The latest data released by CoStar, a commercial real estate analytics firm, indicates that Dubai, Shanghai, and London are leading global markets in terms of anticipated hotel room openings in 2026.
The report highlights that Dubai is at the forefront of the Middle East and Africa, expecting a significant surge in the hospitality sector. Projections suggest the opening of 54,238 rooms in 2026, a considerable increase from the 18,273 rooms available in 2025.
Dubai is projected to lead the regional markets with about 5,053 expected room openings, followed by Qatar with 2,406 rooms. Meanwhile, Shanghai is expected to dominate international destinations with a total of 7,457 new hotel rooms, maintaining New York’s position as the leading market in the United States. The report illustrates varying growth rates across different geographical regions.
In Europe, growth is anticipated to be substantial, with new rooms expected to reach 123,789 in 2026, an increase from 56,043 rooms in 2025. London is expected to spearhead this growth with 5,822 new rooms, followed by Istanbul with 3,017 rooms.
In the Asia-Pacific region, Shanghai will continue to soar, with expectations of opening 251,234 rooms in 2026, up from 189,471 rooms in 2025. Shanghai leads globally and regionally with 7,457 new rooms, while Beijing follows with 3,991 rooms.
In the Americas, New York remains the frontrunner, with forecasts indicating a total of 132,479 new rooms expected in 2026, compared to 99,056 rooms in 2025. New York leads the U.S. market with 4,852 rooms, followed by Phoenix with 3,650 rooms, and Cancun emerging as a notable new market with 1,839 rooms.
A survey conducted by Al-Bayan, involving 30 hotel executives, revealed that the hotel sector in Dubai is on track to achieve record performance in 2026, with strong indicators of optimism. The results showed significant confidence in the sector’s future, as 60% of participants expressed optimism about market performance, and 83% anticipated an increase in hotel revenue. Furthermore, 90% emphasized the vital role of events in enhancing hotel performance and fostering sustainable growth.
Hotel executives have confirmed that optimism outweighs their expectations for 2026, citing Dubai’s ongoing strategies to diversify tourism offerings and improve service quality as key factors for a robust path towards sustainable growth. They noted that demand for hotel rooms will continue to rise, driven by increasing numbers of tourists from various global markets, along with the attraction of major international events and exhibitions, which are likely to enhance hotel occupancy rates.