15 March 2023

Despite the challenges of 2020, The UAE, especially Dubai,  has made an impressive recovery in terms of its tourism business. Between January and May 2022, 6.17 million international overnight visitors flocked to this vibrant destination which was a staggering 197 percent increase compared to 2019. 

At the inaugural City Briefing of the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET),  over 1,200 industry executives were in attendance, representing sectors such as aviation, travel, hospitality, and retail.  The Director General of DET, His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri has praised the exemplary vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for propelling Dubai to success. This can be seen in the nation’s strive towards becoming the primary economic and tourism investment hub in the world. 

Seeing a remarkable rise in the tourism industry, there has been a surge in Dubai’s hotel occupancy rate from 62 percent in 2021 to an impressive 76 percent between January and May of 2022. According to data from STR, one of the world’s leading hospitality analytics firms, this places Dubai far ahead as global No.1 for hotel occupancies when compared with international cities like New York (61%), London (60%), and Paris (57%).

Through Expo 2020, the UAE is converting this momentum into growth in all tourism aspects – from cultural heritage to culinary delights – with a determination towards making it “the most visited destination and city of the future” providing an unparalleled living and working experience.