was published in the Proche-Orient, Études en Management book. She then pursued a career in the hospitality industry but didn’t give up writing, that is why she launched the Four Points by Sheraton Le Verdun Newsletter. Her love for the industry and journalism led her to Hospitality Services - the organizers of the HORECA trade show in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan, as well as Salon Du Chocolat, Beirut Cooking Festival, Whisky Live and other regional shows. She is currently the Publications Executive of Hospitality News Middle East, Taste & Flavors and Lebanon Traveler. It is with ultimate devotion for her magazines that she demonstrates her hospitality savoir-faire.