Dubai continues to dominate the global travel scene in 2025. From January to May, the city welcomed 8.68 million international visitors. This rise highlights consistent Dubai tourism growth and marks a 7% increase from 2024.
In May alone, Dubai recorded 1.53 million international arrivals. Clearly, the city’s appeal remains strong. Moreover, tourism strategies have helped maintain steady visitor inflow despite global challenges.
Western Europe led the source markets, sending 1.917 million tourists. In fact, this region made up 22% of the total. Meanwhile, Russia, CIS countries, and Eastern Europe followed closely with 1.396 million visitors, contributing 16%.
Furthermore, South Asia played a major role, contributing 1.242 million tourists. The GCC region also showed strong performance with 1.275 million arrivals. Together, these regions accounted for nearly 30% of Dubai’s tourism base.
Additionally, the MENA region brought in 989,000 visitors, equal to 11% of the total. Northeast and Southeast Asia added 771,000 more, underlining the city’s appeal across Asia. Likewise, the Americas contributed 601,000 tourists.
Africa followed with 346,000 visitors. Although smaller in number, Australia still contributed 141,000 tourists, confirming its continued relevance. Without a doubt, Dubai tourism growth is driven by global interest.
As visitor numbers increased, Dubai’s hotel industry expanded to meet demand. By May 2025, the city had 825 hotels with 153,356 rooms. Compared to last year, this is a rise from 822 hotels and 150,202 rooms.
At the same time, average occupancy climbed to 83%, up from 81% in 2024. Additionally, occupied room nights reached 19.09 million, a 4% increase from the previous year.
Visitors stayed 3.8 nights per trip. As a result, hotel profitability improved. The average daily rate rose 5% to Dhs620. Similarly, revenue per available room (RevPAR) jumped 7%, reaching Dhs513.
Ultimately, strong infrastructure, promotional efforts, and year-round attractions continue to drive Dubai tourism growth. With consistent performance and global interest, the city remains a top destination for travelers in 2025.
