Dubai Greets 8.68M Tourists in First 5 Months of 2025, Hotel Sector Sees Uptick

🌍 Dubai Welcomes 8.68 Million Visitors in First Five Months of 2025, Tourism and Hotel Performance Soars

Dubai continues its impressive tourism streak in 2025 with a 7% surge in international visitors during the first five months of the year. According to the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), 8.68 million tourists visited the city between January and May 2025—an increase from 8.12 million during the same period in 2024.

May alone saw 1.53 million tourists, reinforcing Dubai’s position as one of the world’s top global destinations.

🌐 Western Europe Leads Dubai’s Tourism Boom

Among the various international markets, Western Europe topped the charts with over 1.91 million visitors, making up 22% of Dubai’s total inbound tourism.

Following closely were:

• CIS, Russia, & Eastern Europe – 1.396 million visitors (16%)

• GCC Region – 1.275 million visitors (15%)

• South Asia – 1.242 million visitors

• Middle East & North Africa – 989,000 visitors

• Northeast & Southeast Asia – 771,000 visitors

• The Americas – 601,000 visitors

• Africa – 346,000 visitors

• Australia – 141,000 visitors (2%)

Dubai’s appeal across continents is a reflection of its strategic marketing, connectivity, safety, and luxurious offerings.

🏨 Hospitality Industry Grows to Meet Rising Demand

Dubai’s hospitality sector is scaling up in response to this influx. By the end of May 2025:

• The city boasted 825 hotels with a combined 153,356 rooms, up from 822 hotels with 150,202 rooms in May 2024.

• Average occupancy rate hit 83%, compared to 81% last year.

• Occupied room nights reached 19.09 million, a 4% increase from 18.34 million in 2024.

• The average stay length stood at 3.8 nights.

• The average daily rate (ADR) climbed by 5% to AED620, up from AED590.

• Revenue per available room (RevPAR) rose by 7% to AED513, from AED478 in 2024.

📈 Record Tourism in 2024 Sets the Stage for 2025 Surge

In 2024, Dubai welcomed 18.72 million international guests, marking a 9% YoY increase over the 17.15 million visitors in 2023. The hotel sector ended the year with 154,016 rooms across 832 properties, up from 821 hotels with 150,291 rooms in 2023.

Key metrics:

• 2024 ADR: AED538 (up from AED536 in 2023)

• 2024 RevPAR: AED421 (up from AED415 in 2023)

Dubai’s hospitality ecosystem continues to cater to all traveler segments—from budget-friendly stays to ultra-luxury resorts—maintaining a delicate balance between quality, pricing, and capacity.

🧠 Conclusion: Dubai Solidifies Its Global Tourism Leadership

Dubai’s consistent growth in tourism is no accident—it’s the result of strategic planning, infrastructure development, and global marketing initiatives. With nearly 9 million tourists already visiting in just five months, 2025 could very well break all previous tourism records.

The performance of hotels, rising occupancy, and strong spending trends are a green light for investors, especially in hospitality real estate and short-term rentals.