Dubai Welcomes 8.68 Million Visitors in Early 2025 as Hotel Capacity Expands

Dubai's tourism sector continues to gain momentum, with the emirate welcoming 8.68 million international visitors between January and May 2025. This marks a 7 per cent year-on-year increase compared to the 8.12 million arrivals recorded during the same period in 2024, according to the latest figures from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).

In May 2025 alone, Dubai drew 1.53 million visitors, affirming its status as a consistent global destination. The city's tourism profile remains robust and diversified, with Western Europe leading as the top source region, contributing 1.917 million tourists or 22 per cent of the total arrivals.

Other key regions included:

Russia, CIS, and Eastern Europe: 1.396 million visitors (16%)
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries: 1.275 million visitors (15%)
South Asia: 1.242 million visitors (14%)
Middle East and North Africa: 989,000 visitors (11%)
Northeast and Southeast Asia: 771,000 visitors (9%)
Americas: 601,000 visitors (7%)
Africa: 346,000 visitors (4%)
Australia: 141,000 visitors (2%)

Dubai’s hospitality industry has mirrored this upward trajectory. As of the end of May, the city hosted 825 hotel properties, offering a total of 153,356 rooms — an increase from 822 hotels and 150,202 rooms in the same month last year.

Operational metrics also reflected sustained growth:

Average hotel occupancy reached 83 per cent, up from 81 per cent in 2024.
Total occupied room nights rose to 19.09 million, a 4 per cent increase year-on-year.
Average length of stay remained steady at 3.8 nights.
The average daily rate (ADR) climbed to AED620 ($169), compared to AED590 ($161) previously.
Revenue per available room (RevPAR) rose to AED513 ($140), representing a 7 per cent gain over last year.

These performance indicators underscore Dubai's strong tourism infrastructure, broad global reach, and year-round appeal.

Real Estate Market Insight:

The upward trend in Dubai’s tourism and hospitality sectors is expected to generate ripple effects across the real estate market. Higher visitor volumes and rising hotel occupancy often stimulate demand for short-term rental properties, particularly in central and waterfront areas. Additionally, increased tourism activity supports the growth of mixed-use developments that integrate residential, commercial, and leisure offerings. As hotel capacity continues to expand, peripheral areas may also witness elevated investment interest, with hospitality-driven foot traffic potentially enhancing neighborhood profiles and long-term real estate value.