Dubai has solidified its position as a top global tourist destination, welcoming over 11.17 million international visitors in the first seven months of 2025, marking a 5% increase compared to the same period last year, which saw 10.62 million visitors. This growth also represents an uptick of more than 550,000 visitors compared to July of the previous year.
According to the monthly report from the Department of Economy and Tourism, international visitors recorded over 25.53 million hotel nights during the initial seven months of 2025, compared to 24.51 million nights in the corresponding period of 2023, reflecting a 4% growth year-on-year. The average length of stay for a visitor during January to July 2025 was approximately 3.7 nights, slightly up from 3.6 nights in the same timeframe in 2024.
The average daily rate for hotel rooms reached AED 551, an increase of 5% from AED 527 in the same period of 2024, indicative of improved pricing power among hotels due to rising demand. Correspondingly, the average revenue per available room rose to AED 435, up from AED 406 last year, showcasing a growth of 7%, which enhances the profitability of the sector and underscores the ongoing appeal of the tourism market.
Dubai continues to achieve record numbers in tourism performance and international visitor counts, emphasizing its commitment to fulfilling the objectives set out in the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and elevating the roles of the tourism and hospitality sectors to yield additional positive outcomes.
Accommodation Capacity
Official data reveals that the number of hotel rooms in the emirate reached approximately 152.36 thousand by the end of July, marking a 1% rise from 150.56 thousand rooms during the same month in 2024, equating to an addition of around 1,800 rooms in just one year. This expansion encompassed not just the number of rooms, but also the total number of hotel establishments, which reached 821 by the end of July 2025, indicating a diverse array of options for tourists, ranging from luxury global hotels to mid-range budget accommodations, thereby enhancing the emirate’s stature as a destination capable of catering to various tourist segments.
Five-star luxury hotels captured the largest share of Dubai’s hotel market, accounting for 35% of total accommodation capacity, with around 53.76 thousand rooms distributed among 167 establishments. Following closely are four-star hotels, comprising 29% of the market with a capacity of 43.73 thousand rooms across 196 properties.
Hotels classified as three-star and one-star hold a 19% share of the total market, offering 29.33 thousand rooms across 277 establishments. In the serviced apartment sector, approximately 14 thousand luxury serviced apartments are available within 80 establishments, making up 9% of the entire market, while mid-range serviced apartments account for about 8%, which corresponds to 11.52 thousand apartments within 101 properties, showcasing a variety of choices available to visitors between luxury and economical options.
This extensive variety within the hotel offerings underscores the sector’s flexibility and capacity to meet the needs of various visitor demographics, whether they seek opulence or practical and cost-effective accommodations, significantly boosting Dubai’s appeal as a competitive global destination.
Occupancy Rates
Dubai hotels have sustained their strong performance during the first seven months of 2025, achieving a high occupancy rate of 79%. This reflects continued robust demand for the region’s top tourist destination, compared to an occupancy rate of 77% in the same period last year.
Regions
Data shows that Western Europe accounted for 21% of total visitors to Dubai, amounting to around 2.33 million individuals. The Gulf Cooperation Council countries represented 16% (1.79 million visitors), while 15% came from Russia, the CIS, and Eastern Europe (1.65 million visitors). South Asia also contributed 15% to the total visitor count (1.63 million visitors), alongside 11% from the Middle East and North Africa (1.24 million visitors), and 9% from North and Southeast Asia (1.02 million visitors). Visitors from the Americas made up 7% (793 thousand visitors), 4% were from Africa (473 thousand visitors), and 2% from Australasia (213 thousand visitors).
The increase in international visitors this year is attributed to a comprehensive set of strategies adopted by the emirate across several key pillars of the tourism sector, including sustainability, entrepreneurship, and innovation, among other significant factors.